Where Trails Meet Tourism

There's an interesting story out of Cumberland this week, concerning the Scenic Western Maryland Railroad.

In their annual budget presentation to the County Commissioners, the railroad's management revealed that ridership on the attraction (which takes visitors on a 32 mile trip up the mountain to Frostburg and back) was up by 22% in 2010, for a total number of 38,300 passengers for the eight month season.  Even better news is that more than 11,000 stayed at least one night in the area.

Any business increase in 2010 was noteworthy, but such a dramatic change in such a difficult year is almost astonishing.  But it is also easy to explain when one considers the growing popularity of their new best friend  -- the neighboring Allegheny Highlands Trail.

The Allegheny Highlands is the Maryland portion of the Great Allegheny Passage, which extends from Cumberland to Pittsburgh.  In Cumberland, it connects to the historic C&O Canal towpath all the way to Georgetown.  Surveys taken along various stretches of this trail indicate that hikers, equestrians, and cyclists come from all over the country to experience the beauty of the rivers and mountains it goes over and through.

Allegheny Highlands opened just a few years ago, the vintage railroad saw a great opportunity to partner with it, running shuttle services to Frostburg for cyclists who wanted to chug up the winding hills and coast back to Cumberland. 

(They must have had the Merry Marketeers in mind.)

For those who saw the wisdom (and economic impact) of completing the same passage first envisioned by George Washington to make it accessible for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts, it is fulfilling the promise.  As other local jurisdictions consider similar projects, they realize trails are more than a quality of life amenity -- their heritage appeal, proximity to other attractions, and user friendliness make them a genuine tourist attraction.

Big Air, Deep Snow, and Thin Ice

Last Sunday was the Maryland Open at Wisp, a successful reminder that, according to the calendar and the mounds of snow in Western Maryland, there is still plenty of winter to enjoy and lots of adventurous folks to share it with.

The Maryland Open turned out to be a rollicking jam for snow surfers of all ages, who competed in big air, slope, and free style skiing.

This was a family event, with spectators filling the slopes and competitors as young as 7 years old vying for prizes.  It was a regional draw, with participants coming from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Northern Virginia in addition to Marylanders.

Lori Epp at Wisp reminded us that although the temperatures are rising, winter sports are in full swing and this is a great time of year to enjoy them.  Ice fisherman are still huddled in their igloos on the lake.  As you can see from this picture, not all the yellow perch are waiting for the festival in North East.  Walleye and pike are also plentiful for those willing to tread on the thinning surface.

So enjoy the last few weeks of winter and journey to Maryland's only four season resort.  The Merry Marketeers are holding Terry to his promise for a field trip, so maybe you'll catch us tubing (more likely tumbling) down the slopes.

Surging Slopes --Maryland's X-treme Show in the Snow

Did you know Maryland is stoked to host extreme action sports competitions on the slopes as well as sand?  In the excitement over the Dew Tour coming to Ocean City in the summer, we want to remind you that daredevils from near and far are gravitating to Wisp for the annual Maryland Open on February 26, 2011.

The Maryland Open is just that, an open event for freestyle skiers and snowboarders, with competition in various classes depending on the number of participants.

The throwdown will determine the top freestyle skier and snowboarder in the Mid Atlantic region after a day-long competition in slopestyle, big air, and terrain park. Contestants will be judged on style and amplitude.

This is a family-oriented event, since participants are all ages with classes determined by age and gender.

The competition will take place in the Pro Park, with the awards ceremony and apres-ski entertainment immediately after the last run.
 

Mountain Maryland does not limit its extreme sports to the winter.  Wisp offered adrenaline rushes to downhill bikers at past Gravity East competitions. The rugged terrain presents a tough challenge for this series of downhill biking runs.
 

Of course, the internationally recognized Adventure Sports Center whitewater course provides its own thrills and top level of competition.  It has hosted such high caliber events as the Canoe and Kayak American Open World Series, one of four whitewater national championships in three years.
 
(The good part is that Adventure Sports is also available for piddling paddlers to play.)
 
There are all sorts of personal challenge outdoor activities to enjoy at Wisp year round, including rock climbing and treetop swings.  So no matter what the season, or what limits you want to push, exhilarating Western Maryland is the place you want to be.

The Perfect Fit

Terry and the Merry Marketeers were brainstorming at the Turn Ten after work last week, trying to identify additional space for an upcoming tournament which is more successful than previous years. 

(You have to love the kind of success that keeps you scrambing for an overflow venue, Terry reminded us.)

Unfortunately, there was another overflow during the evening bohamie that was not quite so welcome.  The kind that arrives in the middle of winter when carbohydrate cravings have caught up with moribund metabolism and you realize "one size fits all" no longer applies to anything you are wearing or sitting on.  In fact, you curse silently, is there any place where One Size (truly) Fits All?

