Running:
The easiest and least expensive of the possibilities, can be so enjoyable. My preference is trail running, and I currently frequent Gunpowder State Park. The access off of Route 1 has a restricted side where no bikes are allowed. The trails are a beautiful escape from the city/suburban atmosphere. If you follow the right path, you can make a 5.2 mile loop with a challenging climb included. Have some Gatorade handy when you finish.
Mountain biking:
I include this with a disclaimer – I have biked on some decent mountains, but none of them were in Maryland. While there are some technical trails in the area, there is nothing truly exhilarating as you might find in WV or on the west coast. We do what we can though, and there are some fast single tracks near Loch Raven.
Camping/Hiking:
In the past, I have only considered camping and hiking as peaceful getaways which can get a little boring. After a short trip to Harper’s Ferry KOA, Joy and I discovered that she enjoys these activities, which makes them infinitely more exciting. And recently, I was introduced to a group of guys that go camping in hypothermia conditions. That opens a whole new world of risk, pain and perseverance. I made my first cold weather trip (since I was 12 years old anyway) to Annapolis Rocks in January of 2002.
Spelunking:
Picture yourself staring at the side of a mountain with a hole, 2 feet in diameter, descending at least 10 feet into complete darkness. What do you do? Climb in and see where it goes, of course. Well, you should make certain you are prepared first.
Since I was a child, the thought seeing something that no one has ever seen before has captivated me. While I realize that the likelihood of this ever happing is nonexistent, if only a hundred people have seen it I’ll be happy. To so many people, myself included, caving is about personal fear. Utter darkness, the unknown, thousand of tons of rock brushing against your back as you shimmy down the tube. But when you see the chimney or the limestone formations or the crystals, it’s all about the unmolested work of God.
As with biking, Maryland is not the best place for caves, but they do have them. It took me
weeks to find some when I first started looking. I visited the libraries, looked at maps, and
in the end, you still have go out and look for them. If you are interested in a list of wild caves,
I have used the information collected in text to compile this one.
Gunpowder / Oregon Ridge / Rocks Park
A man is defined by that which he conquers, or that which conquers him.
- unknown