Day 190 - Cunningham Falls

(Click any photo to enlarge.)

Cunningham Falls

Cunningham Falls State Park is in the Catoctin Mountains near Thurmont, Maryland.  Because I needed to go to Thurmont today, I decided that a Monday morning in March would be a good time to visit the falls.  Sometimes, due to the popularity of the site, there are lots of people, kids are climbing all over the rocks, and there are crowds to contend with.  However, just as I thought, there were only a few people around, which made for a nice, quiet walk.

Slow Shutter Speed on the Stream

My friend Norma accompanied me, and we set off on the "lower trail" to the falls, which was the easier of the two routes.  The next time we go, we will wear our hiking boots (which I conveniently broke in while in Death Valley) and take the more difficult trail.

Maple Syrup Collection

Due to the recent wet weather, the trail was a little muddy in spots, but it was clear and easy to navigate.  There were many fallen logs and trees on either side of the path, as a result of damage from Hurricane Sandy and other winter storms.  There was evidence of a lot of log cutting going on, with wood often piled by the side of the trail.

Tree Trunk with Fungus

We photographed the falls, experimenting with slow shutter speeds on both the falls and the creek.

A family of home-schooled boys joined us at the falls -- we knew for sure they were home-schooled when their mother made them stop to read each and every sign along the trail.  When one of the boys skipped one of the signs, she told him he was skipping school, and that he had to come back and read it or go no farther.  He complied.

Stump Designs

Maple syrup collection is happening right now in the park, and this weekend, there will be syrup making demonstrations.  Check the website for more information.  If you go, be sure to include a walk to falls, either on the high trail or the low trail.  You can even bring the dog.

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Visit my photography show, "My Maryland," at the public library in Urbana, Maryland, on the lower level of the building.  It is there until the end of April.

Hurricane Sandy Relief: Donate to the Red Cross, and I will mail you a 5 x 7 print from any of the photos I have posted on my blog OR any photo on my website.

Forward to me via email a receipt for donating to the Red Cross. Tell me whether the photo is from the blog or the website, and Include its title along with a mailing address. The name on the receipt to the Red Cross must match the name of the mailing recipient. Send the receipt and the photo request to camscamerashots@gmail.com.

Click on any photo to enlarge it.

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Visit my web site: camscamerashots.zenfolio.com
Follow me on Twitter: @camscamerashots
Email:  cam.miller@comcast.net

Cam's rules for the Daily Photo Walk:

1. walk every day
2. the walk must be in addition to any other planned activity for the day
3. post a photo every day
4. use whatever camera is easy and convenient for walking comfortably; always have a backup camera at the ready in case of mishaps
5. no weather excuses
6. walk only where it is safe to do so