But of course, the muse reminds you --  the State of Maryland.  That compact geographic jurisdiction that offers everything in the pursuit of fitness.  And if we spent more time exploring and enjoying its many outdoor wonders and convenient facilities, we might not have have trouble balancing on the stools at the Turn Ten.

(NOTE:  Jumping in the Bay with the Polar Bears might be adventurous, but it doesn't burn blubber.)

The Merry Marketeers have been lobbying Terry for a field trip to Western Maryland, where winter is not only welcome -- it is celebrated as an important element in year-round outdoor sports opportunites.

We're hoping to take this trip in February so we can see experience exhilaration and exercise at its snowiest.  Wisp, the only ski resort in the state, has received a blessing of snowfall this winter. The total now stands at 128 inches, more than the area's traditional seasonal average of 100 inches.

Additionally, their world-famous snowmaking system, which covers 90 percent of the terrain, accounts for the length and reliability of that season.

Devotees and dilettantes (like the snow bunny here) have 32 slopes and trails spread over 132 acres, with 90% of the slopes available for night skiing.  And that's just the beginning of what the region offers this time of year.

For although our state has absolutely everything you can imagine in outdoor facilities and natural resources, there isn't any region that can do winter quite like Mountain Maryland.

So stay tuned for the next adventure of Tweety and Blogue, and also for some good news from Terry about a soon to be announced major televised event that's hoping to come to Maryland.

Happy Birthday, Wisp !!!

Lest you think Mother Nature deposited all her white stuff in Buffalo, fear not.  Maryland's only ski resort (and four season recreational facility) was gifted with over a foot in the past several days -- just in time to start their season and celebrate their 55 years in business.

Wisp Resort, overlooking Deep Creek Lake in McHenry, had its humble beginnings in the winter of 1955-56.  That year, there was one slope and a tow rope.  Since then, Wisp has grown to 132 acres of ski terrain.  And in addition to the best state of the art snowmaking equipment, it averages 100 inches of the free stuff a year.

The birthday celebration on December 12 -13 features steeply discounted lift tickets, half-price rental equipment and group lessons, and family entertainment.  Plus some celebratory birthday cake from the renown Charm City bakery.

If you haven't been to Wisp in a while, this is a good time to check out all the new features. Since 2001, Wisp has added more than $40 million in improvements, renovations and additions.  That includes ten new trails on the North Camp in 2005, the Mountain Coaster in '07 and the Flying Squirrel Canopy Tour and Hale Irwin Lodestone Golf Club this year.

Future plans include more ski and snowboard amenities, a mountaintop village, retail shops, and restaurants.

Wisp (and Western Maryland) are the year-round playground of our state.  Be sure to check with Mountainside Maryland to see what else is going on in this exciting region.

Our Friends, the Feds

Hooray for the National Park Service !!  They are moving ahead on the long-anticipated, eagerly awaited, breathtakingly scenic extension to the 22 mile Western Maryland Rail Trail.

If this doesn't ring a bell with regular readers, perhaps you will recognize this stretch by its most famous battleground -- the 100+ year old Indigo Tunnel, where trail enthusiasts faced off against the Indiana bats and were soundly defeated by the slumbering rodents.

Fortunately, the Indigo Tunnel is only a part of this 15 mile abandoned shortcut through the Potomac's Paw Paw Bends .  This route cuts through the mountains and over convoluted river passage with six trestles and three tunnels.  As you can see from this rickety specimen, the view is simply gorgeous.  Trail enthusiasts (and tourism officials) have been hoping for years to have this rail trail funded.  And now the process is officially underway.

The National Park Service sees this project as an extension of their mission with the C&O Canal towpath, which intersects part of the trail (including the detour around Indigo to accommodate the endangered bats) by providing additional scenic views, recreational experiences, and historic opportunities in the Potomac River Valley.  It will also provide connectivity for a greater regional trail network as the trail passes from West Virginia to Maryland and back.

From a safety standpoint, it will resolve issues related to the abandoned corridor including bridges not being maintained and hazardous materials from former railway uses.

Public meetings to discuss the proposal were held last week in Little Orleans and Paw Paw, and the Park Service will be taking comments through December 23rd.

It is still a long (expensive) process before this extension comes to fruition.  But the federal action is the first big step taken since the bats won the battle of the Indigo Tunnel nearly a year ago.  In the end, the modified trail will offer the best of all worlds with its sensitivity to history, heritage, and the environment.

Western Maryland enjoys its reputation as a great outdoors playground.  The rail trails are only part of what makes it a great region to visit.  There is still plenty of beautiful weather left to experience it this season, so plan to check it out.

Bats 1 - Bikers 1

If there is one thing we’ve learned from this summer of soccer, it’s that even a tie can be considered a win. Such is the case with the decision handed down from DNR concerning the long disputed Indigo Tunnel and the efforts to incorporate it into a spectacular feature of the Western Maryland Rail Trail.

As readers of this blog already know, this extension of the popular trail running through the far western part of the state would take visitors through a number of 100 year old tunnels and across trestles spanning the Potomac. It had been in the planning stage for some time when biologists discovered the long-abandoned, 4,350-foot-long Indigo Tunnel just outside Pearre was the largest bat hibernaculum on the East Coast.

