Hiking the C&O Canal Towpath: (Day 6) June 22

Leaving Antietam Creek Campground

Rainy Potomac morning

Approaching Shepherdstown

Lots of downed trees north of Shepherdstown

Lots of cool, plant covered rockwalls

caves of all kinds

massive cave dwelling

Reach the big cave just as rained stopped

Potential arrowhead?

Power crews in Mercersville

Camp for the night at Big Woods

 

Unseasonably cool night after front passed through

Big thunderstorm rolled in just as I was falling asleep the night before and it rained most of the night. I fell into a deep sleep. Woke up in the morning and it started raining again so I slept for another hour. When I woke up again, the rain had stopped so I packed up quickly and ate breakfast. Not too long after hitting the towpath, the rain started again. Hiked past Shepherdstown in the rain. Second consecutive year I've skipped this town regrettably, looks like a great place to grab a bite to eat. 

The path north of Shepherdstown is one of my favorite sections, with interesting plants growing on high cliffs dotted with caves and holes. The rain really made the greens of the forest stand out. Lots of downed trees in this area too. The previous night's storms had some serious winds. By the time I reached the Big Cave, a huge cliff dwelling, the rain had subsided. Just an amazing spot.

Hiked past Mercersville in the late afternoon. Watched power crews restore power and internet to the town. Reached Big Woods campsite at mile 82 in the evening and was the only one there. Evening temperatures were unusually chilly. I had to put on a jacket and started a little fire to stay warm while eating dinner. Still felt pretty good overall, with a slight case of the blues that came in waves...