FEBRUARY
TRAILBLAZERS REPORT
WRITTEN B Y : K ATRINKA W E S TENDORF
The morning of December 14th was cold , crisp , and sunny . Vegetation along the LLA trails had died back and there was little need for the Trailblazers ’ light maintenance duties on the paths , so the group conducted their first Community Hike of the season instead . Temperatures at the start of the hike were in the mid 20 ’ s , but they soon moderated . Seven intrepid folks showed up for the hike ( 5 members and 2 other residents ) at the usual meeting place ( Coldstream Pool parking lot ) and we carpooled over to Oakdale Village to explore several of the newer trails in the LLA trail system . None of the group ( except the leader ) had been on any of these trails , so it was a new experience for all .
We began at the Oakdale Community Center parking lot and quickly moved over to the northern trail head of the Stoneroller Trail , off Lake Linganore Blvd just to the west of the presentlyclosed Eaglehead Drive roadbed ( to be opened and connected in about 18 months to the bridge over Linganore Creek at the Brosius Dam and the section of Eaglehead Drive on the north side of the community ). The trail quickly descends a steep hill , briefly follows one side of the old Eaglehead Drive roadbed , and then veers to the left into the woods . It meanders through the woods , down two sets of steps , and comes out onto the lower section of the newly-paved Eaglehead Drive . There are wooden sign posts at both ends of the path .
The group walked along the side of the road ( there is a paved sidewalk on the east side and a grassy area on the west side ) down to the intersection with the road that leads up the hill to the future Alpine Village . Access to the Nightingale Trail is once again open in this area . On the left ( west side ) about . 1 of a mile down Eaglehead Drive you will find the entrance to the Walleye Trail ( marked by another wooden trail sign post ). The Walleye Trail is situated on the far western side of the Village . We hiked south on the pathway all the way up to its end at Saw Whet Alley ( just north of Lake Linganore Blvd ).