Not just any bats, mind you. Of the 1,400 bats who winter in Indigo, there are several species represented. When a few from the endangered list were found snoozing, the Feds immediately stepped in to protect them.

From Whom All Blessings Flow

We received some good news this week about a groundbreaking on the C&O Canal.   Big Slackwater (don’t you love those colorful names?) lock and dam, closed for several years due to serious erosion from the Potomac, will be restored – thanks mostly to a federal stimulus grant, funding from the state, and hard work from the local representatives and visitors bureau who made getting this segment repaired a priority project.

As has been noted before, the C&O Canal is more than a historic landmark, it is a popular tourist attraction – particularly in the sports and recreation community.  Hundreds of thousand of visitors trek various segments every year.

Unfortunately, there is a bend in the Potomac in Washington County where periodic flooding took out the path. The detour to the next lock a mile upstream was particularly treacherous, but the environmental challenges for restoring the path had a hefty price tag of $17 million. Not something the Friends, County or even State could finance by themselves.

Enter the Feds to do the heavy lifting. With the largest portion of the project funded by Economic Recovery dollars, the ambitious reconstruction will be underway soon and this dramatic scenic byway will again be accessible to trail travelers.

It is partnerships involving multiple entities that make many of our quality of life and competitive facilities possible.   In Maryland, Project Open Space $$$$ are frequently leveraged with Transportation Enhancement Funds (that’s another federal piggy bank) to develop trails, since they are both linear parks and an alternative transportation option.

There was more good news on that front last week, when Governor O’Malley announced the final $4 million necessary to extend the Jones Falls Trail from the Cylburn Arboretum to Mt. Washington had been secured.   It is likely to be at least 18 months before the walking and bicycle route is underway, but community support and financial commitments were two big hurdles to be addressed and both were met.

The trail currently extends 4.25 miles from Penn Station to the Woodbury light rail at Clipper Mill, where it passes a number of historic mills, the Round Falls overlook and Baltimore Street Car Museum. Another segment winds through Druid Hill Park by the Maryland Zoo and around the reservoir, where it is a popular access for the many sports activities that occur there.

When complete, the Jones Falls Trail will extend 12 miles, from the Inner Harbor to Lake Roland at the Robert E. Lee Park.

Which brings another piece of good news, and more largess.

Robert E. Lee Park, a 453 acre gem surrounding Lake Roland, was a favorite of the four-footed set for years. Before falling into disrepair which necessitated its closing, Lee was considered the largest and most popular dog recreational facility in the area.

Lee Park has the curious distinction of being City property (and site of the first municipal water source) but being physically located in the County. It was actually a local community association that suggested the County take over management and restoration of the park.

After working out a lease agreement with the City, Baltimore County needed $6 million to make repairs and improvements to the neglected facility. These include reconstructing the pedestrian bridge, (once a railroad trestle,) restoring existing trails, adding parking, and developing up a secure dog park. (Fido activities will be confined to a specific, fenced area in the future.)

Baltimore County ponied up half the funds; the State of Maryland came through with the other half via the bond bill route. Work has already begun on the pedestrian bridge and addressing some environmental challenges due to erosion.

So when travelers on the Jones Falls Trail reach the Lake Roland terminus, Robert E. Lee Park offers a natural extension and more activities to enjoy.

Let’s give thanks to those On High who help leverage community resources and bring good ideas to fruition for everyone’s benefit.  We couldn't do it without them.

Garrett County -- Getting Traction with Trails

Garrett County, Maryland’s Adventureland, is already known for its wealth of natural resources, man-made recreational venues, and spectacular scenery. With 80,000 state-owned acres of forests and parks (more than any other county,) Garrett has always been a favorite destination for those who love the great outdoors.

Now Garrett County, where mountain biking is a favorite local pastime and well as tourist attraction, is looking for a way to capitalize on the phenomena that already benefits its neighbors in Allegany, Mineral, and Somerset Counties — the Great Allegheny Passage.

This week, Senators Mikulski and Cardin, both avid supporters of trail construction, announced a $30,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission to help develop a countywide trail network, approximately 150 miles long, that will connect many of the towns in Garrett County to the Great Allegheny Passage – the portion of the trail that connects Cumberland to Pittsburgh. (The C&O Canal is the segment from Georgetown to Cumberland, where it meets the Allegheny Highlands Trail.)

The grant will be administered by Garrett Trails, a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to developing a trail network to provide access to the county’s historic, municipal, and environmental treasures, and a link to trails outside the county.  In addition to ARC funds, Garrett Trails will provide $20,000 and Maryland Program Open Space will provide $10,000.

Allegheny Highlands, the Maryland portion of the Great Allegheny Passage, follows the old Western Maryland railroad line.  It was completed in 2006 and began reaping economic benefits almost immediately .

