Date: 2018-06-01
From: Washington Monument State Park

To: Pen Mar County Park
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: overcast clouds

It was a short walk from the parking lot up to the Washington Monument. There were three other A.T. hikers between the parking lot and the monument. That is the most I have seen along the trail in awhile. The day was off to a good start with a smooth path, sunny skies, and a slight breeze. However, the temperature rose pretty quickly, making even the shortest climb more difficult.About two miles into the hike the trail crossed over I-70 on a footbridge. We have driven under that same footbridge dozens of times in the past. When we did I would always comment to Which Way that one day we would be walking over that bridge. The first 8 miles of the hike continued to be pretty easy. Then came the rocks. It was as though all the rocks in Maryland had been placed in this half mile stretch of the trail. My feet were tired and sore inside my already worn out hiking shoes. Plus, it just breaks your rhythm when you have to gingerly work your way through a wet, jagged, and uneven pile of rocks. The trail continued past Annapolis Rocks downhill to Black Rock Creek. I picked up an empty water bottle on the trail on my way down to the creek. When I arrived I found its owner, who had stopped to filter water. I refilled my own water and stopped for lunch at the same spot. Not long after lunch the trail crosses through an open field. Thankfully the grass had been mowed along the trail, as it was over waist high in the rest of field. I ran into a ridge runner coming from the opposite direction and stopped to talk with him for a second. He said the trail ahead of me was a taste of Pennsylvania. A good chunk of the trail in Pennsylvania is known for its obnoxiously rocky terrain. The trail continued to be pretty easy for the next couple miles and I wondered if he knew what he was talking about. Then I crossed MD 491 and started the 800 foot ascent up Raven Rocks. It was tough going and I was hot and tired. Plus my feet were really hurting now. I really just wanted to stop right there but had to keep pressing on to meet WW at our designated link-up spot. The rocks continued over the backside of the hill. In places, the trail was not marked well causing me to stop in the middle of a rock pile and peer around for a white blaze or signs of the trail. I finally worked my way through the rocks and raced along the final 1.5 miles to Pen Mar County Park, where WW was waiting with a cold Mountain Dew. My very own trail angel. Music to my ears. There was a bathroom at the park and I made use of the sink to rinse my sweat stained shirt and clean up the rest of me as much as possible. I also stretched before getting in the car for the 30-minute ride back to Hagerstown. After a long hot shower, we went to a hole-in-the-wall Italian Restaurant called Dolces. It was delicious. They even threw in complimentary fresh powdered donut bites at the end. Yummy! Although it was a hot, long and achy day on the AT, there's nowhere I would rather be.Peace & Blessings!Next StepElevation Data:Ascent - 3,510Descent - 3,600Grade - 6.3Weather:Day - 85 / Mostly SunnyNight - 67 / Thunder StormsOver the Horizon: Pine Grove Furnace State Park