Virginia Outdoor Adventures | backpack, hike, paddle & more

DESCRIPTION: Bike, kayak and camp on an island!! This is a 3 day, 2 night paddle trip to the scenic Hart Miller Island State Park, an 1100-acre island located in Baltimore County on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of Middle River in Maryland, starting and ending at the Rocky Point Park boat ramp, 2200 Rocky Point Rd, Essex, MD. We'll put in kayaks Friday afternoon, paddle 2 miles (1 hour paddle time) across Hawk Cove to land on Hart Miller Island, set up camp and enjoy some volleyball, swimming, sunset paddling around the island, and dinner over the fire. Hammock or tent camping, potable water and bathrooms available (portajohns), first come-first served campsites ($6/night per site).

Saturday:
Sunrise paddle, then breakfast at the campsite, then enjoy a bike ride on the 8 miles of trails around the island (1100 acres) that circle around a large, beautiful pond and include breathtaking views of the Chesapeake Bay. Free bikes are available on Hart Miller Island by the ranger station. Lunch at the campsite, then we can enjoy more swimming/biking and paddling around the island.
Saturday afternoon: 5pm Break camp and paddle over to Pleasure Island (30 min paddle time) just south of Hart Miller Island. Set up camp at on the of the primitive campsites, and enjoy a sunset paddle/dinner and s'mores around the fire.
Sunday morning: Sunrise paddle, then breakfast and break camp. Paddle 2 miles (1 hour) back to Rocky Point Park boat launch. Drive to Island View Waterfront Cafe for lunch before heading home.

Campsites on both Hart Miller and Pleasure islands are primitive, hammock friendly, right on the water, and have potable water and a bathroom (portajohn). Camping fee $6/night/site.

TRAIL MAP:
https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/central/hartmiller.aspx
https://www.proptalk.com/see-bay-hart-miller-island-camping

PARKING/CARPOOLING: Please arrive at the Rocky Point Beach and Park 15 minutes before the start of the paddle trip. Also, I encourage carpooling wherever possible. If you need a ride or want a ride, look at the list of attendees and where they live (it says in their profile). Then, for those who live near you, hit the "Chat" button to ask if they want or can offer a ride. If you are a rider, please chip in towards gas (usually $5 - $20 depending on distance and # of riders). Additionally, you can post a request to give or receive a ride in the chat section of the event.

EXPECTATIONS: Download the trail map onto your phone before you arrive. Bring hat, sunscreen, swimsuit, sunglasses, river shoes plus dry bag containing change of clothes/sleeping bag/camping gear and your own boat, paddle and life jacket. Know your physical limits and cardiovascular fitness. Bring proper clothing and gear for the weather. Water temperature varies, wetsuit/synthetic clothing encouraged! If you have any concerns or questions, don't hesitate to contact the trip leader via the chat feature or direct messaging.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY & ASSUMPTION OF RISK AGREEMENT: By attending this activity, I acknowledge that outdoor activity in nature carries the risk of potential harm to myself up to and including the risk of injuries such as broken bones or muscle/tendon injuries, illness, disability, or death. These can be caused by slipping or falling off rocks due to loss of balance or lack of coordination; twisting ankles on rocks, brush, limbs, or ice; Acts of nature such as rock falls, inclement weather, lightning, strong wind, extreme temperatures; drownings in rivers, streams, or other bodies of water; drinking unfiltered contaminated water or becoming dehydrated; succumbing to heat exhaustion; getting bit or stung by venomous reptiles, animals, or insects; and my own or other’s negligent or risky behaviors. This list is not exhaustive nor is it inclusive of all risks. In response, I release and hold harmless with respect to all injury, disability, death, or loss of property, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, the meetup group’s leadership as well as the designated activity leaders for this event.

SICKNESS (COVID/FLU/COLD): As always, if you have been exposed to a contagious illness, or are having any symptoms at all, please do not attend. There will be plenty of future events.

📚 Next Book Club Pick: "Sherpa: Stories of Life and Death from the Guardians of Everest" 📚
✍️ By Pradeep Bhasyal

Join us as we head to the heights of the Himalayas—no passport required!
Our next book club read is "Sherpa: Stories of Life and Death from the Guardians of Everest" by Pradeep Bhasyal, a powerful and eye-opening look into the lives of the unsung heroes behind every summit.

📅 Date: Monday, August 12
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Capital L House
13831 Village Place Dr, Midlothian, VA 23114

⚠️ Heads up! This book is not available in audio format, so it’s time to dust off those reading glasses and crack open a physical copy.

Come ready for thoughtful discussion, mountain-high inspiration, and great company. Whether you're a seasoned climber or just love a gripping true story, this one promises to be unforgettable.

2025 AT Section Hike - Massachusetts - SAVE the DATE!!

You can add your name to the waitlist for this event to show interest. A separate 'official' event page will be posted at a later time to handle active sign ups. For now, just mark your calendars and request time off :-) More details to come!!

MASSACHUSETTS | ~80 miles SOBO
Oct 12th - 19th, 2025 including 2 days for travel time.
** Peak Fall Foliage
"County Rd", VT (or maybe Bennington, VT) @ 1606.8 to Great Barrington, MA @ 1528.0 with help from a shuttle service and re-supply service we will contact.

