by Melanie McManus | Sep 11, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
Today’s goal was Big Woods campsite, just under 20 miles (32.2 km) away. This is predicted to be the last nice day before the awful 90s F (+32 C) drift in for a few days. I got up and on the towpath by 8:30, which is kind of late. I suppose it was because I stopped to...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 12, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
Today’s hike from Big Woods to Williamsport was exceptionally hard, but I’m not sure why. I felt well-rested this morning and made sure to eat more than I usually do. But I was wiped out just halfway into the day. To backtrack a bit … I woke up before 6 a.m. to get an...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 13, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
I wasn’t super stoked for today’s hike, as it was supposed to be hot and humid as I made my way to the Little Pool campsite. And with so many campsite pumps being out of operation, I had no idea what I’d be facing. But first, a look at last night. I spent most of the...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 14, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
Today’s hike to Devil’s Alley nearly killed me. OK, so that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But it did a number on me mentally. It wasn’t the day in and of itself, but rather the culmination of hiking so many, many days in temperatures around 90 F (+32 C), with high...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 15, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
I needed a great night’s sleep to prepare for the hike today, which featured the Paw Paw Tunnel. Or should I say, featured the steep climb up and over the mountain that the tunnel goes through, as the tunnel is undergoing repairs. But alas, it was not meant to be. I...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 16, 2021 | Maryland, Potomac Heritage Trail 2020-21, Trail Journals
The big question for today: Should I hike all the way from the Paw Paw Campground to Cumberland, a roughly 30-mile (48.3 km) trek, or stop a few miles/kilometers short and tack them onto tomorrow? I decided to take it hour by hour. The bike shop near the Fairfield Inn...