Sunday Afternoon Hiking on the Billy Goat Trail

On Sunday, January 11th, NORSA members gathered to hike the Billy Goat Trail along the Maryland side of the Potomac River. Steven Splitek, who is preparing for the Bataan Death March Memorial Marathon in March, was the impetus behind the trip, and carried a rucksack with 35 lbs of text books and water along the hike. Joining him on the trip and starting off down the C&O Canal Towpath to the trailhead by Old Angler's Inn were Matt White, Nora Hoffman, Tom Saffell, and NORSA newcomer, Emily Paladino.

Despite the trailheads being closed for flooding, the troop was not discouraged and checked all three trail entrances to be certain the trail was actually closed. The third trailhead was open and it turns out that the park stewards had merely forgotten to remove the trail closure cordons from earlier flooding that had since receded. Despite the chilly weather, the hike was pleasant and provided the NORSA folks with some very nice views of the river, some cold-weather kayakers, and some interesting wildlife including a deer, some beautiful avian specimens, and various other critters.

The Billy Goat Trail is a moderately challenging day hike that takes hikers, wanderers, trailrunners, and explorers over easy trail, rock scrambles, rock climbs, and stream crossings. The most difficult portion of the trail is certainly the 45-foot rock climb that can be traversed either up or down depending on which trailhead one chooses to begin the hike. This hike is a quick and easy half-day affair at most and is easy to follow with its distinctive light blue blazes amply laid out along the trail. This short and sweet little event will certainly be occurring again and again in the NORSA repertoire, so if you would like to join us next time or even be the instigator behind such a quick, fun, and easy trip, please join the mailing list or e-mail any NORSA coordinator in order to get involved.