Kurt's Hike: April 28, 2012
With a trip planned to Baltimore to visit my brother Eric and watch the Orioles, we took the opportunity to pause in Western Maryland to go up the newish Thurston Griggs Trail to the its intersection with the Appalachian Trail at the Pogo Campsite, named after Eric and my younger brother Pogo, who died in 1982 in a boating accident in the Potomac River.
The campsite named after him soon after his death has been better commemorated at the base of the Griggs Trail, with a kiosk including a photo and text about Pogo's identity--even at that young age--as a dedicated hiker.
We paused at the site, were lucky enough to come across a set of people to take a picture of us, and then continue south along the AT to the viewpoint at Annapolis Rocks before turning around.
On a threatening day, we avoided rain till we left the Pogo site on the way back, to head down the .9-mile Griggs Trail, as drizzle began to fall.
Thurston Griggs Trail to Appalachian Trail to Annapolis Rocks and back. 5.7 miles.
How to get there: Off U.S. 40 near west of Frederick.