WIHighPointer - Jan 14, 2021 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2021
HP #22, Backbone Mtn, MD
Holy crap. I used the WV trail to summit the MD Highpoint as darkness began. There is a sign on the WV highway pointing toward the hill indicating the Maryland Highpoint but there was no trailhead. I went a bit back downhill from the sign, found a narrow gravel road and decided to drive it as far as I could. About 100 meters up there is a parking lot and that is the trailhead. Other hikers had parked on the highway and walked this stretch. I had a Chevy Suburban and knew it could get up me up there to park is the soft muddy parking lot.
The hike was a nightmare because that WV side of the mountain had recently been logged and a lot of debris was strewn everywhere along with active erosion and a drizzly rain. The dirt "road" was very soft mud with water running down the ruts. Some previous HighPointer had spray painted "HP" on trees leading up the mountain to keep hikers on track. Thank you!
The mud was so soft than during descent in the dark I sunk each foot about 6 inches into the mud, my boots are 7 inches tall.
At the summit, there is a bench, picnic table, HP mailbox, a four foot high cairn that may have a USGS marker under it, I have no idea and there is no reception up there.
If you use the WV route up be prepared for mud.
loonlaugh - Nov 16, 2020 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2020
Recently logged
Trail was an awful mess due to recent and ongoing logging activity. The whole MD side has a muddy, post-apocalyptical aesthetic now. It is a very muddy and difficult slog until you get to the upper third of the trail.
Bigmike61 - Jul 2, 2020 5:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2020
Mike and Ben
Beautiful day to hike
travelingronman - Mar 15, 2020 10:28 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2020
bad weather
very rainy and no view but was able to summit it
tsbocook - Jan 6, 2020 9:45 am Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2019
HP #10
This is a pleasant climb, parking is a little iffy
chasesax - Aug 12, 2019 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2019
HP #2
A surprisingly decent little hike! Maybe about 30 minutes from the trailhead. Decent grade up the hike (given the modest altitude for a high point). The views from the clearings at the top of the mountain/hill are well worth it. High pointers be sure to sign the log up there! Weather was perfect in August.
mgriffis - Feb 12, 2019 3:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2018
HP #18
Beautiful fall afternoon; clear trail with some mud
KellyGoat - Jan 16, 2019 7:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2018
Worlds Largest Cairn
A lovely hike to a breathtaking view. Placed a rock on what is the largest cairn I have ever seen.
radbb - Dec 26, 2018 5:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2018
Parking area and Trail covered in Ice and Snow
2/3 HP's today. Sunny and calm conditions. 20deg F. Parking area was completely snow and ice covered. The trail up was a bit dicey. 6-12" of snow and packed ice conditions. The trail is well marked and well blazed. Beautiful view at the top, bright sunshine... In the sign in register, the previous guy left a cliff bar (nice gesture). I was starving and thirsty but did not take it...
Wallylongridge - Nov 24, 2018 9:54 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2018
HP # 17
Mt Davis, Backbone Mtn and Spruce Knob day.
billydheyhey - Nov 16, 2018 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2017
HP #26!
Deceivingly tough for a small hike. There is 1 section at the summit with awesome tunnel like views through a set of trees.
themnkid - Oct 24, 2018 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2018
MD Trip
Hiked up the well marked trail.
marciamallow - May 26, 2018 12:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2010
HP #2
Nice hike through woods...I remember somebody dumped several deer carcasses there and the smell was horrendous
Kristalea - Apr 17, 2018 12:51 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2017
Highpoint #6
Liked the little hike up to Hoye-Crest. Very peaceful.
HikerHel - Mar 31, 2018 1:05 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
Highpoint #6
Memorial Day roadtrip ... mission was to check off 3 highpoints ... PA, MD, and WV.
wannabepeakbagger - Oct 28, 2017 12:29 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2017
Nice Day
I was the 2nd person of the day to sign the register. Trail is very easy to find, thanks to the efforts of the Highpointers club folks.
Walkoutnow - Oct 8, 2017 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2017
HP #24
2nd of three this day. (with PA and WV). It was nice to get out and work up a sweat with a fast pace after driving for a while. Not much in the way of views, except a window to the south. The drive down though, from PA, was beautiful this time of year. Must have passed up 20 or so photo opps. Stopped and took a few, but had to get down to WV before dark.
AirborneBuff - Jun 12, 2017 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2016
Roadtrip Stop
Brian set the KOM on Strava for the run up
punchline - Apr 2, 2017 5:25 pm Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2017
HP #47
Ditto previous post - a bit of bushwacking at the end. Nice day with great views.
