Pre-Feast Holiday Hike! Billy Goat 'A' and Gold Mine! Great Falls National Park!
- November 22, 2012 · 9:00 AM
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Pre-Feast Thanksgiving Adventure!
Billy Goat Trail 'A' Rock Scramble and The Gold Mine Hike in Great Falls Park (Rock Scramble is Optional)
This memorable hike contains some optional rock scrambling (On the Billy Goat Portion but Not the Gold Mine Loop) so come on out and climb the boulders with us for some good times! What is rock scrambling you might ask? Anytime you have to use your hands to get over rocks or steep parts, we call it rock scrambling and there is a little of that on this short hike. No special gear is necessary for scrambling and the scramble is only a portion of the hike. The pic on the left is from the optional Billy Goat Trail 'A' rock scrambling portion of this hike.
Click here for pictures of a past hike with us on Billy Goat Section A
This circuit begins with an easy hike over mostly gentle terrain. We will enter the woods above the C&O Canal to explore gold mining works that date from the Civil War to near the mid-20th century. Watch for mounds of dirt, some a couple of feel high, deposited by Appalachian moundbuilding ants. Beyond the abandoned gold mines, the trail joins the bed of an old trolley line that brought visitors from DC to the falls. Check out the pic on the right for a recent pic taken from this hike of one of the old mine areas.
Then, after the Goldmine area, we will follow the towpath to Olmstead Island, which affords fine views of Great Falls as seen on the left and is the furthest point out on our large loop hike. For those who opt for the 7.2 mile version of this hike, this is where your group continues on the towpath back to where the cars are parked and the path is flat and very easy with fantastic views of the river as you can see in a the pic on the left. For those of you who wish to join us for the full 9.6 miles (includes the 5 mile Billy Goat 'A' rock scramble, it is on to the formidably rough and optional Section 'A' of the Billy Goat Trail as pictured at the top of this posting and below on the right! We are right there with you to help you over any rough patches because we focus on team work all the way!
Pace Options
We break down into groups no larger than 15 hikers per leader/sweep team for a more enjoyable experience for all of us and is better for the environment. Large groups really take away from the hiking experience for everyone on the trail and not just our group. For this particular hike you have 3 to choose from so you can hike with others of a similar pace. Paces should be based on your preference but also please know your limitations.
Pace Option 1: A "walk in the woods" or "social" pace which is great for those who want to soak up the nature and will be about 2.0mph and great for people who take tons of pics.
Pace Option 2: A moderate pace of about 2.5mph and the average hiking pace used as a baseline in most hiking books. (most common pace).
Pace Option 3: A VERY vigorous paced group of up to 4mph (often referred to as "The Justin Pace" so no complaints about this pace being too fast because you know what you are getting into.
Distance Options and Descriptions
The Billy Goat 'A' section (Rock scrambling) of this hike is optional and if not doing the rock scramble, dogs are welcome (Billy Goat Trail does not allow dogs). This way those who are not interested in the challenging rock scramble can enjoy an easy, flat hike of 7.2 miles. If you join us for the Billy Goat section of this hike it will be a total of 9.6 miles and the Billy Goat portion is considered more challenging because it requires scrambling over boulders but is much fun! So, you have both pace and distance options for this adventure for a truly customized hike just right for you!
Note: Unlike most popular hiking trails, Billy Goat Trail 'Section A', which is an optional part of this hike, offers up lots of scrambles around or over boulders, plenty of rocky terrain, a short but steep scramble up a cliff face, and heaps of breathtaking views of the Potomac River. Our group only hikes the Billy Goat 'A; section of this hike in the "off season" due to overhiking. It is not unusual for there to be lines to scramble over some of the large boulders that are up to over a hour long due to bottle necking. We strive to only post this hike when we think, based on past expereience, that it will not be overly crowded because who wants to have to wait in line for a hike? This means going in the off season or off hours. My favorite time of the year for hiking here is in the winter when the views are unparalleled and the trails uncrowded!
Trail Information
Nearby City: Potomac, MD
Scenery: Mathers Gorge and Great Falls from the Maryland Side
Distance: Choice of an easy and newbie friendly 7.2 or a more challenging 9.6 miles round trip if you choose to rock scramble Billy Goat 'A' with us!
Elevation Gain: approx. 450ft (6.6 mi) or 400ft (5.2 mi)
Hike Time: 3-5 hours
Difficulty: Easy with optional Easy Side of Strenuous due to optional rock scramble
Hike Type: Loop
Weather Information
We hike rain, snow, or shine! Click here to see an up to the minute forecast for where we will be hiking if you want to keep an eye on the forecast for the trail.
Carpool Information
There are 2 carpools for this hike!
Baltimore Area Carpool
To carpool from the Baltimore area, please meetup at Savage Station. Click here for directions to Savage Station.
