Maryland Mountain Dreams

Mountain Maryland Holiday photo contest

Gary Boyd — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:57:25 +0000

On the Mountain Maryland Facebook page they are running a Holiday Photo Contest until December 19.

Here are the entries in the Mountain Maryland Holiday Photo Contest.

The image that gets the most thumbs-up ‘likes’ between December 10th and December 19th will receive a family weekend get-away to Rivers Edge Farm and Alpaca Farm in Oldtown, Maryland (http://barbsalpacas.com/stay.html)

The stay is good for TWO consecutive nights (Friday and Saturday) at a date to be determined by the winner and the owner of Rivers Edge Farm. Transportation not included.

Vote for as many photos as you like. Thank you for participating.

via Mountain Maryland Holiday photo contest.

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Maryland’s Best Kept Secrets – Rose Hill Cemetery

Gary Boyd — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:38:01 +0000

I stumbled upon this from my Facebook feed…

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Autumn Glory Festival

Gary Boyd — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:24:04 +0000

baltimoresun.com - There is little argument that fall is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. And spending some of it among the mountains of Western Maryland is a sure bet, even if all you do is take in the views. So if you’re looking for a change of scenery from your office cubicle, this week’s Autumn Glory Festival in Garrett County is more than worth the trip.

The 43rd annual fest offers dozens of activities taking place at a host of venues near Deep Creek Lake. There’s a Haunted Mountain Coaster at Wisp. A corn maze at Cove Run Farms. A Heritage Craft Festival and Quilt Show. An Oktoberfest Celebration in Oakland. A Great Pumpkin Festival at Adventure Sports Center International. And not to mention, a Grand Parade with marching bands, clowns and floats and a Royalty Court. That’s just the beginning of the fall fun at the five-day event, which was named the “#1 Fall Festival in the World” by msn.com.

The 43rd Autumn Glory Festival will be held on October 6 – 10, 2010.

For more info about everything that is planned during the festival check out their website at Autumn Glory Festival. Don’t forget to download the pdf brochure…

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Deep Creek Lake State Park

Gary Boyd — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:32:59 +0000

Hiking the Meadow Mountain Trail System at Deep Creek Lake State Park

Rocky Gap State Park ...

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Rocky Gap State Park

Gary Boyd — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:11:42 +0000

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Coal – The Forgotten Neighbor

Gary Boyd — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:11:06 +0000

In the News

It’s a problem that haunts almost every mountainous area on the globe. Mines from the past that just don’t go away…Not even when the mine operators do.

Frostburg — FROSTBURG — The Maryland Bureau of Mines is still cleaning up mines in Allegany and Garrett counties that operators walked away from 33 or more years ago.“And we will be doing that into the foreseeable future,” said Mike Garner, who heads up that effort for the state agency housed in Frostburg. “It’s an ongoing process.”Tucked up hollows and into hillsides and on ridges in Mountain Maryland are a variety of nasty and potentially nasty remnants of the search for coal. - Bureau of Mines still cleaning up sites that coal operators left behind » Local News » Cumberland Times-News.

I don’t want to seem like I’m dumping on just the coal mine operators, either. In different parts of Appalachia it’s minerals of another kind and color that cause the same problems…Abandoned shafts are a problem up and down the Appalachians, from gold shafts in Georgia to emerald and mica mines in North Carolina to the coal mines that dot this part of the mountains.

Abandoned mine lands (AMLs) present serious threats to human health and the environment. Addressing AML impacts is becoming increasingly important due to increased exposure to people and risks of accidents, injuries, and tort claims. There are estimates of as many as 500,000 abandoned mines in our nation. - via Abandoned Mine Lands.

It has only been in the last four decades that regulations have existed to try and put a stop to the problem of abandoned mines. But that hasn’t helped with the more than two centuries of damage the not so scrupulous among the mine owners have caused by walking away from their played out mines…

There are an estimated 100,000 abandoned mines throughout Appalachia (according to Davitt McAteer, Director of the Appalachian Institute and the Coal Impoundment Project, both atWheeling Jesuit University) - via Revisiting The Appalachian Coalfield.

