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| CO Canal MP 175.7-184.5, MD | |
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| | CO Canal MP 175.7-184.5, MD | | | |
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CO Canal MP 175.7-184.5, MD
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| Hiking | 10.12 Miles |
127 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.12 Miles | 3 Hrs 24 Mns | | 2.98 mph |
| 127 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Peak fall color in western Maryland is mid-October. When we flew into Baltimore on 10/27, it still looked decent as we drove west along I-70. Things happened, so I wasn't able to ge out until 10/30. In just those 72 hours, Allegany County lost significant color. Bummer. Oh well. Onwards!
MP 175.7: Lock 75, where I started, has a portapotty, four picnic tables (each with a grill), and a mapboard. Though 60℉, it was chilly, overcast and threatening. The duckweed that covered the lock's water in August had disappeared.
I could hear shooting to my right. It didn’t sound frantic, so not an escaped prisoner from FCI Cumberland. (Turns out it was the sheriff's outdoor range.) Worse was to my left, a horrendous feed lot smell. Or, what I tease my wife as smelling like “profit”. 
MP 176.5: Pollock Family Cemetery. The gate was locked, but the cemetery was small enough I could still get photos of the graves. While I was walking around, a car drove up, and the driver just sat there watching me. When I left, he left. Spooky.
MP 177.0: FCI Cumberland is barely visible through the trees, as the canal wraps around it for the next mile to this segment’s only rest bench.
MP 179.0: CSX’s massive, 3½ mile long, rail yard begins. I could hear the trains clanking, and engines blowing their horns but, like the prison, the rail cars were barely visible through the trees, across the water-filled canal, and up a 30 ft. embankment.
MP 180.0: Evitts Creek Campground has the usual NPS amenities: portapotty, picnic table, grill, fire pit, direction & distance sign, trash bag dispenser, and a well hand pump — which not only had a handle, but gave water after only two or three pumps.
MP 180.7: Evitts Creek Aqueduct
MP 181.5: The canal passes by a sewage plant, which smelled considerably better than the “profit” several miles back. (If you ever get chance, sewage plant’s are a fascinating tour.) The adjacent city park has actual bathrooms.
MP 183.0: The Carpendale Rail Trail intersects the towpath. It's less than a mile, but packed with cool stuff: a 386 ft. wood bridge across the Potomac River, followed by a 1,500 ft. tunnel under colorful Knobley Mountain. If I didn’t already have eight miles under my belt, I would have hiked it. 
For the final mile, the canal is squeezed between the Potomac River, MD-61 and a half dozen CSX rail lines. Even at 2 p.m., it was chilly and windy. Canal Place was nearly empty. I was just glad I was able to find a place to eat — European Desserts & More  — with my patient, shuttle-driving, wife.
Though not a thru-hike, it still feels good to finish section hiking a long trail. Later this week, I will finish the Black Canyon Trail. In Spring, 2024, the Maricopa Trail. And, next fall, the General Crook Trail. God willing.
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/881389038
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v3tuetg-c-and-o-cana ... rland.html |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
— with my patient, shuttle-driving, wife.