Annapolis Area Carpool
To carpool or caravan from the Annapolis area, meetup at the Harbour Center Mall Starbucks. Click here for Annapolis carpool directions for getting to the carpool location. Use the comment section to discuss carpooling with other members.
If you can drive or want to carpool from additional locations, please post your location in the comment section below. For those who need a ride, reach out to the drivers. Make friends, and support the environment - by just offering a ride!
Directions to the Trailhead
Click Here for Directions for Where we Meet for this Hike.
Hike Meetup Time is 9:00 a.m.
Savage Station Carpool meetup time is 7:45 a.m.
Annapolis Carpool meetup time is 8:00 a.m.
Gear Information
Click here for suggestions for what to wear and what not to wear for our hikes.
Please remember we are a social hiking group that values fellowship and camaraderie and practice good hike etiquette. We take breaks as necessary and have at least one guide in the front in addition to a "sweeper" in the back which means that no hiker is left behind. If you get upset because someone has to rest at the top of a hill etc. then please find another group! We are very supportive, encouraging, and focus on safety while getting or staying fit on the trail and practicing Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.
Please note that our holiday hikes are not refundable due to too many people backing out of the at the last minute before the refund cut-off. Sorry, but this is the only way to help make sure that there is a good turnout and our leaders not offer to lead a hike on their holiday in vain...or they will be burned enough that they will no longer offer. Since we have made holiday hikes non-refundable it has boosted attendance rate significantly and often have perfect attendance, yay! Thanks so much for your understanding.
Fido is welcome on this hike if not joining us for Billy Goat (Billy Goat does not allow dogs)!
Let's have good times and see you on the trail and be sure to take the hike leader(s) number(s) with you just in case!
Ethan: [masked]
Mike: [masked]
Additional Leader(s)
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Jim S
It was a great hike. The weather was perfect and Ethan was very accommodating for such a large group with people.
November 24
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Karin
Absolutely wonderful...thanks so much to Kellie for organizing and Mike (Ethan) for taking their holiday off to lead the 2 hiking groups.
November 23
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Allison Northrop
Excellent hike!! Ethan did a great job as a leader. It was a large group and i think he was great with committing to the gold mine loop and billy goat A. Thanks!!
1 · November 22
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Oscelyn Anderson
Great hike and a wonderful day for hiking. Met some new great folks today! Enjoy!
November 22
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Rosie
Had a geat workout for my Pre-Feast ;0 Beautiful day with nice people, once again.
November 22
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Beth
Ethan, thanks for taking the time out of your Holiday to lead a bunch of hikers on a perfect day through the trails of Carderock.
November 22
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Kellie Carlisle
If you are on the wait list and would like to go on the hike, you will get an e-mail as slots are available. It is a “first come first serve” for available slots. Open slots are open to everyone whether on the wait list or not, but the wait list will insure you are notified of open slots as well as letting me know to look for another leader if the hike can handle it. Click here for how to get off the wait list and RSVP “yes”, http://www.midatlantichiking.co...
Hope this helps and enjoy the hike. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further assistance as that is what I am here for.November 21
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Bobbi C.
Kellie, another person mentioned bringing a dog. I also would bring my dog if that's the case. My question to you is since we obviously need to take a different path should we form our own group? That would open space for the Billy Goat Trail.
November 21
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Kellie Carlisle
You won't take a different path until the end where Billy Goat splits off from the main trail. No reason for a desperate group:). Good question though...
November 22
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Thomas Solem
Look forward to the hike and meeting everyone. I have done the Great Falls Hike several times and love it. Besides I love the exercise.
2 · November 21
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Rosie
Oh I forgot to mention if 1 or 2 pace is for me. I would be in the more strenuous level. I think that's 2, am I correct? Sorry about that.
November 3
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Kellie Carlisle
Rosie, yes, pace 2 is the most strenuous between the two and is a moderate pace, or, the pace of an average hiker. You will get a great workout:)
November 15
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41 attended
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Mike H.
Certified Hike Leader and Wilderness Medical First Responder, Co-Organizer
Event Host
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Justin Carlisle
Certified Hike Leader and Wilderness Medical First Responder, Co-Organizer
Event Host
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Karin
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Dace Sarma +1
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Doug C
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Rosie
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Beth
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Sandra Cornfeld
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Laura D +1
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Chris
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JB
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Chas G.
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Thomas Solem +1
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Cassie
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E.
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Luz Rivera +1
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Julia
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Allison Northrop
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Sonja A
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Amy B
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Vessie Slavov
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Eunice
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Judy
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Ann
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Catherine
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Your organizer's refund policy for Pre-Feast Holiday Hike! Billy Goat 'A' and Gold Mine! Great Falls National Park!
Refunds are not offered for this Meetup.
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