An 18-month economic impact study performed by our friends in Pennsylvania found that the trail has become a national and international destination.  It hosts an estimated 750,000 trips annually,
generating over $40 million in annual spending and another $7.5 million in wages.

Pennsylvania was quicker to jump on the economic potential for small businesses, establishing a “Trail Towns” program that worked with the communities and services along the trails to capitalize on the needs of visitors passing through.   Maryland towns like Hancock and Sharpsburg have seen the potential and are likewise developing trail-friendly amenities to lure these pedal pushers.

Even Carpendale, across the river from Cumberland, has figured a way to sidetrack some of this lucrative market via an old railroad trestle over the Potomac and tunnel under Knobley Mountain. This scenic spur to the Great Allegheny Passage will bring countless visitors into the small West Virginia town when it is complete in a few months.

So it’s easy to see why Garrett would like a piece of the action, while also developing an even greater recreational resource and alternative transportation option for its residents.

The “Garrett Loop” will connect with the Great Allegheny Passage at Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, providing access to Grantsville, Deep Creek Lake, Friendsville and Oakland as well as state parks and open spaces in the county.

Garrett Trails is hoping that construction on part of this network can begin in 2011. Identifying connectors and establishing easements is the first step. Hopefully this grant will pave the way
to bringing more people to destinations like Dynamite Shack Trail and Indian Turnip Trail. You can learn more about the existing trails of Garrett County by going here:

Terry has promised the Merry Marketeers a field visit to Garrett County this summer, so learning more about the future trails is going to be part of my explorations.

Zipping over Garrett County

Terry promised to take the Merry Marketeers on a team outing to Western Maryland just as soon as he gets back (and we all recover from World Cup fever.)

This comes as great news, because a new feature has been added at the Wisp Resort as part of its four-season appeal.  The Flying Squirrel Zip Line Adventure is now available, offering the truly daring the opportunity to zoom between the treetops in the beautiful mountains of Garrett County.

In addition to being the home of Maryland's only ski resort, Garrett County also has the state's most rugged terrain -- making it a natural for outdoor adventure sports.

Speaking of Adventure Sports, one of our stops will be the world-class watersports facility built on the mountain near Wisp.  Hopefully, the Marketeers will all get a chance to practice our kayaking skills.  I'd also like to get in a trip to Deep Creek Lake, one of the most popular area attractions, and maybe even a little cycling. 

The Savage River is nationally recognized for being one of the premier fly fishing streams in the country, which also contributes to the sports and recreation tourism Western Maryland enjoys.

Hopefully, we'll also get to take a look at the site where a new $23 million Community Sports and Recreation Complex is under construction on the campus of Garrett College.  The planned project consists of a 32,000-square-foot aquatics center complete with two indoor swimming pools (you know how Terry loves those natatoriums,) a fitness facility and a physical therapy facility to be run by Garrett County Memorial Hospital.

A second phase will include a 34,000-square-foot gymnasium with three regulation-size basketball courts and seating for about 2,000.  These present all sorts of possibilities for bringing more events to the far west.

So stay tuned for the adventures of Team Terry as we explore more of the many assets Maryland  offers sports enthusiasts.

Surviving Sine Die

This tranquil scene is part of the deserted Western Maryland railroad corridor, yet to be connected to the Rail Trail.  If luck (and $$$$) hold, Phase IV of the plan will receive the necessary design funds to carry the popular 22.5 mile linear park an additional four miles,  winding through mountains and across streams from Pearre to Little Orleans.

Yes, this is the segment which includes Indigo Tunnel, winter home of the endangered Indiana Bat and their hibernating friends.  The latest proposal calls for something called "bat gates" to accommodate the fuzzy fliers on either end of the mile long tunnel.

(That's right -- die fledermaus  prevailed.  The latest proposal calls for the trail to detour round the bend.) 

Tunnel aficionatos will have to settle for a trip through Knobley Mountain in Carpendale, WVa.  Instead of bats, they share custody with a local utility, so their tunnel is blessed by Robert Byrd, funded by stimulous, and illuminated by Verizon.  It should open sometime next year and connect to the Maryland trails in Cumberland.

Nonetheless, the inclusion of funding for Phase IV in Allegany County (which you can read here) is wonderful news, and we'll be keeping our fingers crossed that nothing happens between now and midnight when the confetti falls in Annapolis.

Also tucked away in the capital budget is matching money for expansion of the Ocean City Convention Center, one of the premiere venues in the state for a multitude sports-related and other uses.

So even in a tough (make that VERY tough) budget year, there are bright spots for the Maryland sports and recreation scene.

Embarking the Great Eastern Trail

Now that the sock-burning ritual has occured, it is considered socially acceptable (at least in some cultures) to don flip flops.    (Note:  fashion cops will bust you for wearing sandals before a seasonal pedicure, but flip flops fly.) 

Thus with freed phalanges, my mind turned to hiking and all the opportunities Maryland presents for those who don't have bunions. 