Work-in-progress/preview itinerary:

Updated: 6/29 PM [prior update: 6/22]

Total AT SOBO Miles: ~79
Total Route Ascent: 14,669’
Total Route Descent: 16,309’

Day: 0 | Date: Sun, 10/12 | Travel day | Park at Berkshire South Community Center offers free outside camping, week long parking, $8/day pass gets you access to inside facility for bathroom, showers, etc, during working hours 6am or 7am until 5pm or 8:30pm depending on the day. Stay overnight

Route 9, Woodford Hollow, Bennington, VT @ SOBO mile 580.5
Seth Warner Shelter @ SOBO mile 589.6
Wilbur Clearing Shelter @ SOBO mile 601.9

Day: 1 | Date: Mon, 10/13 | Williamstown & North Adams, MA
● Meet at TBD time
● Shuttle with TBD shuttle service ~1 hour 22 minutes from Berkshire South Community Center to “County Road” start point
■ Total AT Mileage: 10.2
■ Start: County Road @ SOBO AT mile 591.7
■ On the way: Williamstown & North Adams, MA 7.2 miles in @ 598.9
■ End: Wilbur Clearing Shelter @ SOBO AT mile 601.9 near Money Brook Falls | Elevation: 2197’
■ Total ascent: TBD
■ Total descent: TBD
· Water: stream ~50 yards from shelter
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: older lean-to with “space for 6-7”
· Tent sites: “several”
· Trees for hammocks:
· Bear protection: bear box
· Notes:

Day: 2 | Date: Tue, 10/14 | Cheshire, MA & “in-town” camping area day
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.8
■ Start: Wilbur Clearing Shelter
■ On the way: Mark Noepel Shelter @ SOBO mile 608.5
■ End: Father Tom Campsite, Cheshire, MA @ SOBO AT mile 613.5 across the street from Diane’s Twist | Elevation: 974’ ***OR*** one of the hotels or B&Bs in Cheshire of your choosing
■ Total ascent: TBD
■ Total descent: TBD
· Water: water spicket
· Privy: Port-a-potty
· Shelter: No
· Tent sites: 12
· Trees for hammocks: yes per more than 1 comments
· Bear protection: comments say there is a bear box
· Notes: anyone that stays at Father Tom’s Campsite vs a hotel or B&B must do so of their own choosing as an individual hiker since groups are not allowed; “electricity available”; sponsored by the Cheshire Community Association; comments say you can borrow a free bike to go into town

Day: 3 | Date: Wed, 10/15 | Dalton, MA Day
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.7
■ Start: Father Tom Campsite, Cheshire, MA
■ On the way: Crystal Mtn Campsite @ SOBO AT mile 617.5 | Dalton, MA & the Housatonic River @ SOBO AT mile 622.2
■ End: Kay Wood Shelter @ SOBO AT mile 625.2 | Elevation: 1138’
■ Total ascent: TBD
■ Total descent: TBD
· Water: Barton Brook “50 yards steeply downhill” but one commenter wrote it's not as steep as described
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: bunk-&-loft style shelter “for ~10”
· Tent sites: one commenter wrote “excellent tent sites”
· Trees for hammocks: appears yes
· Bear protection: bear box
· Notes: .2 of trail; “close to road with noise overnight”

Day: 4 | Date: Thu, 10/16 | The Cookie Lady Day (& 2nd longest day)
■ Total AT Mileage: 16
■ Start: Kay Wood Shelter
■ On the way: The Cookie Lady @ SOBO mile 631.8. | October Mtn Shelter @ SOBO mile 634
■ End: Berkshire Lakeside Lodge @ SOBO mile 641.2; cost depends at least on #-hikers | Elevation: 1386’
■ Total ascent: TBD
■ Total descent: TBD

Day: 5 | Date: Fri, 10/17 | The Long Day With Options (see below)
■ Total AT Mileage: 17.5
■ Start: Berkshire Lakeside Lodge
■ On the way: AT Stand offering snacks, electricity, & WIFI @ SOBO mile 650.9 | Shaker Campsite with privy at SOBO mile 652.9 | North Mt Wilcox Shelter @ SOBO mile 657; elevation: 1952’; water: brook in front of shelter; privy: yes; shelter: “large lean-to with space for 8”; tent sites: “several”, “plenty”; no bear protection mentioned: .3 off trail
■ End: South Mount Wilcox Shelters @ SOBO mile 658.7 | Elevation: 1791’
■ Total ascent: TBD
■ Total descent: TBD
· Water: spring or just SOBO on AT
· Privy: yes
· Shelter: 2: 1 old, 1 new – space for at least 10
· Tent sites: 5 tent pads
· Trees for hammocks: appears yes
· Bear protection: bear box
· Notes: .1 off trail

Day: 6 | Date: Sat, 10/18 | Last hiking day
■ Total AT Mileage: 11.8
■ Start: South Mount Wilcox Shelters
■ On the way: Ice Gulch at SOBO mile 663.9 | Tom Leonard Shelter @ SOBO mile 664.1 | Ledges @ SOBO mile 666.6
■ End: Great Barrington, MA / US Route 7 @ SOBO mile 670.5 @ Google Maps “Appalachian trail and US 7 Massachusetts” & either walk👎 (5 miles road walk 👎) or 1st hikers to finish shuttle to cars followed by helpful assist to get everyone back to cars at Berkshire South Community Center

Notes:
● Hike 6 days: Sun-Sat, 10/12-10/18 | Travel back home Oct. 18th or 17th depending on your preference
● Personal vehicles will be left near our finish point, Berkshire South Community Center, Great Barrington. Chris & Pam will coordinate shuttle cost, re-supply cost (if a re-supply is preferred)+tip split evenly among all hikers.
● 13⅓ average hiking miles per day. Longest day is 17.5 miles. Average ascent = 2445' per day. Largest total single day ascent is TBD
● Re-supply at about half-way: TBD
● General intention is to sleep at relatively established areas each evening large enough for a group of perhaps 10 or less except Day 2; unofficial &/or “stealth” sites will likely be an option each day as well for hikers, plus hammock users will not need tent-sites, of course.