WIHighPointer - Jan 14, 2021 8:30 pm Date Climbed: Jan 2, 2021
HP #22, Backbone Mtn, MDHoly crap. I used the WV trail to summit the MD Highpoint as darkness began. There is a sign on the WV highway pointing toward the hill indicating the Maryland Highpoint but there was no trailhead. I went a bit back downhill from the sign, found a narrow gravel road and decided to drive it as far as I could. About 100 meters up there is a parking lot and that is the trailhead. Other hikers had parked on the highway and walked this stretch. I had a Chevy Suburban and knew it could get up me up there to park is the soft muddy parking lot.
The hike was a nightmare because that WV side of the mountain had recently been logged and a lot of debris was strewn everywhere along with active erosion and a drizzly rain. The dirt "road" was very soft mud with water running down the ruts. Some previous HighPointer had spray painted "HP" on trees leading up the mountain to keep hikers on track. Thank you!
The mud was so soft than during descent in the dark I sunk each foot about 6 inches into the mud, my boots are 7 inches tall.
At the summit, there is a bench, picnic table, HP mailbox, a four foot high cairn that may have a USGS marker under it, I have no idea and there is no reception up there.
If you use the WV route up be prepared for mud.
loonlaugh - Nov 16, 2020 4:24 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2020
Recently loggedTrail was an awful mess due to recent and ongoing logging activity. The whole MD side has a muddy, post-apocalyptical aesthetic now. It is a very muddy and difficult slog until you get to the upper third of the trail.
Defin3d - Oct 10, 2020 1:39 am
Check2 down. 48 to go
Bigmike61 - Jul 2, 2020 5:39 am Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2020
Mike and BenBeautiful day to hike
travelingronman - Mar 15, 2020 10:28 am Date Climbed: Mar 11, 2020
bad weathervery rainy and no view but was able to summit it
tsbocook - Jan 6, 2020 9:45 am Date Climbed: Apr 6, 2019
HP #10This is a pleasant climb, parking is a little iffy
chasesax - Aug 12, 2019 12:39 pm Date Climbed: Aug 10, 2019
HP #2A surprisingly decent little hike! Maybe about 30 minutes from the trailhead. Decent grade up the hike (given the modest altitude for a high point). The views from the clearings at the top of the mountain/hill are well worth it. High pointers be sure to sign the log up there! Weather was perfect in August.
mgriffis - Feb 12, 2019 3:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 13, 2018
HP #18Beautiful fall afternoon; clear trail with some mud
KellyGoat - Jan 16, 2019 7:58 pm Date Climbed: Jul 7, 2018
Worlds Largest CairnA lovely hike to a breathtaking view. Placed a rock on what is the largest cairn I have ever seen.
radbb - Dec 26, 2018 5:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2018
Parking area and Trail covered in Ice and Snow2/3 HP's today. Sunny and calm conditions. 20deg F. Parking area was completely snow and ice covered. The trail up was a bit dicey. 6-12" of snow and packed ice conditions. The trail is well marked and well blazed. Beautiful view at the top, bright sunshine... In the sign in register, the previous guy left a cliff bar (nice gesture). I was starving and thirsty but did not take it...
Wallylongridge - Nov 24, 2018 9:54 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2018
HP # 17Mt Davis, Backbone Mtn and Spruce Knob day.
billydheyhey - Nov 16, 2018 2:09 pm Date Climbed: Aug 18, 2017
HP #26!Deceivingly tough for a small hike. There is 1 section at the summit with awesome tunnel like views through a set of trees.
themnkid - Oct 24, 2018 4:21 pm Date Climbed: Oct 18, 2018
MD TripHiked up the well marked trail.
marciamallow - May 26, 2018 12:51 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2010
HP #2Nice hike through woods...I remember somebody dumped several deer carcasses there and the smell was horrendous
Kristalea - Apr 17, 2018 12:51 pm Date Climbed: May 27, 2017
Highpoint #6Liked the little hike up to Hoye-Crest. Very peaceful.
HikerHel - Mar 31, 2018 1:05 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2017
Highpoint #6Memorial Day roadtrip ... mission was to check off 3 highpoints ... PA, MD, and WV.
wannabepeakbagger - Oct 28, 2017 12:29 am Date Climbed: Oct 27, 2017
Nice DayI was the 2nd person of the day to sign the register. Trail is very easy to find, thanks to the efforts of the Highpointers club folks.
Walkoutnow - Oct 8, 2017 5:51 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2017
HP #242nd of three this day. (with PA and WV). It was nice to get out and work up a sweat with a fast pace after driving for a while. Not much in the way of views, except a window to the south. The drive down though, from PA, was beautiful this time of year. Must have passed up 20 or so photo opps. Stopped and took a few, but had to get down to WV before dark.
AirborneBuff - Jun 12, 2017 2:56 pm Date Climbed: Jul 14, 2016
Roadtrip StopBrian set the KOM on Strava for the run up
punchline - Apr 2, 2017 5:25 pm Date Climbed: Mar 30, 2017
HP #47Ditto previous post - a bit of bushwacking at the end. Nice day with great views.