Traditionally, the vernal equinox is when hard core hikers start their annual migration up the Appalachian Trail.  Starting in Georgia, many are passing through Maryland when summer solstice, aka "Hike Naked Day," occurs.  Unfortunately for modest Marylanders and au natural hikers, the two frequently collide because the Appalachian Trail through Maryland is a popular and well traveled route.

This is merely one example of the drawbacks that popularity of the Appalachian Trail -- the most famous of all long distance trails -- has brought to the rugged outdoorsmen who love the solitude of nature.  The Appalachian has become, well, too pedestrian.

Which brings us to the efforts to blaze a long distance trail for the hardiest of hoofers, extending 1,800 miles from Alabama to the Finger Lakes of New York, threading through some of the most remote regions of the mountain chain and connecting nine states.  Of all the states comprising the Great Eastern Trail, Maryland is the only one that has its entire segment (with two options) complete.

(Disclaimer:  Maryland is only one mile wide at this point between West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but that isn't the reason our portion is complete.  Read on.)

Benton MacKaye’s original vision for an Appalachian Trail in the 1920's showed a network of “braided” trails running the length of the Appalachian Mountains.  Blazing the original trail was accomplished almost entirely through volunteer efforts.  When a route for a new trail was identified about ten years ago, the same model was incorporated.   Implementation of this path will involve existing volunteer trail clubs, augmented where necessary by new volunteer groups.

Governmental entities are involved, of course (particularly where $$$$ and easements are needed) but the emphasis will be on volunteerism.
 
Maryland is fortunate because the pass through routes were already in place -- the C&O Canal towpath in Hancock is accessed via the Tuscarora Trail which splits from the Appalachian in Shenandoah National Park and extends 220 miles into Pennsylvania, and the 43 miles circuit trail system through Green Ridge State Forest near Flintsone.
 

Maryland Department of Natural Resources declared the Green Ridge trail system part of the Great Eastern Trail in 2007.  This map shows the options for accessing the trail and continuing into Pennsylvania.  (Pennsylvania's webpage brags their Mid State Trail is so wild you are likely to encounter more bears than people, which probably makes it a good choice for summer solstice.)
 
One of the largest volunteer groups responsible for building and maintaining these trail systems in our watershed is the Potomac Appalachian Hiking Club.  They were among the original visionaries who made the Appalachian Trail possible and they are taking the lead in blazing the Great Eastern Trail through our region.
 

The development of this trail is good news for Maryland, as it creates more interest in Western Maryland and our natural resources there.  Hancock is a wonderful destination for exploration because of the hiking trails and the Western Maryland Rail Trail -- one of the most beautiful in the country.  Small restaurants and bed and breakfasts cater to trail travelers, so the popularity of these outdoor adventures has a significant economic impact on the communities along the route.
 
So now that it's officially spring, try hitting the happy trails to enjoy what Maryland has to offer in natural beauty and healthy recreation.

Welcoming a Winter Wonderland

When you’re a few hours away from a really big game and the snow crews are still working (after 72 hours straight) to get the stadium and lots clear, it’s hard to think of this unseasonable blizzard as a good thing.

(Just ask the Bears, who sat on the Chicago tarmac for more than two hours before being turned back Friday night.)

But this is Maryland, and there’s plenty of places where this solstice snowstorm is just what’s needed for holiday cheer.

The pictures above come from Maryland Dogsledding, based in Baltimore County. As you can see, the team was in their element as the snow fell yesterday. Maryland Dogsledding operates all year round, with wheeled sleds (known as “gigs”) when the snow isn’t handy. They can take you on some wonderful adventures in the beautiful state parks of Maryland.

There's another place where this early gift from Santa is particularly appreciated -- the magical Wisp ski resort in the mountains of Garrett County.

Actually “ski resort” is now a misnomer since Wisp operates four seasons a year, with a championship golf course, fly-fishing trips to nearby mountain streams, and the new Adventure Sports Center and Deep Creek Lake nearby.


Wisp opened for the snow season just a few weeks ago when all we were getting was a lot of rain. So you can imagine how welcome this is, coming just in time for the holidays. While Wisp offers top of the line snow manufacturing to keep the trails operational, there’s nothing like the real thing to make the mood festive and the slopes superb.

(Yes, you can mush in Wisp, too.  Try  Husky Power Dogsledding )

So while you’re muttering epithets under your breath as you shovel the sidewalk, remember those places nearby that welcome this surprise gift. That’s the thing about Maryland, where there are four seasons of outdoor sports. Whether it’s the mountains, bay, or ocean, you’re only a few hours away.


So on that upbeat note, I’ll leave the comfort of the Warehouse and check out snow patrol at M&T. Tailgaters were scheduled to arrive at 11:00, and I’m guessing nothing is going to keep them away.

Even if it takes a team of huskies . . . .

Die Fledermaus

No, not the farcical Strauss operetta, but an enteraining tale nonetheless.  At its heart is a humble mammal with some pretty savvy advocates and powerful opponents.  And so far, Die Fledermaus has defied them all.