Resources:

The Abandoned Mine Lands Portal—a partnership that spans federal, state and local efforts, dedicated to raising awareness about abandoned mine lands. Abandoned mines generally include a range of mining impacts or features that may pose a threat to water quality, public safety, and/or the environment. For many abandoned mines, no financially viable responsible parties exist. AML programs work to eliminate or reduce the dangers to public health, safety, and the environment as a result of impacts related to abandoned mine lands. - via Abandoned Mine Lands.

Maryland Department of the Environment - There are a reported 9500 acres of unstable and unreclaimed abandoned mine lands in the coal region of Western Maryland. It is the responsibility of the AML Section to prioritize these lands based upon health, safety, and environmental impacts as prescribed by the Federal guidelines. The AML section reclaims these lands based upon their assigned priority. - via Coal Mining.

Stay Out! Stay Alive! - is a national public awareness campaign aimed at warning children and adults about the dangers of exploring and playing on active and abandoned mine sites. - via MSHA – Stay Out Stay Alive (SOSA) – Home Page.

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New Study Highlights Challenges Facing the Appalachian National Scenic Trail • Appalachian Mountain Dreams

Gary Boyd — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:45:10 +0000

Washington, D.C.—According to a new assessment released today by the National Parks Conservation Association NPCA and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy ATC, one of the most beloved recreational footpaths in the United States, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, faces many challenges that put the experience of visitors and trail resources at risk. Adjacent land development on privately owned land, sources of air pollution, and funding shortfalls impacts the ability of trail managers to protect historic structures and preserve trail resources.

“The Appalachian Trail attracts millions of hikers each year, and we must ensure its unique American experience is protected for future generations to enjoy,” said Ron Tipton, NPCA’s senior vice president of policy. “This report demonstrates clearly that a strong commitment by government agencies and trail advocates is essential to preserve the AT’s unique natural and cultural values for future generations.”

via New Study Highlights Challenges Facing the Appalachian National Scenic Trail • Appalachian Mountain Dreams.

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Maple Syrup Isn’t Always From New England…

Gary Boyd — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:50:40 +0000

As maple syrup season nears, producers in Garrett County are readying their tapping equipment for harvesting time, which runs from the end of this month through April. The sap starts to flow during the spring thaw, when the combination of mineral-rich soil and temperate weather yields exceptionally rich and sweet syrup.[1]

After an exceptional winter, the sweet taste of spring can not come too soon…Especially in Garrett County, Maryland. There are a number of isolated areas in the southern Appalachians where maple syrup is still being produced. One of the more important sites is here in Maryland where about 30 syrup makers are scattered around Garrett County.

Steyer Brothers Farm is the largest producer in Western Maryland as well as the oldest: Last year, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. In a good year, the family-run operation (Grandma still lends a hand) squeezes out about 1,000 gallons of syrup. They sell the sticky amber substance for $7 a pint or $30 a gallon. The price tag is higher than such mass-produced syrups as Aunt Jemima, but compare labels before you go cheap: Major brands may contain less than 2 percent maple syrup; the local liquid is 100 percent pure.[1]

The Washington Post

Making Syrup

Traditionally, maple syrup was harvested by tapping a maple tree through the bark and into the wood, then letting the sap run into a bucket, which required daily collecting; less labour-intensive methods such as the use of continuous plastic pipelines have since superseded this, in all but cottage-scale production.

Production is concentrated in February, March, and April, depending on local weather conditions. Freezing nights and warm days are needed to induce sap flows. The change in temperature from above to below freezing causes water uptake from the soil, and temperatures above freezing cause a stem pressure to develop, which, along with gravity, causes sap to flow out of tapholes or other wounds in the stem or branches. To collect the sap, holes are bored into the maple trees and tubes (taps, spouts, spiles) are inserted. Sap flows through the spouts into buckets or into plastic tubing.[2]

Since it requires 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of syrup…One sugar maple will produce about 10 gallons of sap in a season. You need a lot of trees to make any quantity of syrup.

