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| | C&O Canal MP 108.7-112.2, MD | | | |
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C&O Canal MP 108.7-112.2, MD
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| Hiking | 5.80 Miles |
158 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.80 Miles | 2 Hrs 2 Mns | | 2.85 mph |
| 158 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I started hiking today’s segment of the C&O Canal from Four Locks at 7:30 a.m. Flowers in Maryland seem to do very well in temperatures that Arizona flowers wouldn’t get within 30 degrees of. It was a beautiful morning: Perfect temperature, barely a cloud in the sky. 
An unsigned inlet lock marks the west side of Prather’s Neck — which Four Locks bisects, saving the C&O Canal 3½ miles of construction. Past the inlet lock, on the Potomac River flat, was a dense patch of Virginia bluebell that was at least ⅓ mile long.
MP 109.6: North Mountain Campground has the usual portapotty, picnic table, grill, fire pit, direction & distance sign and doggie doo bag dispenser. Unlike many of my other C&O Canal hikes, the well hand pump had a handle. I pumped it a few times, but no water issued forth. Probably because I had not built up enough pressure. Camping is free.
MP 110.2: McCoy’s Ferry Campground has 12 single sites and one group site, each with room for a trailer up to 20 ft., picnic table, grill and fire pit. There are multiple portapotties, and a pit toilet by the boat landing. Cost is $20 / night for a single site; $40 / night for the group site. Reservations: https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/252969 🏕
At the east end of McCoy’s Ferry Campground, on the C&O Canal, there is what appears to be a lock. Like the inlet lock earlier, it is unnumbered and unsigned. The campground is accessed by McCoy’s Ferry Rd. 100 yds. north of the C&O Canal, the road is crossed by a high railroad trestle. The trestle is the most interesting structure between Four Locks and Ft. Frederick.
The next two miles of the C&O Canal towpath are casual strolling, devoid of historical interest. The most interesting feature was the abundant vines. I don’t know from vines, but I’m certain they were not kudzu. Given their density, though, my best guess is they are winter creeper, a highly invasive non-poisonous vine related to poison ivy. C&O Canal vines: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/552515 
MP 102.2: Ft. Frederick Rd. crosses the C&O Canal. I knew the fort itself was uphill to my right, but I first went left. Just curious. After briefly checking out Beaver Pond — which appears not to be part of Big Pool — I headed back uphill.
Ft. Frederick Rd. passes between two open fields, which would make great fields of fire if the fort still mounted 6-pounder cannon on its bastions. Now, the fields are a black powder musket range, used by Colonial-era reenactors.
As I approached Ft. Frederick, there were wood buildings to my left and straight ahead. Left is Capain Wort’s Sutlery (the park store), restrooms, parking, and a path to the visitors’ center. Straight ahead is the C.C.C. Museum, for the Depression-era workers who built the buildings. The sutlery and museum were both closed.
Ft. Frederick’s gate is on its south side. (No pets or bikes are allowed inside.) The gate is topped by anti-personnel spikes. The fort’s stone walls are 4 ft. thick at the bottom, 2 ft. and angled higher up. Not exceptionally thick by European standards, but enough to withstand the firepower available on the Colonial frontier, in an era when other forts were wooden. 
Inside Ft. Frederick, there is a well, 6-pounder cannon, and two wooden 2-story barracks, each capable of holding 100 troops (200 in a pinch), plus “camp followers”. All that’s left of the officers’ quarters is foundation. I could see relics inside the Colonial wavy-glass windows, but those doors were locked as well. I guess things open up after Memorial Day.
After my wife picked me up, we drove out west of Clear Springs on US-40, for lunch at Clear Spring Country Diner. We both had bacon cheeseburgers, and I got a slice of coconut cream pie for desert, even though the hike was not long enough to justify the additional delicious calories. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/702097840 |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Lots of Virginia bluebell, plenty of dandelion, plus purple dead nettle, downy yellow violet, common blue violet, Eastern spring beauty, wild blue phlox, cutleaf toothwort, and rue anemone. |
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