Appalachian Trail

Outdoor experiences and physical exercise are some of the aspects of the Boy Scouts of America program. Units strive to include these outings, along with good citizenship in the program for the Scouts. Recently, the Scouts and Leaders set out to bike the C&O Canal towpath as one of the trails in the Mason-Dixon Council area. The Scouts packed their bicycles and lunches and started from Fort Frederick and biked the towpath, ending at Williamsport. Along the way, they discovered some of the plants native to the area and were told of the local history associated with the canal.

KNOXVILLE Mary Dailey said that she thought her 24-year-old stepson was "full of it" when he told her he saw a black bear Thursday night on Weverton Road in Knoxville. So Dailey grabbed a flashlight and checked for herself. "You could hear him plodding around," said Dailey, who lives in a wooded area about one-half mile from the Appalachian Trail. She spotted the bear about 10 p.m. The bear, which she guessed was a growing cub, reportedly also was seen tearing down a bird feeder from a pole.

read the President's speech --> HARPERS FERRY, W.Va. - President Clinton is expected to land by helicopter this morning in Harpers Ferry to kick off activities for Earth Day. The weather is expected to hold for the visit by the president and Vice President Al Gore. The National Weather Service is calling for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of afternoon rain or drizzle. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will remain open to visitors throughout the visit by the president and vice president, said Marsha Starkey, spokeswoman for the park.

Cherry Pie Hike held in honor of George Washington Boonsboro By ANDREW SCHOTZ andrews@herald-mail.com Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee described George Washington, in a eulogy, as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen. " Allen Kirk of Waynesboro, Pa., and his son, Andrew, were last to step on the Appalachian Trail during Saturday's "Cherry Pie Hike" to honor Washington's birthday. The Kirks walked at a leisurely pace, at the back of a pack of about 220 people.

As a hiker, climber and all-around mountain rat, I certainly understand concerns about trail conditions on public land. Thousands of feet on a hillside trample fragile root systems and open small fissures that are exploited by rainwater until a tiny break erodes into a major gash and then a virtual landslide, leaving the trail a horrible mess of rocks and exposed tree roots. Further, permits limiting mass access on environmentally sensitive public lands, including mountain trails, are the rule, not the exception.

gregs@herald-mail.com The U.S. Department of the Interior has offered to pay the City of Hagerstown $800,000 to secure rights to 576 acres near the Appalachian Trail, but city officials think they can get more money. The agreement discussed Tuesday in the City Council's work session would be between the city and the National Park Service. It would cover land on South Mountain near Smithsburg that is city-owned and is one of the city's water sources. The city would maintain ownership of the land, but the use of the land would be restricted.

Editor's note: This is the fourth story in a six-part series about some of the people who will compete in the JFK 50 Mile ultramarathon Saturday in Washington County. WASHINGTON COUNTY - Though both athletic, Nathan Bridendolph and Adam Bridendolph weren't on the track or cross country teams in high school. Until recently, Nathan Bridendolph said the farthest he had run was about 10 miles while he was in the U.S. Army. The lack of distance running hasn't stopped the brothers from entering Saturday's JFK 50 Mile.

When Kathleen Luzier first went to the Appalachian Trail to prepare for the JFK 50 Mile, she didn't like it. The rocky and difficult terrain spooked her. Luzier, 44, who was the first Washington County resident to cross the finish line of the ultramarathon in 2011, has grown to like the trail. These days, she talks about its beauty. “You are in peace, even with 1,000 runners,” Luzier said. “It's maybe the closest to God you can be on this Earth.” The Boonsboro mother of three will be back on the trail Saturday hoping to improve on last year's performance, when she finished her first attempt at the race in just less than 9 hours.

WASHINGTON COUNTY - For one former U.S. Air Force technical sergeant hiking the Appalachian trail, the route from Maine to Georgia began after the scars of war left their mark. Just like the trail, the road to recovery can be long and arduous. Craig Fitzgerald, 29, a New Hampshire native, and his friend, David Wilcoxen, of Georgia, passed through the area Monday night as they continued their trek along the Appalachian Trail, which they said they hope to complete by Veterans Day. The pair, who both served in the Air Force, said during a phone interview that they are trying to raise awareness and collect funds for disabled veterans.

City to clear $800,000 in land sale The U.S. Department of the Interior has reached an agreement to pay the City of Hagerstown $800,000 to secure easement rights to 576 acres of land the city owns near the Appalachian Trail, City Attorney John H. Urner Jr. told council members during their work session Tuesday. The federal government made its first offer for the land in the fall of 2004. City Council could have approved the deal in October 2004, but council members at the time felt they could get more money for the land.