The map below shows the location of Steyer Brothers Farm.

For more information there is a video of the Stayer Brothers Farm maple syrup production by Edwin Remsberg HERE

[1] Maryland maple farms offer syrup, pure and simple – washingtonpost.com.

[2] Maple syrup – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

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Time To Plan A Bike Ride? How About A Spring Hike?

Gary Boyd — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:48:44 +0000

While the weather outside right now may not be conducive of going off on a bike tour, right about now may be a good time to start planning for the spring and summer.

A good place to start (or end) could be the town of Cumberland, Maryland where two hike and bike trails come together. Heading south on the C&O Canal towpath you can travel all the way to Washington. Heading north and west is a 150 mile trail system called the Great Allegheny Passage leading you all the way through the mountains to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania once it’s completed.

Going South On The C&O

When you are traveling on the C&O you are visiting a 184.5 mile long National Historical Park. The National Park Service has this to say about the canals importance to the area…

Packet Boat on Canal, NPS Photo

In the 19th century the C&O Canal provided jobs and opportunities for people throughout the Potomac River Valley. Today the canal's remains provide a place to recreate and enjoy nature, but most importantly they tell the story of the canal's important role in many aspects of American history. These include western expansion, transportation, engineering, the Civil War, immigration, industry and commerce. (via Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park – History & Culture (U.S. National Park Service))

Today, millions of visitors each year hike or bike the towpath alongside the canal. If you plan in advance there is the possibility of staying the night in a furnished Lockhouse. At this time there are three lockhouses set up to allow for overnight stays with two additional lockhouses being rehabilitated for the program.

Stay the night, remember forever

Have you ever wanted to see the inside of a lockhouse or wondered what it was like to live and work along the canal? Well now you can!

Canal Quarters offers an extraordinary interpretive opportunity for people of all ages. Now, for the first time ever, you can stay overnight in a lockhouse and experience life as it may have been during a bygone era on the C&O Canal. Four lockhouses have been painstakingly rehabilitated and furnished to evoke different eras in the canal’s history.(via C&O Canal Trust – Exploring a Canal of History)

Just keep in mind, you really will be experiencing life as it was…In some houses running water and electricity are not available. In addition to the lockhouses there are over 1,300 historic structures in the C&O Canal NHP, more than in any other national park in the country.

History

Begun in 1828, it wasn’t until October 10, 1850 that the canal was opened in Cumberland. On that day the first five coal boats of what would be a multitude over the following years started their journey towards the Atlantic.

“Many of us were young when this great work was commenced,” said the spokesman for the town, “The opening of yonder gates to let through the first boat carrying freight…is the turning point in the history of the canal.”

The engineering feat was impressive. There were 74 locks, 7 dams, 11 aqueducts and a 3,118-ft tunnel along the 184 and a half miles of ditch and towpath.Boats

It was the flood of 1889 that spelled the end of the C&O as a viable business. Ownership passed to the B&O Railroad, long time competitor of the Canal Company. By 1902 the management of the canal was in the hands of Canal Towage Company and the life on the canal was totally different. Boats once owned by the watermen became company property; impersonal numbers replaced the boat names.

After another flood in 1924 left the canal in ruins the canal age was abandoned to history until granted a new lease on life in 1971 as a National Historical Park.

Up Next: The Trail North…

A natural kind of charm in Oakland, Md.

Gary Boyd — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:55:45 +0000

In the heart of the Allegheny Mountains of westernmost Maryland, near where its borders meet those of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the anglers, hikers and boaters have departed, giving way to the skiers, snowshoers and snowmobilers. The mountains, lakes and wilderness areas of Garrett County await them, with opportunities to indulge in its laid-back rural ambiance.

via NorthJersey.com: Getting away: A natural kind of charm in Oakland, Md..

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