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For Md. hikers, boots on the ground bring perspective in new year For Md. hikers, boots on the ground bring perspective in new year
(about 3 hours later)
Setting a nice tone for the new year can be as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, especially if those steps are taken near the roar of rushing water at Great Falls in Maryland, with breathtaking views of the Potomac River in the distance. Setting a nice tone for the new year can be as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, especially if those steps are taken in Maryland near the roar of rushing water at Great Falls, with breathtaking views of the Potomac River in the distance.
Scores of hikers did just that Friday along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, ringing in 2016 by participating in a nationwide “First Day Hike” coordinated to kick off year-long celebrations of the National Park Service, which will have its 100th anniversary Aug. 25.Scores of hikers did just that Friday along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, ringing in 2016 by participating in a nationwide “First Day Hike” coordinated to kick off year-long celebrations of the National Park Service, which will have its 100th anniversary Aug. 25.
[Commemorating a legendary hike on the C&O Canal trail][Commemorating a legendary hike on the C&O Canal trail]
Outfitted for the day in backpacks and boots or arriving with children in strollers, some hikers attempted to answer questions posted along three C&O Canal trails that encouraged them to reflect on the 184.5-mile national park that draws 5 million visitors a year and sits minutes from the region’s bustle and stress.Outfitted for the day in backpacks and boots or arriving with children in strollers, some hikers attempted to answer questions posted along three C&O Canal trails that encouraged them to reflect on the 184.5-mile national park that draws 5 million visitors a year and sits minutes from the region’s bustle and stress.
“I just love being outdoors,” said Laura Gilliam, 80. “Nature is extremely relaxing in our electronic world.”“I just love being outdoors,” said Laura Gilliam, 80. “Nature is extremely relaxing in our electronic world.”
The posted questions were part of a contest and covered topics such as defining community and overcoming adversity, soliciting reflections that tied the concepts to the park.The posted questions were part of a contest and covered topics such as defining community and overcoming adversity, soliciting reflections that tied the concepts to the park.
The day-long event offered small prizes — redeemable on Wednesday — to anyone who submitted written answers to the questions and left responses inside a wooden box near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in Potomac, park rangers said.The day-long event offered small prizes — redeemable on Wednesday — to anyone who submitted written answers to the questions and left responses inside a wooden box near the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center in Potomac, park rangers said.
But the larger purpose of the roughly 1,000 guided hikes that took place Friday inside state and national parks in all 50 states was to get more people to appreciate the natural wonders in their midst, organizers said.But the larger purpose of the roughly 1,000 guided hikes that took place Friday inside state and national parks in all 50 states was to get more people to appreciate the natural wonders in their midst, organizers said.
In the case of the C&O Canal, the goal was to highlight a man-made wonder that from 1850 to 1924 served as the main transportation route for tons of coal, grains and other cargo headed to the nation’s growing capital. The canal was eventually overtaken by the speedier Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and ultimately shut down after a devastating flood. In the case of the C&O Canal, the goal was to highlight a man-made wonder that from 1850 to 1924 served as a major transportation route for tons of coal, grains and other cargo headed to the nation’s growing capital. The canal was eventually overtaken by the speedier Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and ultimately shut down after a devastating flood.
[A C&O Canal guru recounts tales from the trail][A C&O Canal guru recounts tales from the trail]
“We are a national historic park that chronicles the history of transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States,” said Ben Helwig, a C&O Canal park ranger. “Part of this activity is to get people to think about the canal, this resource that they know and love, as a piece of history, as a connection to the past.”“We are a national historic park that chronicles the history of transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States,” said Ben Helwig, a C&O Canal park ranger. “Part of this activity is to get people to think about the canal, this resource that they know and love, as a piece of history, as a connection to the past.”
That past is rife with stories — some inspiring, others spine-chilling.That past is rife with stories — some inspiring, others spine-chilling.
After its opening, the canal that stretches between Georgetown in the District and Cumberland, Md., became a hive of activity, with hulking cargo boats making their way through the 74 locks that raised and lowered water levels to operate like a fluid staircase. After its opening, the canal, which stretches between Georgetown in the District and Cumberland, Md., became a hive of activity, with hulking cargo boats making their way through the 74 locks that raised and lowered water levels to operate like a fluid staircase.
On the banks were the lock tenders, clerks and other workers who built family homes or set up small businesses.On the banks were the lock tenders, clerks and other workers who built family homes or set up small businesses.
Near Lock 16 is the remnant of a carving that reads “W. Spong,” believed to have been etched by one of three Spong family children who died on their boat in 1916 when a ruptured steam pipe burned and suffocated them inside their cabin.Near Lock 16 is the remnant of a carving that reads “W. Spong,” believed to have been etched by one of three Spong family children who died on their boat in 1916 when a ruptured steam pipe burned and suffocated them inside their cabin.
On Friday, Aubin Maynard stood with his two children — Aria, 6, and Kai, 3 — about a century later, pointing out the features of a lock near another boat that was docked in canal water.On Friday, Aubin Maynard stood with his two children — Aria, 6, and Kai, 3 — about a century later, pointing out the features of a lock near another boat that was docked in canal water.
Maynard said he didn’t know about the First Day Hike event, but had decided to take his family out for a long walk on New Year’s Day to teach them a little history.Maynard said he didn’t know about the First Day Hike event, but had decided to take his family out for a long walk on New Year’s Day to teach them a little history.
“With kids this age, it’s awesome to be out, because they ask lots of questions,” Maynard said as his daughter and son played near a historical marker commemorating Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.“With kids this age, it’s awesome to be out, because they ask lots of questions,” Maynard said as his daughter and son played near a historical marker commemorating Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.
In 1954, Douglas spearheaded a campaign to save the canal from being converted into a paved parkway that, after a heavily publicized eight-day hike along the canal’s length, led to the creation of the national park. In 1954, Douglas spearheaded a campaign to save the canal from being converted into a paved parkway. His effort, including a heavily publicized eight-day hike along the canal’s length, led to the creation of the national park.
“It is a sanctuary for everyone who loves woods — a sanctuary that would be utterly destroyed by a fine two-lane highway,” Douglas wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece at the time.“It is a sanctuary for everyone who loves woods — a sanctuary that would be utterly destroyed by a fine two-lane highway,” Douglas wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece at the time.
Matt Chrestman, 33, said that kind of longing to get away from it all draws him to the C&O Canal every New Year’s Day, usually to take his kayak into the white-water rapids.Matt Chrestman, 33, said that kind of longing to get away from it all draws him to the C&O Canal every New Year’s Day, usually to take his kayak into the white-water rapids.
“It’s awesome,” Chrestman said. “There’s the obvious adrenaline factor to it, but there’s also the quiet reflection and then the skills and self improvement.” “It’s awesome,” Chrestman said. “There’s the obvious adrenaline factor to it, but there’s also the quiet reflection and then the skills and self-improvement.”
Chrestman and other kayakers became a main attraction for one group of hikers who watched them weave in and out of rapid currents from the Great Falls overlook platform, snapping pictures with their cellphones.Chrestman and other kayakers became a main attraction for one group of hikers who watched them weave in and out of rapid currents from the Great Falls overlook platform, snapping pictures with their cellphones.
For some, the scene sparked a desire to challenge themselves more in the coming year.For some, the scene sparked a desire to challenge themselves more in the coming year.
“Holy cow,” said Chandler Wiegand, watching one kayaker who appeared to be holding in place against an onslaught of white water. “I see these guys, and that is just impressive.”“Holy cow,” said Chandler Wiegand, watching one kayaker who appeared to be holding in place against an onslaught of white water. “I see these guys, and that is just impressive.”