A Historical Hike

As mentioned, I had the pleasure of a Sunday afternoon hike with K.L.K. in Harpers Ferry National Historic Park yesterday. The location, hike, and timing were all her call. My only job was to show up; sometimes just 'being there' is refreshing. I have never ever as much as pretended to be an event planner, however, it's rare I turn down an invitation. This makes me easygoing, not lazy, right?

We met in Knoxville, Maryland at her parent's home, then hopped in one car for the five minute drive to the Maryland side of park. This historical community is centered around the merging of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, meaning there is hiking potential in three separate states (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia). After securing a parking spot, we walked over the bridge to West Virginia to explore the town. The scene--overdressed people, funky accents, subsidized shops, meat and potato type restaurants, historical--reading intense--museums--was not mine. Once K.L.K. had that out of her system (smile), we wandered over to the mysterious Virginius Island before heading back to Maryland for our 'real' journey.

A speedy water break later, we were off on the Maryland Heights trail. Early on our ascent up the mountain, signage revealed this trail was "steeped in civil war history." I do not usually hike to historical monuments, preferring nature in the form of wildlife and waterfalls, as oppose to ruins of Union Civil War forts. This was a new adventure, one that took a few minutes of adjusting to prior to my brain forging on with questions. My main focus being: How did these people get water? I hope they had horses. Of course, I did not have time to read all the signs(!!!). We did pause on our detour to the Naval Battery, realizing only moments following, the hike to this point was a precursor to the steepness ahead.

We reached our goal(?)--the fort--where we were greeted more history and spectacular views of the Potomac River. And it was here that I noted the joys of winter hiking: people are almost nonexistent and visibility endures for miles. Major highlight. Though we climbed for what seemed like ever... through history... I reveled in the peacefulness of just 'being there'--with company, outside under crayola skies.

"The passage of the Patowmac through the Blue Ridge is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in Nature." (Thomas Jefferson on his 1783 visit to Harper's Ferry)