On a recent hike along the Soapstone Valley trail, I was greeted by a surprise at the first stream crossing: no more wobbly or submerged rocks.
A rock toward the middle of this now-improved Soapstone Creek crossing was often submerged.
This is thanks to Doug Rosenthal, a runner in the park, and two volunteer trail maintainers from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club at work on another part of the trail.
“I was really happy to see [Mitch Baer and Kenny Carter] working on the crossing,” Rosenthal told me.
Rosenthal first noticed the wobbly rock when the trail first reopened after DC Water’s sewer rehabilitation and stream rebuilding project. He wondered if the rock was an extra one from the project, and whether could be more useful in another spot.
“I thought it might help with the flooded crossing, but it was too big and heavy to move myself,” Rosenthal told me. “I retraced my steps to the next crossing and pointed out the stone to them.”
Baer determined that it would work. The three moved the large rock on top of a flat one that is usually submerged.
The formerly wobbly rock in a new and more helpful location.
Many efforts have been made to build up the crossing at that point, but none that worked very long. This looks to be a success!
Baer and Carter were previously working on improving a rolling dip grade near the dead end at Audubon Terrace.
They lengthened it to channel water from the north side of the trail into the Soapstone Valley. Their fix should prevent the trail from getting muddy whenever we get significant rain.
Other recent improvements include new signs that greet runners, hikers and dog walkers entering the Soapstone Valley trail from Broad Branch Road.
The same signs were installed April 10 at the Albemarle Street and Windom Place trailheads.
Also, an unknown person or persons took it upon themselves to make another much-needed addition – a homemade sign.
After taking the stairs down to the first crossing, then traversing the three other crossings, hikers who do not already know the way are left high and dry.
This large sign, on what looks to be a large piece of weathered plywood, sits where trails leading to Windom and Albemarle diverge.
The trail could use one more sign, homemade or otherwise, at the dead end of Audubon Terrace pointing the way to Albemarle.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Green Eyeshades says
I would love to have a digital version of the signboard showing the Soapstone Valley Trail including the thorough details on the brown panel at the bottom. The National Park Service does not seem to have that map or sign board on its website for Rock Creek Park. Google image search could find it only on the Connection’s website.