As you recall, several months ago I was lamenting the delay in incorporating the old Indigo Tunnel that passes under the mountains near Hancock into the Western Maryland Rail Trail.  The mile-long tunnel and the bridge over the Potomac would provide a breathtaking experience for the many thousand hikers and bikers already attracted to the Maryland mountainside for outdoor recreation.

Unfortunately, the Indigo Tunnel has some very influential squatters -- a colony of bats who have adapted it as their winter quarters.  Among their ranks is the well-connected Indiana Bat, who roosts very prominently on the Endangered Species List.  And you don't mess with anyone on the Endangered Species list, as the Snail Darter (who stopped the $100 million Tellico Dam) will attest.

The feds are still exploring a compromise over tunnel use, where bats and bikers share custody by dividing months of use.  However, the Indiana Bat and its delicate status have now weighed in on a bigger (and more controversial) environmental issue -- wind farms in Garrett County.

A federal judge has just ruled that the operation of wind turbines would sustain heavy Indiana bat casualties.  (I guess their sonar isn't as good as claimed.)  Maryland Daily Record had the story about the decision Tuesday  (the first in federal court)  that a wind power project violates the federal Endangered Species Act.   U.S. District Judge Roger Titus's opinion could have implications for other wind projects in the United States.

(This begs the question --  if these Hoosier bats are so at risk in Maryland, why don't they go back to Indiana?  Maybe it's the same lousy sonar that lures them into wind turbines.)

In any case, the recent news reminds me that I want to check with the Western Maryland Rail Trail folks to see how they're doing in their negotiations with the Feds to share the tunnel.    It's also makes me realize that if I ever get in a jam, I should get the same legal representation as the bats.

Tales of the Trails (where money's not the only object)

When Arlene and I were returning from Cumberland we stopped in Hancock, a lovely town on the Western Maryland Rail Trail. Like Allegheny Highland, the Western Maryland follows the eponymous railroad that hauled coal through the mountains of Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in the last century. In some places, the bed followed the C&O canal as it weaved along the Potomac. In others, it cut through the mountains and over the river to avoid the rival B&O line.

It is this part of the rail bed that piqued my interest. While the 23 mile existing route is beautiful (especially during fall foliage) and historic (Fort Frederick dates to the French and Indian War,) the proposed 14 miles extension from the Pearre terminus into West Virginia and back to Little Orleans is stunning in its scope. It consists of six trestles across the Potomac and three tunnels under the Alleghenies. I picked up a brochure produced a citizen advocacy group and decided to check on the progress of this proposed rail trail. The pictures are truly breathtaking and I could just imagine what an asset this would be for outdoor recreation in Western Maryland.

I checked the website, where the most recent news dated to a commitment for funds from the Ehrlich Administration. Before delving any deeper into the status of a rail trail on the other side of the state, I decided to check on the one nearest to my heart (not to mention my home) in Anne Arundel County – the South Shore Trail between Odenton and Annapolis.

As mentioned previously, the South Shore has been on the county’s to do list since the prior millennium. A notice on their advocacy group’s website indicated there was to be some kind of groundbreaking this summer. Since this is August and I haven’t seen any shovels, I called to inquire. Ken Alban, director of capital projects for the rec department, gave me an update.

Like the Potomac, the status meanders -- between good and no so much with mountains in between. Good news is Mr. Alban’s enthusiasm for trail construction. First thing he mentioned was the completion of a long awaited portion of the WB&A trail between Odenton and Bowie that will eventually (that word again) connect to Washington. As for the South Shore, (here comes the discouraging part) the information about the summer groundbreaking was erroneous. That wasn’t going to happen. But the good news (just around the bend) is that the engineering and design are continuing and money is available if it can be transferred from one segment of the trail to another. It seems that the portion scheduled to be completed first encountered a little difficulty (back to the bad news) with wetlands. (Oh, dear. I know what that means) that might require more property acquisition ($$$$) to work around.

There are tougher obstacles in Anne Arundel County than wetlands (like maybe an Indian burial ground) and worse things than environmental permits (the Corps of Engineers comes to mind.) So the current challenges facing the South Shore Trail are not deal breakers, not even in this economy. After talking with Mr. Alban, I felt a lot better about the South Shore Trail. It wasn’t happening this year, but the tedious groundwork – permits, design, easements, purchasing – is underway. It is a work in progress, not a dead issue.

So what happened to the Western Maryland trail extension? It seems money has been committed, and support from the community is ongoing. Where are we there?

A call to the DNR office overseeing the existing trail was certainly the most interesting of the day. It seems the project has encountered an obstacle more daunting than the mountains or river (or even the Corps of Engineers.)

During an environmental impact survey of the proposed trail, scientists learned the Indigo Tunnel – built in 1904, abandoned in 1975 and nearly a mile long – is now the premiere winter quarters for several species of bats. Hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands, of bats. In fact, the Indigo Tunnel is the one of largest hibernaculums in the East.

