Mountains

Catoctin Mountain Park: Wolf Rock to Chimney Rock

One of my favorite hikes from the high school and college years is the walk up to Wolf Rock and then on over to Chimney Rock in Catoctin Mountain Park, MD.  Looping it from the visitor center and using the lower trail that drops off Chimney and meanders back to the center makes for a nice 6-mile woods wandering.

Some photos and words from a trip back this past holiday season:

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

The light in the forest …

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

The rocks … the roots … I love the hills of Appalachia, whose character today has been in the making for more than a billion years.

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Wolf Rock is a pile of boulders up on the ridge, which is a great spot for lunch, for scrambling and climbing around, and to simply sit …

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Camp David isn’t too far away, which is why the park is managed by the National Park Service.  Stories of people who decide to walk “off-trail” and who are then encountered by security personnel are legendary in these parts.

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Wolf Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Going from Wolf over to Chimney is an easy go-of-it, with the vista being a splendid reward for your effort in getting up there.

Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

A young man and his thoughts …

Chimney Rock, Catoctin Mountain Park, MD

Love ‘dem bones …

A young man and his thoughts ...

 

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