As we've been recently working on another hide near one of the tributaries of the Patapso, we decided to take a break today and come down and explore the other end. We've offered three trail coordinates for your consideration in approaching this hide, your choice will be dependent on what sort of watercraft you use as to which is best for you. We urge you to anticipate what the local conditions will be at the time of your search. Tide and local waterbourne traffic can have a significant impact on your ability to succeed in making the find here.
Your opportunities to conduct CITO activities while you are here abound. It is not unlikley that you will encounter a significant amount of outwashed trash both in the water, and in the adjacent parks should you visit them. Should you choose to collect some, be advised that there are is not much in the way of local bins in which to depsoit what you've collected, so you may have to take it home to dispose of it properly, come prepared for that.
You will also likley encounter local fishermen and crabbers, both waterbourne and shore-side. Having read Maryland's recent report on the state of these waters (which can be seen here: http://tinyurl.com/jyvn8qv) not sure we'd be eating what came out of these waters, but apparently some do. Recommend you don't mess with the crab pots in the area (you'll see lots of buoys) crabbers tend to get very possessive of their gear...
So, all that said, making your way to this hide can proivide for an interesting boating experience in a combined natural/industrial area of Baltimore Harbor. Interesting sites nearby to see: The Hanover Street Bridge, Viet Nam Veteran's Memorial, The Baltimore Rowing Club (you may see them sculling north of the Hanover Street Bridge), and of course, Fort McHenry is just round the corner to the east. The Gwynn's Falls Trail passes through here, it is a mile walk north on it to the Baltimore Inner Harbor, and a fourteen mile walk/bik ride up to Leakin Park at the other end. There is also a nearby park called "Ferry Bar," we could not find any information on a ferry here, if anyone does uncover some inforamtion about it we'd love to here it!
Note that while this is not yet a portion of the harbor that features a major shipping channel, there can be extensive recreational boating traffic in here, including large and fast cigarette boats, which create a significant wake.
The hide itself, while listed as a micro, is somehwere between that and a small. It is a new sort of container for us, and we are anxious to see how it fares in this environment; we think it will do quite well. Here are some details on the location of the hide (many thanks to Wikipedia):
"A dolphin is a man-made marine structure that extends above the water level and is not connected to shore.
Dolphins are usually installed to provide a fixed structure when it would be impractical to extend the shore to provide a dry access facility, for example, when ships (or the number of ships expected) are greater than the length of the berth/pier.
Typical uses include extending a berth (a berthing dolphin) or providing a point to moor to (a mooring dolphin). Dolphins are also used to display regulatory information like speed limits etc., other information like advertising or directions and navigation information like a daybeacon as well as ranges and lighted aids to navigation.
Mooring dolphins can also be used to "cushion" ship impacts, somewhat similar to fenders.
The structures typically consist of a number of piles;driven into the seabed or riverbed and connected above the water level to provide a platform or fixing point. The piles can be untreated adobe ;wood, pressure treated pine wood poles, or steel;or reinforced concrete beams, blocks or tubes. Smaller dolphins can have the piles drawn together with wire rope, but larger dolphins are typically fixed using a reinforced concrete capping or a structural steel frame.
Access to a dolphin may be via a pedestrian bridge (mooring dolphins) but is usually by boat."
This one, of course, is accessible only by boat.
As with all your searches, please do some research, and use good voyage planning techniques. Know your limitations, employ risk management, and don’t take on something that is beyond your capability. Some of you do this all the time, some rarely; in the end, it is you who are accountable for what happens to you, mentally, emotionally and physically as the result of seeking this hide.