Why don’t they just go to Florida for the winter? (No, I didn’t say that.) I did, however, politely inquire if perhaps the bats could find a nice cave in nearby West Virginia or Pennsylvania to hole up if they didn’t want to migrate to warmer digs.

That’s where the story takes a turn for the worse. It seems that not only is the linear shaft of the Indigo tunnel a convenience, it is also a sanctuary from the dreaded White Nose Syndrome responsible for killing hibernating bats throughout East Coast caverns. Maryland, with its lack of caves attracting spelunkers (one theory is humans spread this fungus on their equipment) has thusfar managed to avoid contamination of White Nose Syndrome. Bats who winter Chez Indigo emerge healthy in the spring.

Adding to the urgency of this hibernation haven is that two of the species identified in the survey (that’s right – they took a bat census during nap time) are endangered. The Eastern Small-footed bat is on Maryland’s list and the Indiana bat is a federal endangered species.

I have great sympathy for the plight of the bats. They are good environmental citizens (really tough on mosquitos) and don’t deserve terminal White Nose Syndrome. But can’t they share? Do they have to have all the tunnel all the time?

Evidently, they do. In addition to snoozing, they also propagate in the intimacy of the Indigo. Baby bats cling to their mothers, who get very skittish when disturbed (I remember those days.) Problem is, bats don’t have nests to park their young. If they fall off mom, it’s over for the already-endangered next generation. So protecting the privacy of mother bats is another reason to keep humans out of the tunnel.

The nice lady told me the Feds were expected to have their environmental study completed this fall. At that point they should have a better idea about minimizing disruption to the bat community -- if possible.

Until then, the much anticipated Western Maryland Trail extension will just have to wait. Some obstacles are even higher than mountains and more convoluted than the Potomac.

Rally in the Fast Lane

Arlene and I had a lot of company has we headed west on I-70 Friday night. The commuter congestion is always intense, but on this particular trek north we jockeyed for lanes with swarms of Harleys, punctuated by iridescent classic sports cars on trailers. Throw in some construction, a few emergency lane closures and Peterbilts the size of freight trains, the exburban migration was a road rally competition worthy of sanction. (No more complaints from me about Howard Street.)

We shed the commuters at various Frederick exits, but the roadsters and easy riders continued the pace. It was going to be quite a night in Mountain Maryland. West Virginia may be wild and wonderful, but the action was going to be on our side of the Potomac this weekend.

There are a lot of reasons to love Western Maryland. The rugged beauty of the mountains and rivers make it one of the most appealing parts of the state. History and heritage abound here, as Cumberland, a transportation hub, played a significant role in the nation's development. River commerce, the C&O canal and several railroads provided a transportation grid from pre-colonial days through the rise of the industrial revolution. Spanning every era is the National Road. First an Indian trail across the mountains, then a trade corridor and Revolutionary army route, the National Road is recognized as the first highway of the modern transportation era. It was a combination of this history, the heritage of regional sports car racing, and Western Maryland's daredevil appeal that brought us to this race.

Hilltop races in Flintsone predate the yabba dabba doo jokes by more than a decade, but the recent incarnation is actually just three years old. They are the brainchild of Mountain Maryland’s (tourism office) marketing efforts in tandum with the National Road Autocross club. The Autocross series takes place at the Cumberland Airport. Realizing that Western Maryland has an economic future in its bounty of natural resources and challenging geography, Mountainside Maryland has focused on attracting motor sports fans, action athletes, fitness buffs and weekend warriors to experience the hills and the great outdoors.

Arlene and I stayed at Canal Place in Cumberland, close to where the C&O meets the Allegheny Highlands trail. We wanted to hike the Canal in the morning but our choice in accommodations offered another bonus – it overlooked the amphitheater where a production of “Hair” was being performed. (Yes, we danced and sang along like true 60's veterans.) Hard for this aging Baby Boomer to imagine “Hair” being staged in Western Maryland, but I never thought I’d see the Dye Works plant restored either, and that process is now underway. Cumberland’s Canal Place is a gateway to outdoor adventure and cultural heritage. Staying there was one of the best parts of the trip.

Because a bicycle and outdoor equipment rental shop is on site, we weren’t surprised to see a number of cyclists, hikers and joggers on the trail Saturday morning. Had we stayed later, I’m sure we would have seen canoes on the Potomac, as those excursions are also available. We were amazed there was so much activity that early in the morning, and that so many of the trail travelers were our age or older. The parking lot was full, with tags from Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as Maryland.

Our trip to Polish Mountain took us off the interstate and back into the rural community where the original National Road crossed. In order to close the roads for the climb, it was necessary for the autocross club to get legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly. Even in its third year, the race shows tremendous promise as an iconic event. Participation has grown each year, the meet is sanctioned by the regional hill-climbing body, and there are plans to incorporate it into a larger event with the airport. That will require cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (not the easiest sell) but the organizers have been laying the groundwork and have a promising business plan to persude the feds.

