HAM (Hike Across MD)

“I am still getting the information, but on the first Saturday in May of every other year, one of the MD hiking clubs sponsors a 40 mile hike on the AT thru MD..

The 2009 event is still in the planning stages, but I wanted you all to be forewarned so you can mark your calendars..

I will update this thread as I get more info..

'32oz”

“I thought about signing up but then you mentioned the hiking club. That sounds like too many (unknown) people for me.”

“They put a limit on the amount of people.. I may just do it myself one day depending on what the event looks like...

'32o”

“When is the Solo Hike In Texas ?”

“Nothing would please me more than being in the Solo Hike In Texas.”

“Hiker1894...the one promoted by the Dallas Educational Excursion Program?”

“This sounds interesting - would love to join ya if schedule permits!”

“There will be more info coming out in January... I will pass it on when I get it..

'32oz”

“I have just recieved the registration form for this trip. If anyone is interested, please LATTA mail me and I will email it to you...

'32oz”

“Dear Hiker,

Thank you for your interest in the 2009 Mountain Club of Maryland’s Hike Across Maryland (HAM) Appalachian Trail hike. This one-day hike will be held on May 2, 2009. It starts in Pennsylvania at the PA/MD border near Pen Mar Park, follows the Appalachian Trail through Maryland, and ends in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The distance is about 40 miles over rocky and rough trail with several significant climbs. This hike is intended for the serious hiker who has done several training hikes of 15 miles and more. At a bare minimum, hikers should be able to hike at a rate of 2.5 to 3 miles an hour for 13 to 16 hours.

We will meet at the firehouse in Blue Ridge Summit Pa. from 4:00 pm until before 9:00 pm on Friday, May 1 to issue numbers. Hikers must check in before 9:00 p.m. Hikers will be transported from the firehouse to the starting point about 5 am Saturday morning. Hikers who spend the night elsewhere must be at the firehouse by 4:30 to review the logistics of the hike.

A small breakfast will be served at the firehouse before the hike, with lunch down the trail. In addition there are 9 checkpoints along the trail with snacks, drinks, first aid, encouragement, and transportation to Harpers Ferry WV for those who’ve “had enough!” The distance between checkpoints ranges from 2.2 to 8 miles with the average being 4.4 miles.

Hikers must provide their own transportation to the firehouse in Blue Ridge Summit, PA on Friday May 1 and then from Harpers Ferry, WV at the end of the hike on May 2.
No transportation will be provided except from the firehouse to the start of the hike and to Harpers Ferry for those who drop out. No exceptions!

Hikers must provide themselves with a sleeping bag and pad for Friday night. Hikers’ gear will be transported to Harpers Ferry to be picked up after the hike. There are no showers available at the firehouse and hikers will sleep on the floor.

Registration is required by April 13, 2009. Registration acceptance depends on the hiking experience of the hiker as described on the registration form. A donation of $25 to help cover the costs of the hike may be sent with the registration form. No late registrations or walk-ons will be accepted.

More detailed information will be sent to all registered hikers well before the hike.


'32oz”

“HiMaintenance, Lightfoot, Kermit, Creek Dancer (?) and myself are in..

We are thinking about spending Saturday night either in the Hostel in Harper's Ferry, or at Bear's Den...

'32oz”

“Just in case anyone is interested in doing this.. It is filling up fast....

Come on you PA boneheads.. Afraid of a little MD Trail?

Dear Ham Hiker,

I have received your registration for the 2009 HAM. More details will follow closer to the hike. Hopefully we’ll have a good spring for training hikes.

As of today I have 95 registrations. I plan to accept 150 total registrations and expect about 30 hikers to cancel before the hike. There will be NO WAITLIST. I’m counting on the cancelations to bring the number down to about 120 for the actual hike. This is the number I feel we can safely and effectively manage for the hike. Therefore, if you cannot do the hike you CANNOT give your spot to someone else.

The planning is going well so far and the volunteers are lining up to help with the hike. Now get out there and start training!

Sincerely,

(not) 32oz”

“Dear HAM Hikers,

This is to confirm again that you are registered for the 2009 Hike Across Maryland. It is also to test my email groups and that I have your email right.

The hike is now full! There will be NO WAITLIST; it just did not work well last time. I will not accept new registrations, even if a registered hiker is willing to give up his or her spot.

The planning is going well. So far there are no changes from 2007. I welcome any suggestions on what you’d like to have at the checkpoints.

More information will be sent closer to the hike. Happy training!

Sincerely,



Hike Director


'32oz”

“Well we made it... 10 members of ODATC started on the Hike Across Maryland at 5:15 am on Sat.. 9 finished.... Congrats to Lisa (first female overall) Matt (10th overall) and Lightfoot 15th overall..

I will not bore you all with details, but I must say 2 things..

First if you are intersted in doing a hike like this, this is an awesone one to try. Well run, awesome people etc... they will hold it again in 2011.. I will post a trip..

Second, if you do this hike, you will want to go back and do this hike again at a slower pace.. the history, the sights, the views.. EVERYTHING is awesome... there were times that I regretted having to keep moving..

My time was slowed down by veering off course to take pictures, or view civil war plaques etc, and I still missed a lot of views...

I will be going back to do this hike again..

For those of you whom I told that I was going to do the 4-state challenge, I apologize.. I didn't do it.. When I arrived at the finish line, with HM and Kermit in a time of 12:45 (we tied for 32nd), there were ODATC members cheering us, so instead of continuing on we waited 2 hours to cheer the remaining ODATC members on. The 4-state challenge can wait until 2011.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/571678055qrXzWO

the pictures of Harpers Ferry were taken this morning.. For those of you who have never been there, this would be a good year to go. It is the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid.. Forunately for me, I will be back up there next weekend...

'32oz”

“Congrats 32oz!”

“Congrats you guys! Next time I hope to make it.”

“Thanks guys... I'm feeling a lot better then last week at this time...

We are heading back up that way next week for a couple of nights at Bear's Den Hostel... Hope to get another small section done and spend a day hiking around Maryland and Loudon Heights...

Wasn't nogranola going to do this section.. I thought that he had posted a trip, but I can't find it.. Maybe he had just talked about it, and never posted it..

'32oz”

“I was thinking about doing the MD stretch last month but as is often the case lately, life interfered with my hiking plans.”

“I may do it again in 2012... Yeah I know a long way away, but I'm not doind it next year, 2011 is the next HAM, so 2012 fits in rather nicely..

We already have a contingent of 6 for next year's C&O Canal 100K. I'll post the trip when I get the details...

'32oz”

“A likely excuse!!”

“Likely yes, but unfortunately the fact remains. I have one eye on that Cranberry trip 'o yourn and t'other on another weekend trip to sunny Buffalo.”

“Dude, you gotta got to Cranberry........and see about bringing some of those Yankee Boneheads.”