Harper's Ferry

Harper's Ferry is a quaint town that sits on the borders of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. This little inlet is a historical constitution and battle site for the Revolutionary War, with many historical buildings still standing to this day. Also a particular note are the Shenandoah and Potomac River, which converge here at this town. This small Port Town also happens to lie between two mountain ranges with excellent hiking, Maryland Heights on one side and Loudon Heights on the other. With the total population being right around 300, this small town thrives on its history and tourism, visitations of one of the most famous Roman Catholic churches in the states, parts of the B&O Railroad, several gift shops, Old damaged sewage canals, military buildings and bases, and an awesome little park overlooking the two converging rivers.

At the mouth of the river.

Although there wasn't too much to the town, it was nice to be able to stop here to recharge our batteries, get souvenirs, learn about history, and eat a small lunch before heading home from a day full of hiking. We were in the Shenandoah mountain range that day, with a good part of the Appalachian trail running parallel to Harpers Ferry. They are so proud of their part of the trail, they actually have an Appalachian Trail Conservancy building station in the center of town. It is one of the most highly trafficked parts of the trail, especially due to proximity to town and the overall toughness of this part of the trail.

Even though we didn't spend a whole lot of time here, I would definitely have been more impressed if we got there earlier in the day when all the historic buildings were open. We wandered in and around the sewage canals, The Boarding House, and the signing house, but as far as the barracks and other important military buildings, we didn't get to see a whole lot. I definitely recommend starting here earlier in the day and then moving on from there if you want to actually see all the cool things in the town.

The main road in and out of town.

If you are planning a hike in the Shenandoah or the Appalachian Trail the next day, this can be a perfect place to stop, grab and All American bite to eat, unwind, and get up nice and early the next day. There's a couple of AirB&B spots nearby, as well as rather cheap hotels and lodging. Even if you're just passing through the area or coming close to it, it is absolutely worth a detour if you can afford to do so. It is also worth stopping to learn about John Brown's military seizure and the abolitionist regiment's attempt to end slavery back in 1859. And, if all else fails and you're not the biggest history buff, it's got incredibly scenic views for breathtaking photo opportunities, and is the Midway point between three different states.

Big Schloss

Spring breaks are normally used for drinking and partying. Instead, I used mine to go hiking. Big Schloss means big castle in German, and with a summit of 2164 feet, it definitely lives up to its expectation. The hike itself isn't all that challenging, with most of the switchbacks being incredibly minor and early on in and the adventure. Around every single turn, however, lies a beautiful photo opportunity of the Appalachian Mountain Valley and the Shenandoah River Valley. Since the mountain itself lies in the greater Appalachian Mountain section and borders the Shenandoah, there are lots of Scenic views to be shared between Virginia and West Virginia throughout the entire hike.

Here is one of many beautiful panoramas of the area.

For a total difficulty of this like, I would put it at about a 3 out of 10. There was a hefty section in the beginning the required some walking straight uphill, but once you got to the switchbacks, they were actually very mild compared to other trails and both the Appalachian and Shenandoah ranges. There are no rock scrambles, and most of the hike is over flat ground that does not flood very easily. There is some optional rock climbing, which gets you a couple of cool pictures, but nothing too severe or major.

You'll start your day near a small town in West Virginia, supplying up on trail mix, energy bars, and whatever lunch or dinner you intend to eat on the trail. The sun will be directly overhead for most of the hike, but there is just enough tree coverage to prevent you from overheating. Pack your containers full of water and your typical hiking supplies though, and all will be okay. It is very hard to overexert yourself on this mountain, as it is meant to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace.

During my hike, I encountered no wildlife besides a couple of birds chirping in the trees. I did, however, enjoy crossing a footbridge to the summit and enjoying the silent beautiful realm of nature. Being one of the tallest mountains in West Virginia, with its Summit itself being in Virginia, it was quite an incredible Adventure to see the mountainside in all of his glory. My shadow was cast over the entire valley because of the way the sun hit the cliff face.

And I felt magnificent.

Once you're done hiking, Harpers Ferry is about 20 minutes away for another fun and fancy stop on your travels. There are also another couple of towns nearby that I'll provide their own cute little charm. The biggest reason I would say to hike this mountain is because it is a fun and enjoyable hike for anybody in the family. So if you need a weekend activity, this is how to do it.

My Ancestry

Growing up, I was always told that I was a variety of different ethnicities. I grew up believing that I was part Native American, Pennsylvania Dutch, in German. Eventually consulted with my grandmother on my dad's side, and found out that apparently, I was also French and English. At the time, my parents and I were skeptical. But one day, I decided to have my genome sequenced, and my ancestry plainly laid out for me. This will be the day that I would see without a shred of a scientific doubt once and for all what I am.

23andMe is an interesting concept that allows you to send a saliva sample to a laboratory and received genetic testing results within 6 weeks. For the basic $99 kit (with some occasional discounts), you can have this company sequence your genome to figure out where your ancestry lies. For an additional $100, you can also have them test for health problems that may arise, who exactly your ancestors were, your risk for Alzheimer's and other diseases, and what you inherited from who. This time around, I did the basic model, as it was on sale at the time for $60.

Growing up, I was told that I was European, which made sense given my markedly white skin. But when I asked for an explanation about my tan complexion and why my eyes slant when I smile, I didn't get many explanations. I was told it was because I was Native American, but others thought that I was some sort of Asian. I didn't believe them, until I received my ancestry results. 

As it turns out, I was the first one in my family to have my genome sequenced, growing up I was told it I was European which made sense given my markedly white skin. But when I asked for explanation about my tan complexion and why my eyes slant when I smile, I was told it was because I was Native American. Yet, others thought that I was some sort of Asian. I didn't believe them until I received my ancestry results. As it turns out I was the first one of my family to have my genome sequenced, which meant that I would be the first to know for sure.

After questioning both sets of grandparents, I deduced that I was French, British, Dutch, German, and Native American. When I got my results though, I was surprised to learn that this was not entirely the case. Yes, my makeup was definitely markedly German. However, even though I was about 60% German, I was also about 20% British and French both. It turns out that I was not Native American at all, but I have Italian, Iberian, Scandinavian, and South Asian (Indian specifically) in me. I learned what my paternal and maternal haplogroups were, and as it turned out, I also found that about 2% of my DNA is comprised of Neanderthal. As it turned out, I was quite The Eclectic mixture of things.

If you've ever had a question you haven't been sure about regarding your ancestry, it's best to get checked. You can then send your reports from 23andMe to Promethease and they will sequence your genome results to predict for hereditary illnesses and other things for much cheaper than 23andMe does. Or if you want the complete report, of course, continue forward with 23andMe. By the way around, it's quite interesting to learn where you come from, and a worthwhile investment.

If you are interested in sequencing your genome to determine your ancestry, you can use this link to 23AndMe’s website to figure it out for sure.