High Trail from Brice Run Over and Around the Dorsey Tunnel

Hiked this afternoon along Alberton Road, past the dam and around to where Brice Run goes under the Old Main Line and into the Patapsco. Just past Brice run, heading west is a high through trail that goes up, over and around the Dorsey tunnel. I took it as far as the electric high power lines right of way that crosses the river at the eastern end of the Eureka Bridge on the approach to the Davis tunnel. I took the low trail on the return trip. I figure about six miles round trip.

           Looking back to the east from the ascent on the trail to bypass the Dorsey tunnel.

This fireplace was about 20 yards off the trail on the highest ridge maybe a half mile west of Brice Run. It would be easy to miss in the green season. No sign of a building foundation, and it is situated on slightly sloping ground. Odd even for a hunting cabin, if that was what the fireplace was for. Some nice pink granite granite is prominent just below the mantel shelf. Also saw two deer and three deer hunting tree stands in this area, which borders on private property adjacent to the Patapsco Valley State Park.

                                                Electric right of way, looking north.

                       Electric right of way looking south and across the river at the Eureka Bridge.

                       Two views looking east along the tracks and the river on the return hike.

                    And the closest thing to flowers you will see in the valley at this time of year.

Peaceful Waters on the Patapsco

A beautiful fall day for hiking along the Patapsco as Thanksgiving approaches. This section is just upstream from the site of the old Union Mill Dam where the US Route 40 bridge crosses the river from Baltimore County to Howard County, near Ellicott City, Maryland.

Autumn Afternoon on the Patapsco

Daniels to the Davis Tunnel

With temperatures still below normal for August, hiking is still good in the morning. Did five miles today.

Looking west in the Davis tunnel.

                                   Westbound train about to come out of the Davis tunnel.

The Patapsco river beside the Davis tunnel.

                               Looking east on the trail between the Davis tunnel and the river.

Down Alberton Road, through the Dorsey Tunnel, over the Eureka Bridge, to the Davis Tunnel

Hiked about seven miles this morning from Alberton Road to the Davis tunnel and back, along the Patapsco river. Another mountain  bike event was in progress, the Patapsco Epic. The Dorsey tunnel was leaking. The interior brick masonry was crumbled in several areas from water damage. I was surprised by that and the banged up condition of many of the ties on the Eureka bridge over the Patapsco.

Looking west in the Dorsey tunnel.

Again looking west out the western portal of the Dorsey tunnel.

Looking west across the Eureka bridge toward the Davis tunnel.

Looking east, back toward the Dorsey tunnel, from above the eastern portal of the Davis Tunnel.

Woodstock Section - Patapsco Valley State Park

On Saturday July 5th I hiked a 9 mile loop of the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco Valley State Park Woodstock Section. From Old Court Road I followed the Patapsco River up to the confluence where the north and south branches form the main stream of the river. From there I circled to the right and back around to the my starting point. It was about a three and a half hour hike, mostly in the shade, over variable terrain on dirt trails that are also bridle paths. Very pretty and peaceful. Saw deer and an old granite quarry filled with water to form a lake, among other sights. The hike was so pleasant I did it again the following day with my brother Chris. The Woodstock Inn is nearby the trailhead and a great place for refreshments after a good stroll in the forest.

More photos can be seen at this link.

Brice Run

On July 4th I hiked the Alberton Road section of the Patapsco, then up past the Daniels dam on the Baltimore County side of the river. About a mile above the dam Brice Run feeds into the Patapsco as it passes under the railroad tracks. I hiked along Brice Run to Wrights Mill Road and back again. There is a small falls on the stream. On my way to Brice Run I saw people tubing below the dam, some funky fungi on a fallen rotting tree branch, and I observed what appeared to be a mother and daughter pair paddleboarding above the dam. About a five mile hike, round trip.

                                         More photos can be found at this link.

Eerie Aerie

I have seen a good deal of carnage during my hikes along the Patapsco river, but usually along the railroad tracks. Today I was hiking on the other side of the river and encountered this surreal sight: a dead hawk resting in the crook of a sapling as if he had made a dying crash landing there. There were no signs of trauma or foul play that I could see.

Bride's Veil

Lots of ice along the Patapsco today. Crunchy walking now. It will be a muddy mess when the thaw comes. More photos from today's hike can be seen a this link.

A Well Marbled Fresh Ham

Not! This is a piece of rose quartz covered with striations of milky quartz. I found it on the gravely bank of a tributary stream of the Patapsco river just southeast of Elkridge on the Baltimore County side. It is 3 1/4 " x 2 1/4 ".

Resisting the change of season

Some will not submit until snow falls and draws the curtain on autumn. This canoe is beached on Brice Run just before it passes under the Old Main Line and feds into the Patapsco River between Daniels and the Dorsey tunnel on the Baltimore County side. It was the only water craft I saw today during my hike.

Found some rocks today that looked blood stained. I think I know what it is. More on that after I check with my geologist.

