29: Sideling Hill Creek Preserve
Tussocks, Sideling Hill Creek Preserve B E L L E G R O V E, M D Shortly after crossing into West Virginia, the road in this famously curvy and mountainous state becomes arrow straight for the next twelve miles. As the trajectory of the road changes, so too changes my own arc. My day so far has been a bit of a scramble as I’ve been gathering and packing gear for a very early morning visit to an eighth Nature Conservancy (TNC) preserve in eight days. Almost to the point of obsession, I strive to visit new places like today at Sideling Hill Creek Preserve in the early morning hours. This strategy, which I’ve been employing for years, often bears wonderful fruits. How often have I had places of such beauty at sunrise all to myself? That solitude and oneness with places have made for incredible experiences. But such an obsession does come with a price: early morning scrambles. As I hit this stretch of straightness though, today...