(After seeing how the notion of Grand Prix style racing on the streets of Baltimore has been embraced, I’m convinced anything is possible.)

Arlene and I spent a few hours in the paddock, visiting with drivers and chatting with Dave Williams, the tourism marketing guru who drives a hot Porsche. We saw two of the cars who were part of the caravan up Route 70 with the battalion of bikers. We also saw a vehicle that looked like the telecommunication devices on the space station. Several resembled insects, including a vintage bug that reminded me of Herbie.

The cars and their drivers are an eclectic fraternity. A co-ed fraternity at that. One of the most interesting competitors was Dr. Kay Skitarelic Swanson, a pathologist from West Virginia who grew up in Flintstone at what is now Rocky Gap. Dr. Swanson’s father, Dr. Benedict Skitarelic, was one of the founders of the Cumberland races.

Be sure to visit National Road’s website for more pictures of the Polish Mountain Climb. It is an event worth watching, as it is one more reason people gravitate to Western Maryland for excitement, entertainment, and exploration.

As for the Wild Ones, they were with us on the way back, too. Seems Little Orleans is the site of Sturgis East, a weekend motorcycle rally on Apple Mountain. 7,000 bikers were expected to camp on Apple Mountain and ride the scenic hills of Western Maryland. Like the hillclimbers, their weekend visit provides a welcome bump to the local economy. Almost as lucrative as the opening of deer season, one native observed.

This should be an adrenaline charged week. Tomorrow Baltimore City Council considers a resolution to support the IndyRace, the Birds are back in town and the Ravens swoop in to open preseason against the Redskins.

Autocross Appeal

It’s the Google effect -- every time I learn something about one sport or facility here in Maryland, it leads to something I knew nothing about. Thus, my visit to Regency Stadium opened my eyes to yet another popular Maryland pastime.

This revelation came after I stopped in to see Phil Hutson, project manager at Regency, to tell him how impressed I was with the finished product. We chatted for a moment about the versatility of the stadium and the multitude of uses it provides the community.

“They race down there, too,” he mentioned casually.

With what, bumper boats? I revved up my favorite search engine for answers. That’s when I learned about the popularity of autocross in Maryland.

So what’s autocross? Simply stated (Wiki version,) it is a precision driving race against the clock. It tests the driver’s skill and reflexes as he/she maneuvers the vehicle on cone marked, asphalt slalom course.

Substitute pot holes, rail tracks, disoriented pedestrians and stalled vehicles, and autocross sounds a lot like my evening commute up Howard Street. There must be more to it. Turns out, there is.

Autocross meets, (sometimes called rallies) are organized by clubs. In Maryland, there are quite a few autocross clubs, and each has a home course. Regency is the tarmac of choice for the Autocrossers. However, it isn’t the only minor league stadium with a motor sports constituency. The Bowie Baysox share their asphalt with Capital Driving Club and for at least two seasons, Ripken did too. Even FedEx stadium hosts regional autocross meets.

Autocross meets don’t seem to be spectator oriented, although the competitors usually bring friends along to watch. It is an activity with a strong element of camaraderie bound with appreciation for driver skill and vehicle performance. Also a lot of socializing and general bonhomie.

One of the oldest auto clubs in the region is National Road Autosports. They sponsor an annual series of events at the Cumberland Airport. I planned a mountain journey for the Summer Sizzler next week when I made an embarrassing discovery.

It seems Cumberland Airport is actually in West Virginia. Oops. When the region broke from the Commonwealth of Virginia during the Civil War, Maryland could have annexed Mineral County in the confusion . Unfortunately, they didn’t, and the little bend in the river called Wiley Ford has both a nice airport and a West Virginia address. Fortunately, the club also has an August event on our side of the Potomac called the Polish Mountain Hill Climb. That rally takes place on a public road which SHA (bless them) closes for the race. It’s just outside of Flintstone, so maybe I can make a Rocky Gap weekend out of it. Stay tuned.

Au Natural on the Appalachian

Just an alert to those taking advantage of this beautiful Father's Day Sunday with an old fashioned family hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Today is Summer Solstice. In the hardcore hoofing community, it is celebrated as Hike Naked Day. Nothing to do with Maryland, Father's Day, or even Sunday. It just happens that this expression of nature coincides with the annual migration of hikers transversing the entire trail. They generally begin in Georgia, just as soon as weather permits. That puts them in Maryland at solistice time when this summer ritual manifests.

That's right -- in addition to ticks and poison ivy, Maryland is blessed with seasonal flashers.

Supposedly these wandering naturalists carry emergency fig leaves (a bare necessity?) in case of unexpected encounters with civilization. But if startled while picnicking on one of the many magnificent vistas in Frederick or Washington County, just remember not to look below the (ahem) timberline.

The Appalacian Trail is one of the treasures of Maryland, and you should experience it. Get more information at: Appalachian Trail Conservancy: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/