Harpers Ferry, West Virgina

July 5, 2003

On Saturday I hiked the Maryland Heights trail in Harpers Ferry. The trail leaves town via the railroad bridge then follows the C&O canal towpath about a half mile.

The next mile or so after that is very steep uphill; I paused often to catch my breath and take photos of the moss and mushrooms. (moss wallpaper, 1024 x 768, 385Kb)

After the trail leveled out at the top of the ridge, we walked along some Civil War ruins: the exterior fort wall, the interior fort, gun batteries.

After the gun batteries, the trail heads slightly downward to the edge of a cliff overlooking Harpers Ferry, where the Shenandoah meets the Potomac.

On the home stretch, we visited a peaceful little clearing by a creek, and saw a tree along the river with an unusual root system: It looks as if the tree is absorbing and digesting the rocks.