Indian Springs
Jan 7, 2015 22:53:36 GMT -5
Post by AegisIII on Jan 7, 2015 22:53:36 GMT -5
Photos
In the beginning of October I decided on a circuit hike in SGL 124, utilizing the Tuscarora Trail, plus the Hells Hill and "Blue" trails, and some logging roads to get between them. I was concerned about getting lost, and what critters could lurk in the deep leaves. So, when I woke up for the hike, while a nice day, I decided to go back to bed. Waking up later, I decided to instead go to Indian Springs WMA, near Clear Spring MD, as while very close by, I've not hiked there, and figured I could do 4-5 miles in the afternoon.
I decided to hike around Blair Valley Lake, and the surrounding fields at the foot of Sword Mountain. There are few marked trails here, only one going around the lake which itself is not well marked (and then only in one direction). The rest of the trails are then mainly old farm lanes and mowed field edges, some of which were not cleared in a while and had excessive gnats. I also am not sure how permanently placed said trails are. There's also a cleared edge of the lake, which I would not recommend using, due to a plethora of poison ivy. Most people stay by the lake, so in the fields and woods I did not see anyone. I basically just wandered around, first making my way north on the west side of the lake, making my way past a wildlife viewing shelter to a pipeline (to see if it'd make a reasonable climb of the mountain for future reference), and then back east of the lake.
This also meant that wildlife was abundant. Herons at the lake. Deer in some of the fields. Turkeys in another. Photographed one running away, and then heard others taking flight, looking to see ten to a dozen flying away!
In the beginning of October I decided on a circuit hike in SGL 124, utilizing the Tuscarora Trail, plus the Hells Hill and "Blue" trails, and some logging roads to get between them. I was concerned about getting lost, and what critters could lurk in the deep leaves. So, when I woke up for the hike, while a nice day, I decided to go back to bed. Waking up later, I decided to instead go to Indian Springs WMA, near Clear Spring MD, as while very close by, I've not hiked there, and figured I could do 4-5 miles in the afternoon.
I decided to hike around Blair Valley Lake, and the surrounding fields at the foot of Sword Mountain. There are few marked trails here, only one going around the lake which itself is not well marked (and then only in one direction). The rest of the trails are then mainly old farm lanes and mowed field edges, some of which were not cleared in a while and had excessive gnats. I also am not sure how permanently placed said trails are. There's also a cleared edge of the lake, which I would not recommend using, due to a plethora of poison ivy. Most people stay by the lake, so in the fields and woods I did not see anyone. I basically just wandered around, first making my way north on the west side of the lake, making my way past a wildlife viewing shelter to a pipeline (to see if it'd make a reasonable climb of the mountain for future reference), and then back east of the lake.
This also meant that wildlife was abundant. Herons at the lake. Deer in some of the fields. Turkeys in another. Photographed one running away, and then heard others taking flight, looking to see ten to a dozen flying away!