Harpers Ferry

We were in Harpers Ferry, so of course we went to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.  We had heard that parking in the town itself was next to impossible, so we didn't even try it.  We left our car at the lot provided by the park service and caught a ride down on their shuttle bus.  Easy peasy :).

The bus dropped us off and the first place we headed was the bookstore to purchase our Jr. Ranger books.  Those books are so awesome!  They really do give an outline of the park and sort of a guide to follow when walking around.  We took some time to sit on the porch and browse through the books before starting off on our edu-venture.

Walking down the street, we ventured into each of the buildings.  There was the gun-making shop, a museum with progressive videos that you have to go room to room to watch (different...), some buildings were just shells with dirt floors inside, so much to see...

the doors were so narrow!

The Visitor Center is in the old Master Armorer's House and includes a pretty good museum.  On one of our visits to the Ranger desk, a chest full of old style clothes was brought out for the kids to try on.  Bonnets, aprons, and shawls for the girls...Civil War hats and vests for the boys...

...and the windows, I just <3 old wavy glass like that :)

The VC overlooks the site of the Arsenal Square...all that's left is just some foundations.  Next door to that is John Brown's Fort.  The Armory's fire engine house-where Brown made his last stand after his raid to seize the weapons in the Arsenal had failed.

Just past the Fort there is a point that looks out over the rivers.  Harpers Ferry sits at the confluence of the Potomac and the Shenandoah Rivers.  And yes, there used to be a ferry...in 1761, Robert Harper (the town's namesake) established a ferry across the Potomac. 

After walking along the water and the old railroad track for a while, we turned back towards town.  As we were walking along one of the streets, we saw a sign that told of a certain Mr. Lewis who had come to Harpers Ferry to procure supplies in 1803 for an expedition out West.  So cool to think that THE Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, walked these very streets...

Just when our feet were starting to get tired from all the walking, it was time to join up with the Ranger talk.  I highly recommend this if you ever go!  The talk starts out at one end of the town, you gather around the Ranger and he starts telling of the town's history...for different parts of the talk, you walk to different areas of the town-all while he points out the places he is talking about (and you do get to sit and rest at some of the stops, btw).  Even though we had already walked the entire place on our own, we still enjoyed and learned some new facts from the tour.  Oh, and it's free :).

this is the spot where the tour starts

We saw ev.er.y.thing.  At the end of the day, we were pretty tired!  You see, this park offers kids the chance to earn not one, but THREE Jr. Ranger badges.  Three!  There are levels to complete, and for each level a different badge is earned.  Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master.  We were talking to the Rangers so much that day, that they knew our names when they saw us coming ;).  And yes, the four of my kids that still do the program each earned (and they worked hard for them) all three badges.  They wouldn't have had it any other way :). 

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

I had heard of the Appalachian Trail, and even walked a very small portion of it, but really had no knowledge of what it actually encompasses.  How huge it really is... in more ways than just distance.

When I realized that we were going to be in the neighborhood of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, plans were made immediately to stop for a visit. 

We had so much fun!  It is a really small building packed full of displays, trail memorabilia, maps, even a partial replica of one of the trail shelters that you can crawl into...or sit in to do your Jr. Ranger book :).  And yes!  They even have a Jr. Ranger program there!  Who knew???

The folks that were running the place the day we visited were some of the nicest we have met anywhere.  They clearly each have a passion for the AT and were happy to share their extensive trail knowledge with the kids. 

We were introduced to a few thru hikers that were in that day, and they were also really friendly and happy to answer our questions.  For instance, drinking water...one man told us that he always collects it from a clean (looking) source along the trail.  Adds some iodine to purify and kool-aid to flavor and drinks up.  We learned about adjusting your pack tighter on your shoulders or waist depending on the terrain.  And we were also told about some fun tricks involving ice cream on the trail and how to make sparks...I'm not telling the secrets, though.  You'll have to ask Wolf about those.

Yes, Wolf.  That is the trail name of one of the guys we met that day.  We also met Old School.  Did you know that hikers adopt trail names?  I didn't.  Any of ya'll have a trail name?  I think it's fun :).

Anyway, we spent way more time there than I thought we would.  The guys put a movie on for the kids to watch.  It was loooong.  They watched a good bit of it, but their attention started wandering and one by one they scattered around the building to take in the displays instead.  Which was fine, it's a very laid back place.

There were a few hikers coming in while we were there.  The AT runs close by and the conservancy provides a lounge area where they can use the internet, the facilities to clean up a bit, chill on the couch and eat a candy bar, whatever.  There are also some bins where hikers can leave items to swap.  Obviously weight in your pack is very important, so if you see that you have extra of something (shoes, clothing, even food), you can leave it there for the next guy to take that has a use for it.  I just love systems like that...I wish more places in this world operated that way!

By the time we were done with the guided tour, I had three boys ready to strap on a pack and start walking.  I hope they do it one day!  It is a huge accomplishment...the southern end of the trail starts in Georgia and runs north for 2,180 miles through fourteen states to end in Maine.  A walk that takes between 5 and 7 months to complete if you do it continuously. 

Oh, and just in case you didn't know, there aren't bathrooms out there on the trail.  That was the deal breaker for me.  Call me what you will, I don't care, but I just don't think that'll be happening.  I will stick to section hikes, thankyouverymuch.

If you are in the Harper's Ferry area and have wanted to learn more about the AT or just about hiking in general, you should plan to stop at the ATC.  It was the highlight of our day :).