With Winter upon us, many activities that students typically enjoy are out of season. While many think to look indoors for warm options, several Marriotts Ridge students have looked outdoors to winter hiking. In areas like Henryton and Patapsco State Park, students have found excellent spots to go outside with friends and enjoy nature.
While hiking is becoming a more popular activity, some who are new to it may be unfamiliar with the best stops around Marriotts Ridge. One of the most popular hiking areas is the Patapsco State Park, flourishing with natural beauty and historic ruins.
“I love the vibe that Patapsco gives off,” said sophomore Owen Snow. “I like to camp there during the summer and I’ll go on hikes there during the winter.”
Near Baltimore National Pike, Patapsco State Park offers fourteen trails for hikers to choose from, each presenting a unique experience and different sights to see. In addition to this, Patapsco caters to all levels of hikers, ranging from beginners to those who are more advanced. Each trail is a different length, so beginners can choose the shorter walks while those who are experienced can pick longer ones or even hit multiple.
When hiking in Patapsco, one can see small waterfalls, ponds and lush vegetation surrounding the trails. The most obvious site to see is the Patapsco River, snaking around all of the trails.
“I love hiking along the river,” said Snow. “I really like hearing the sounds of the running water while I’m moving along a trail.
Seniors Boston Brown and Bryce Pistorio like to call themselves hiking fanatics. They’ve been to many different trails all throughout Howard County. One of their favorites is located off of Route 99. An eerie, dead end Cul De Sac has the entrance to the trail known as Henryton. Miles into the woods, there is a secretive Bamboo forest which is Brown and Pistorio’s favorite spot to sit back and chill after a long day of hiking.
“I like how dense and warm the bamboo forest is,” said Brown. “It makes me feel safe and secure as my home does.”
Some newcomers to hiking severely disagree with Brown’s statement as it’s hard to enjoy because they are afraid of being lost or having a dangerous encounter with a wild animal.
“It hasn’t happened to me yet. I just want to keep hiking and learning the trails so I can enjoy myself and not have to be worried the whole time,” sophomore Zack Muhammad said.
Henryton and Patapsco aren’t the only nearby trails. Senior Michael Machiran has a favorite known as Harpers Ferry.
“The views are just outstanding, the trail goes on for a lot of miles so it really gives me a lot of time to enjoy the scenery around me,” said Machiran. “It takes a little bit to get to the trail but once you’re there, it’s the experience of a lifetime.”
While hiking can involve risky terrains, unknown areas and possibly strangers on the trails, if done safely it can be a great winter activity. With a variety of places to choose from offering several unique trails, students at Marriotts Ridge have no reason to be bored at home. So with activities closed up during the cold winter months, students can be excited to bundle up with their buddies and explore some new territory on one of Howard County’s many hiking trails.