Creeks of the Frederick Watershed
Jun 14, 2015 22:31:01 GMT -5
Post by AegisIII on Jun 14, 2015 22:31:01 GMT -5
Photos
End of the backlog! With the snow partly gone, I figured mid-March would be a good time to do some creekwhacking in the Frederick Watershed.
I started at the trailhead on Gambrill Park Rd just north of Coxey Brown Rd. Started down the logging road, which, in the only bad part of the hike, was a soft muddy mess. By the first pond, the trail had turned into an ice sheet. Thankfully, my plan was to turn off onto Dave's Trail, which was icy an icy track through the snow, but with enough traction for easy going. Huggybear, later on, was about the same. This took me to Lawnmower, which started out with snow, turning into clear treadway partway through, the trail turning into a mountain laurel lined canyon. Reached the Catoctin Trail, clear, took it back north to Angie's Trail (the logging road from the beginning). Took its paralleling singletrack trail, clear, downhill, then a combination of bike trails to reach the junction of the Hamburg Road and Clifford Hollow creeks, both flowing quite well and would be a wet crossing had I crossed.
Now came the time to follow the Hamburg Rd creek. I first started on known woods road, following the creek from above. Then I turned onto an unknown woods road, still above the creek. It tunneled through mountain laurel, than made a short, steep climb, and then headed level for a bit, getting in worse shape, before descending to the creek, plenty of blowdowns. (It crossed the creek to reach the road.) I stayed on the bank opposite the road, heading upstream now cross-country. The creek flowing well, gentle cascades along the way. Some snow, depending on the slope. Counting the bends in the creek, I crossed on a fallen tree, and followed the creek a short bit more before climbing above. On the opposite bank was a nice small sidestream, steep with many cascades and falls. I'll have to explore that later.
Heading away from the creek, I found an old road bed, and took it out to Nathaniel's Place. This is technically not part of the Shed, but is state land, dedicated to one who helped clean up the area. Unfortunately, it has not stayed that way, and there is plenty of trash and graffiti. On the plus side, there is an old foundation next to a cliff line, with a good view of the Hamburg Road creek below, with wonderful cascades beneath the best rhododendron patch the Shed has; and not heavy at all to allow good views. I spent some fair time exploring this nice area.
After my explorations, I continued upstream, first by the creek, and then mid a steep bank. Still some cascades, but more gentle. I soon found an old woods road, which I took to creek level, finding a nearby fallen tree to cross again. Some good flat rocks made for a good lunch spot, facing a small pool along the creek. I continued upstream, turning back into snow and mountain laurel, following the very faint traces of the woods road just next to the creek. At the junction of the Hamburg and VW creeks, I continued straight ahead on the VW creek. The trace soon climbed away from the creek, but I continued along the creek. The valley narrowed into a ravine. As the flat land on my side started to disappear, I used a horizontal trunk to cross the stream. In this area is the Volkswagen waterfall. I should have stayed on the other side, as great views on the north side were not to be had. I climbed up next to the falls, and in 50 feet or so reached the VW trail.
Once at the trail, I took familiar trails back to the trailhead. Some with snow, some without.
End of the backlog! With the snow partly gone, I figured mid-March would be a good time to do some creekwhacking in the Frederick Watershed.
I started at the trailhead on Gambrill Park Rd just north of Coxey Brown Rd. Started down the logging road, which, in the only bad part of the hike, was a soft muddy mess. By the first pond, the trail had turned into an ice sheet. Thankfully, my plan was to turn off onto Dave's Trail, which was icy an icy track through the snow, but with enough traction for easy going. Huggybear, later on, was about the same. This took me to Lawnmower, which started out with snow, turning into clear treadway partway through, the trail turning into a mountain laurel lined canyon. Reached the Catoctin Trail, clear, took it back north to Angie's Trail (the logging road from the beginning). Took its paralleling singletrack trail, clear, downhill, then a combination of bike trails to reach the junction of the Hamburg Road and Clifford Hollow creeks, both flowing quite well and would be a wet crossing had I crossed.
Now came the time to follow the Hamburg Rd creek. I first started on known woods road, following the creek from above. Then I turned onto an unknown woods road, still above the creek. It tunneled through mountain laurel, than made a short, steep climb, and then headed level for a bit, getting in worse shape, before descending to the creek, plenty of blowdowns. (It crossed the creek to reach the road.) I stayed on the bank opposite the road, heading upstream now cross-country. The creek flowing well, gentle cascades along the way. Some snow, depending on the slope. Counting the bends in the creek, I crossed on a fallen tree, and followed the creek a short bit more before climbing above. On the opposite bank was a nice small sidestream, steep with many cascades and falls. I'll have to explore that later.
Heading away from the creek, I found an old road bed, and took it out to Nathaniel's Place. This is technically not part of the Shed, but is state land, dedicated to one who helped clean up the area. Unfortunately, it has not stayed that way, and there is plenty of trash and graffiti. On the plus side, there is an old foundation next to a cliff line, with a good view of the Hamburg Road creek below, with wonderful cascades beneath the best rhododendron patch the Shed has; and not heavy at all to allow good views. I spent some fair time exploring this nice area.
After my explorations, I continued upstream, first by the creek, and then mid a steep bank. Still some cascades, but more gentle. I soon found an old woods road, which I took to creek level, finding a nearby fallen tree to cross again. Some good flat rocks made for a good lunch spot, facing a small pool along the creek. I continued upstream, turning back into snow and mountain laurel, following the very faint traces of the woods road just next to the creek. At the junction of the Hamburg and VW creeks, I continued straight ahead on the VW creek. The trace soon climbed away from the creek, but I continued along the creek. The valley narrowed into a ravine. As the flat land on my side started to disappear, I used a horizontal trunk to cross the stream. In this area is the Volkswagen waterfall. I should have stayed on the other side, as great views on the north side were not to be had. I climbed up next to the falls, and in 50 feet or so reached the VW trail.
Once at the trail, I took familiar trails back to the trailhead. Some with snow, some without.