Roberta Karger does a double-take as an exercising lady makes her rounds on the hilly streets of Harpers Ferry, WV where recently we launched our effort to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) in four states on one weekend. In the lower photo, her husband Don enjoys the historical plaques in the town’s Arsenal Square.

HARPERS FERRY—
Bustling in Antiquity
and pierced by the Appalachian Trail

In 1750 Robert Harper obtained ownership of 125 acres of land at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, then in the wilderness about 50 miles west of what is now Washington DC.

In 1761 he established a ferry across the Potomac River, opening a route for settlers moving into the Shenandoah Valley and farther west—hence the modern name of Mr. Harper’s town; population in 2000, 307.

In 1785 George Washington visited the town looking for a canal route through the mountains which were then effectively blocking migration westward in the newly freed country.

Because of Washington’s familiarity with the town, as president he established a US Armory and Arsenal there in 1794 which produced more than 600,000 musket rifles for the army and turned the town into a vital manufacturing area.

That ultimately led to an historical act for which the town is most famous to this day; John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry on October 16, 1859—a key event leading the nation toward Civil War; a disaster for the little town as it changed hands eight times between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865.

General Lee fought there with his army of 40,000 men. Two days later he commanded his troops at the nearby battle of Antietam which had the highest number of deaths among troops in any day of US military history.

Today, tourists meander up and down and around the little town’s very hilly and narrow streets. Many of its buildings are made of stone slab walls and are still bustling with touristy commerce.

The huge stone escarpment just across the Potomac is in Maryland while high atop the ridge across the Shenandoah River, West Virginia and Virginia share a border.

As our little platoon of 10 hikers familiarized ourselves with the town’s geography we discovered the AT enters the town via a walking bridge across the Potomac then wanders up very steep steps toward Jefferson’s Rock.

Russ Matz is pictured (right) descending those steps with a rectangular white AT blaze clearly visible on the light post just ahead of him.

The AT leaves the town by crossing the Shenandoah then does a steep climb up Chestnut Hill toward the Virginia border.

So, with a round-trip across a walking bridge over the Potomac and a level stroll into Maryland and back, then two ascents; one up toward Jefferson’s Rock and the other up Chestnut Ridge we would be able to log hikes on the AT in three states on the same day.

That was our plan with a nifty romp through the antiquity of Harpers Ferry a delightful bonus.

The following day we had a 50 mile drive north into PA where the AT crosses US 30 between Chambersburg and Gettysburg through the Caledonia State Park. A vigorous ascent on the trail there would count as our fourth state of the weekend.

We’ll share that story with you next week. Please stay tuned.

Sue Brooks and Roberta Karger leave a restored residence and head toward St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church (background, and interior right). The wall constructed of flat rock in the background is typical of construction seen in walls and buildings throughout the town.  That's Chestnut Hill in the background; site of our hiking ascent to Virginia.