C&O Canal Towpath Little Catoctin Creek Closure Update
09-03-18, 05:06 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
C&O Canal Towpath Little Catoctin Creek Closure Update
The C&O Canal Towpath is still officially closed between the Brunswick Campground (mile 54 or so) and Lander Lock (mile 51.5) Yesterday, a friend and I hiked from Brunswick and went around the "Trail Closed" sign at the campground. In about a mile you reach the collapsed bridge that carried the towpath across Little Catoctin Creek - it is definitely still out.
However, enterprising hikers and bikers have created a path down to the creek and to a relatively broad shallow area with lots of large rocks. You can get across - saw a cyclist with a loaded bike do it. You will definitely get your feet wet and the path on each side of the creek is muddy and slippery, even under dry conditions. So, not an easy crossing but do-able.
Others seem to use the railroad tracks to get around the outage but those are very active tracks.
Looking east/downstream, Towpath outage at mile 53.
However, enterprising hikers and bikers have created a path down to the creek and to a relatively broad shallow area with lots of large rocks. You can get across - saw a cyclist with a loaded bike do it. You will definitely get your feet wet and the path on each side of the creek is muddy and slippery, even under dry conditions. So, not an easy crossing but do-able.
Others seem to use the railroad tracks to get around the outage but those are very active tracks.
Looking east/downstream, Towpath outage at mile 53.
09-03-18, 07:07 AM
#2
Every day a winding road
I am glad people are keeping the trail clean. 
This is truly disgusting. Worse than the bridge being out. Bad enough it happens out on the roads But a trail where people are out to enjoy the outdoors? You think they would have some respect.
This is truly disgusting. Worse than the bridge being out. Bad enough it happens out on the roads But a trail where people are out to enjoy the outdoors? You think they would have some respect.
09-04-18, 04:18 AM
#4
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Those bottles could have been washed up there during the flood that took out the bridge. They seem to be missing labels, which suggests age and being in the water for a while. Still, it's sad that some people don't dispose of their trash properly.
09-04-18, 04:23 AM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
The Towpath itself around the outage is pretty much clean as a whistle - a common phrase that really looks odd when you type it. I just looked it up and apparently it comes from the days of cutting peoples heads of with swords, huh...
Anyway, my assumption was same as Indyfabz - since even this close to a big commercial campground, the Towpath is almost always litter-free, those bottles got there during the flood. There is an active construction site 50 feet away, as the prepare to repair the outage - could be slobby workers but even construction sites along the C&O are usually kept pretty clean.
Anyway, my assumption was same as Indyfabz - since even this close to a big commercial campground, the Towpath is almost always litter-free, those bottles got there during the flood. There is an active construction site 50 feet away, as the prepare to repair the outage - could be slobby workers but even construction sites along the C&O are usually kept pretty clean.
09-04-18, 06:48 AM
#6
Every day a winding road
The Towpath itself around the outage is pretty much clean as a whistle - a common phrase that really looks odd when you type it. I just looked it up and apparently it comes from the days of cutting peoples heads of with swords, huh...
Anyway, my assumption was same as Indyfabz - since even this close to a big commercial campground, the Towpath is almost always litter-free, those bottles got there during the flood. There is an active construction site 50 feet away, as the prepare to repair the outage - could be slobby workers but even construction sites along the C&O are usually kept pretty clean.
Anyway, my assumption was same as Indyfabz - since even this close to a big commercial campground, the Towpath is almost always litter-free, those bottles got there during the flood. There is an active construction site 50 feet away, as the prepare to repair the outage - could be slobby workers but even construction sites along the C&O are usually kept pretty clean.
And my guess is that the trail is not kept free of liter because of people simply not dropping things. It is kept clean because of all of the hard working volunteers and just misc. good folks that pick up other peoples liter,. Our trail here is kept very clean but I still see stuff from time to time. I grab it when I can. But it does not take long for the trail to be clean again. The one that kills m\me is the poop bags. If your dog is going to take a dump and you pick it up then haul it away. You would be better taking them into the weeds and having them take a dump there.
And no they are not coming back to get the bags later. They will sit there.
09-04-18, 08:06 AM
#7
Senior Member
The bottles were probably left there by someone who found them in the creek, and didn’t want to carry for a couple miles to the nearest trash can. Assumed a worker would clean up as part of the repairs.
