SpeedRacer 1 #1 December 21, 2004 Looks like the Pres is gonna spend Christmas at Camp David. The Catoctin mountains are just a 20 minute drive from my house. I go hiking there a lot. But the park service website issued this announcement: Temporary Partial Park Closures Date December 16, 2004 For Release: December 16, 2004 Contact: Mel Poole, Superintendent Catoctin Mountain Park Announces Temporary Closures Due to increased security measures, portions of Catoctin Mountain Park will be closed effective Tuesday, December 21, 2004 at approximately 10:00 AM. Closures are scheduled to continue through Sunday, December 26, 2004 at approximately 1:00 PM. Park Central Road is closed between the Camp Misty Mount Entrance and Camp Greentop. Reservations for Poplar Grove, Camp Misty Mount, Camp Greentop and Camp Round Meadow will be honored. Hikers may access trails to Thurmont Vista, Wolf Rock, and Chimney Rock as well as the Falls Nature Trail from the Visitor Center Trailheads. The Catoctin Trail will be open. The routes to Blue Ridge Summit Overlook and Hog rock are not available during this closure. Manahan Road and trails to the west of Manahan Road are available for use. Picnickers may use Chestnut Picnic Area. Please direct questions about these closures to the Catoctin Mountain Park Visitor Center at (301) 663-9388. Catoctin Mountain Park is one of 388 units of the National Park System. The Visitor Center is located three miles west of Thurmont, Maryland on State Route 77. Correspondence should be addressed to Superintendent, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788. ----- I have attached a map showing the area to be closed off from Dec. 21- 26th. It includes all possible land access around Camp David. A lot of these areas are some of my usual hiking trails. edited to add:(notice how they won't actually show Camp David on the trail map. but most people around here know where it is.) Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hipwrddude 0 #2 December 22, 2004 Thanks for the update. Buddies and I hike and camp in Catoctin. I'd hate to wake the President with all our laughin', drinkin and fightin.' You're always the starter in your own life! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soulshine 0 #3 December 22, 2004 Damn! I hike there too and they've closed about all of the good stuff. Damn President! Oh well, it's gettin cold and I'm a wuss in cold weather. I prolly wont go hiking as much for a while, at least not until temps are at 50 or above! Bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity! ~DEVIOUS BEEF~~FGF #69~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #4 December 22, 2004 You mean the government close land that belongs to them? Those bastards, who would have thought.-- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #5 December 22, 2004 QuoteYou mean the government close land that belongs to them? What's wrong with the above statement? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #6 December 22, 2004 Yeah, yeah, I see your point. US = government, blah... But who manages it? Do any of us contribute to the park we use? Typically, no. Will we be there to gaurd the fenceline from unfriendlies seeking access? Somone has to manage the property, and they deserve Christmas too, not walking hundred of miles of fence line because someone wants to hike while the president is in the area. This is no different than limiting airspace over Crawford, TX when he is home. It just make sense. If it was open, someone would be whining about the tax payer money being spent to patrol it.-- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #7 December 22, 2004 I don't have a problem with it. Just thought your comment was a little...off. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #8 December 22, 2004 OH, well I'm not complaining, I understand the need for security. But I read this article in the Washington Post. The reporter went up there to go hiking & the trail map had camp David blocked out (the area wasn't closed at the time b/c the Prez wasn't there. they just won't show Camp David on the map). He asked a park ranger what's up there, but the park ranger wouldn't say for security reasons. The thing is, a lot of people who hike or even live in the area know EXACTLY where Camp David is, & you could figure it out with a little research on the web. So it isn't really a secret at all, so I don't know why they bother trying to keep it one. Hell, everyone knows where the White House is, right? Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyingferret 0 #9 December 22, 2004 Yep, but try getting close to it -- All the flaming and trolls of wreck dot with a pretty GUI. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #10 December 22, 2004 Camp David is actually not very big. Do you see the orange letter L on the map? on the bottom part of the L is an elevation (I think it says 1820 ft). That is Hi Catoctin, the highest elevation in the park. That peak area is cleared (mostly) and there is a big fence around it. That is Camp David. There is a road leading up to it from Park Central Road just to the South, but there is a huge gate blocking the road that looks like it is from a maximum security prison. If you even go up that road (well there's no access to even Central Park Road when the Pres is there, but I mean at other times) you will be surrounded by marines in various military vehicles who will ask you all kindsa questions about WTF you're doing there. Anyway, Camp David has a barracks at the north end, and on the south western corner is a little air strip. The president stays in a cabin called "The Aspen" at the southeast portion of Camp David. There are other smaller cabins nearby for visiting guests. There is a wood working shop, and a nature/riding trail, and a skeet-shooting range. Its supposed to be quite nice. Supposedly in the 50's they'd let civilians in to visit when the Prez wasn't there. They would have one sailor with a 45 guarding the gate. times have changed. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
soulshine 0 #11 December 23, 2004 QuoteSomone has to manage the property, and they deserve Christmas too, not walking hundred of miles of fence line because someone wants to hike while the president is in the area. Umm...Pres or not...we still work over the holidays, no Christmas this year. I am in the Army and I work next to Camp David as an MP. I wasn't bitchin' about the closing...I was simply stating that the good stuff was closed. Relax. Bombing for peace is like fucking for virginity! ~DEVIOUS BEEF~~FGF #69~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