A Doable Dorsey Tunnel Walk Around

Today was the first time since July 4th that I had a few free hours. So I hiked the Alberton Road trail on the Baltimore County side of the Patapsco River, heading west past the the Dam at Daniels and up to the eastern portal of the Dorsey tunnel. Back on May 19th I had attempted to find a feasible walk-around of the tunnel between the tunnel and the river. I found only a trace fit for deer and mountain goats, to steep and unsafe. Today I found a decent trail over and around the tunnel on the high side of the tracks. It can be accessed at the 19 mile maker. Enter the woods on the right side of the tracks,  and then look for the trail on your left that slopes up the side of the hill. It will take you to the far (western) side of the tunnel.

While I was on the trail I saw two mature deer hightailing it away from me with their while flags flying. But then I ran into this little fawn grazing beside the trail. It did not bolt. We studied each other quietly as I approached and was able to snap a few pictures,

Swamp Thing

July 4th I walked early along the Howard County side of the Patapsco at Daniels. It was damp and very humid from all the recent rain, and the trail was muddy in a lot of places, but otherwise pleasant, and the trail company was very nice. Lots of people fishing, kyaking, paddle boarding, biking and hiking. Walked to the Davis tunnel, above, and back. Done by 10:30 a.m. I took only a few photos and most did not come out as well as I had hoped.

So here I add a photo, below, taken on Memorial Day at  the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area, which expresses the results of the kind of rain we have had lately and the wetlands that thrive on it.

Henryton to Sykesville and Baldwin Station

Started out this morning about 9:25 at the rail crossing on Marriottsville Road which is about the 24.5 mile mark on the B&O Old Main Line. About a half mile west you hit the 25 mile mark and the Henryton tunnel is in view. The tunnel is short, 430 feet, and you can see clearly through to the other end. It is also one of the oldest railroad tunnels in the world in continuous use. Unlike the terrain at  Dorsey tunnel,  this location has a decent walkaround path along the river. As soon as you pass through or around the tunnel you come to an old power plant that contained the boiler for the Henryton State Hospital that was originally built for tuberculosis patients and was later used as a hospital for patients then described as mentally retarded. The buildings are now in ruins and are slated for demolition. Fuel, probably coal, for the power plant was obviously delivered by rail. The siding tracks running up to the side of the building can still be observed in places.

Along the rails I saw a huge white tail buck, a red fox, a great blue heron and a ground hog. Only the ground hog moved slow enough for me to get a photo. I also observed a large stand of bamboo at Henryton, just off the rails on the flood plain of the Patapsco. It looked out of place. I believe bamboo is an invasive specie of plant, and I wonder who started this stand and how far it will spread. Now all we need are some pandas.

The historic Sykesville, Maryland train station is now a restaurant, Baldwin Station, named after the architect who designed the station along with several other on the Old Main Line, including the one at at Point of Rocks, the subject of a previous post. Note how this station in Sykesville is designed to look like a train engine. Also note the distinctive smokestack chimney. Sykesville and its station are at the 28.5 mile mark. My hike was eight miles, four in each direction. It took me about four and a half hours, which included time for a beer at the restaurant. I was back to my car by 1:55 pm. The rail bed really hugs the river most of the way along this stretch of track. The right of way is very narrow for much of the distance. I saw only one train, eastbound to Baltimore. More photos can be seen here.

A Cup of Coffee

This afternoon I walked to Ellicott City for a cup of coffee at the Bean Hollow. My stroll took only four hours, with time for the coffee and some photography. I started at the Union Dam tunnel beneath the Rt. 40 bridges over the Patapsco river in the Hollofield Section of the Patapsco Valley State Park, and walked south along the river and the rails of the CSX / B&O Railroad Old Main Line. After a nice stop stopover at the Bean Hollow I walked back. I started at 1:45 and finished at 5:35, just in time to drive home for dinner. A beautiful day for a walk. In the photo above you can see the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Museum in the center, with the low sloping roof, just to the right of the rails. Here's a nice little map.

Not So Scenic Overlook

When is a scenic overlook not scenic? When it's Buzzards Rock in the Patapsco Valley State Park, directly over the western opening of the Ilchester tunnel. Unless you have rock climbing and rappelling gear you have no chance of seeing anything resembling a scenic view. And even with that equipment it would not be all that great.The view is completely obstructed by trees, even in winter without any foliage. Imagine the above view in summer with the trees in full leaf. You would see nothing but trunks and leaves. The Patapsco river in the center of the photo curves counter clockwise just to the right of the view to again parallel the train track as seen in the upper right corner. But that view of the river is also obstructed. If you are absolutely committed to visiting Buzzards Rock take the short, easy, almost level walk from the Hilltop Road parking area and skip the steep heart pounding cardio workout climb from the river path that starts at Bloede's dam. Unless you just want the exercise. Or leave Buzzards Rock to the buzzards. You won't miss much.

Reinforcement

There are many small stone arched bridges carrying the Old Main Line over tributaries of the Patapsco river. I have never seen one reinforced and stablilized in this manner. It is on the stretch of rails between the Davis tunnel and Woodstock.

Eastbound to the Dorsey Tunnel

On the Old Main Line of the B & O just east of the Davis tunnel looking east across the Patapsco River toward the Dorsey tunnel in the distance. You can see that CSX is setting us to replace the rails on the bridge, using the old parallel track truss as the staging area for a crane. The new rails are laid along side the current rails they will replace.

Up Against the Wall

Water Over the Dam and Under What's Left of the Bridge