
- This event has passed.
Let’s make 2024 an active year by starting it with a hike to Harpers Ferry from Gathland State Park.
This is a one way hike – we will start at Gathland State park and make our way to Harpers Ferry (route below). We will be coming back to the starting point by car. To make this work, few of us will meet us at the end (Harpers Ferry) at 9:30. We will leave few cars at the ending point and car pool to the start point.
The 9.8-mile stretch of Appalachian Trail leading from Crampton’s Gap to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is one of the most popular and rewarding AT day hikes in this region, and with good reason. This hike features a secluded forest ridge top, an exhilarating vista pitching straight down into the Potomac River, and the historic Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath. Crossing the Potomac from Maryland into West Virginia, we pass from the Northern states into the Southern, from the Union into the Confederacy, from one culture and climate into another. We will hike the trail from north to south so the hiking is fairly easy with minimal climbing.
Trail head Meeting Point : [Gathland State Park](https://maps.app.goo.gl/x2g6E2kCZNNHn4GCA)
Distance: ~10 miles – [hike route](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nKvm5HyuCMUfHNKc7)
Trail head meeting time: 10:00am
Pace: moderate (3 miles/hr)
Difficulty: moderate
Duration: 4 hours
Type of trail: natural
Route Type: Point-to-Point (we will have shuttle service)
If you are up for car shuttling then please let me know. For car shuttling:
Meeting and parking point: [Harpers Ferry train station](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rR38GpQT1x2EN4JS6)
Please note that the train station parking is not free.
Meeting time: 9:30am
Since this is a point to point hike, we need an accurate head count. Please RSVP only if you will be attending. No-shows will not be tolerated.
Please do not attend if you are sick or have been near someone who thinks they may have or have been exposed to COVID-19.
Dog friendly?: Yes. Please keep your dog leashed at all times.
Food/Water: Bring your own vegan snack and (non-alcoholic) beverage to enjoy. Please carry plenty of water!
Weather: Be prepared! We will hike rain or shine, but if conditions pose a danger, we’ll cancel the hike and post a notice in the “comments” section. We suggest that hikers wear comfortable footwear and suitable clothing made from quick-dry, synthetic fabrics, as cotton can lead to uncomfortable blisters and life-threatening hypothermia in case of inclement weather.
*For important updates regularly monitor the “comments” section below.*
*Don’t be a no show! If your plans change, update your RSVP.*
*When you sign up to join a hike you automatically acknowledge
[VSDC Vegan Trekkers Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/).
*Please also view the Rules listed at the end of this description*
*Please read The 10 Essentials of Hiking: https://americanhiking.org/resources/10essentials/ *
RULES
Pets: When hikes are organized in dog-friendly areas, hikers are invited to bring their pet(s). However, dogs are the sole responsibility of the owner(s) who brought them; should be up-to-date on their vaccinations & in possession of the relevant tags; and should be under the control of their owner(s) at all times. Dogs that demonstrate consistently aggressive or otherwise out-of-control behavior will be banned from future hikes. Owners should come prepared to dispose of their dogs’ waste in appropriate receptacles.
Alcohol/Smoking/Intoxicants: Use of intoxicants such as alcohol, cigarettes and/or illegal substances is banned during the hikes.
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