Meet the 2007 HFD Team Aileen Goss Andrea Hoffman Brianna McMullen Cindy Kiamko Cindy Vogelberger Clint Reach Deb Donofrio Ellen Brooks Erin Noseworthy  Greg Palmer Heather Mitchell Heidi Sowers  Jessica Koman Joel Shalowitz  Kate Brotman  Kate Greenberg Kendra Plemmons Kevin Pearson ‡ Kim Guercio Kyle Bray * Lisa Fronc * Lauren Allen † Olivia Darden Patti Harden ** Paula Finkelstein Terrill Esposito Tracy Kight Rosamaria Somarriba Samuel Somarriba

** Hike Leader * Mentor † LLS Staff ‡ Honorary Team Member

Hike Hero - Gary

A Hike Hero in the Hike For Discovery program is a person that is currently fighting a blood cancer. The members of each group hike in honor of this individual.

The Hike Hero for the Maryland Chapter is Gary Todd. He first discovered he had enlarged lymph nodes during a visit to the hospital after having chest pains during a hike in late November 2003. In June 2005 he began feeling tired and experiencing night sweats. At first he thought he was worrying unnecessarily because of his impending retirement the next year. However, after a number of tests it was diagnosed with Stage 4, Non-Hodgkin’s spleenic lymphoma.

Gary underwent a chemotherapy treatment in six cycles over eighteen weeks and on January 1, 2006 went into remission. Unfortunately in late March of 2006 he began to feel sick again and in mid-May he began treatment with Rituxin*. He has been diagnosed with chronic lymphoma and will be taking Rituxin every ninety days for at least the next two years.

www.HikeForDiscovery.org

Time of Hike: 9:30 AM
Distance Hiked: 4.5 Miles
Temp During Hike: Low 30.0 °F   High 36.0 °F
Elevation Change: 100 Ft

Due to a late winter snow/ice storm, our group hike to Sugarloaf Mountain was postponed and in order to keep in shape I went on another solo hike in Patapsco Valley State Park. I visited the site of the ruined mill town of Daniels which was washed away during the Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Not much remains today but I was able to get some photos for my Ruins of Patapsco Valley State Park project.

This is one of my favorite areas of the park. The trail begins on what is left of Alberton Road in Baltimore County and continues past Daniels to a dirt trail that leads up onto the hillside for some nice views of the Patapsco River. One popular destination along this trail is the ruins the St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church. These particular ruins are located just a short hike up the hill from Alberton Road where the stone walls have stood crumbling since it burned in 1926.

At the far end of my hike was the Dorsey Tunnel. Built in 1906, this tunnel is still active today and you can regularly see trains loaded with coal traveling along the tracks that go through it.

  About Patapsco Valley State Park, MD

Park Headquarters
8020 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21043
(410) 461-5005

Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 14,000 acres and five developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing, camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or large groups in the park's many popular pavilions.

For more information visit:

• Ruins of Patapsco Valley State Park
• Official Park Site

  Photos

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