Tamika Graham canal community story
As an avid hiker, I can’t explore trails without feeling a sense of satisfaction at the slight changes in terrain and elevation, hearing the light crunch of worn paths beneath me, and noticing the subtle rustle of bushes from wildlife going about their day. Through a geographical lens, I can’t explore a place without allowing my mind to map how it came to be through its natural features, and ask who built this place and why, and how humans have shaped it and are simultaneously being shaped by this place. And as a Black woman, I can’t explore a place without wondering who might have worked this land and whose story hasn’t been told yet. For me, the C&O Canal NHP, including its long-distance towpath, is an interesting place to move through at the intersection of these overlapping perspectives.
Unfolding itself across 185 miles from Cumberland and moving southeast towards Georgetown, one can’t traverse this trail without imagining that you are traveling through a corridor of time. Like the ships that made countless journeys during the 19th century, we are making a journey through this public land - if only for an afternoon hike, bird watching, or a weekend getaway at one of the rustic Canal Quarters. The history of this place is memorialized in carefully drawn maps, interpretative descriptions, trail markers, and restored historic structures dotted along the way. But we experience this history in real-time through our witness of the abandoned locks, some sections of dried-up waters of the canal, the weathered and eroded rock formations and the energy and flow of the nearby Potomac River.
More importantly, the history of this place is still unfolding. The reuse of this Canal, which was once a place to support commerce, is now a place for varied recreation, reflection and respite, and cultural tourism. Like the former vessels that were once lowered down by the lock system carrying goods, we are human vessels carrying our history, culture, and stories. I feel connected to this place, to this land, even to the diversity of waterfowl that my eyes joyfully follow as they flicker in and out of the waterways. I feel a sense of connection to the memories and history of the African American men of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that were stationed here and toiled under separate living conditions while they restored sections of the canal and made this a recognizable and remembered place and trail that I use presently.
Through my lens as a NextGen Trail Leader with the American Hiking Society, the conservation of this Park and other public lands is critical. Conservation efforts reassure us that future generations will have the humble privilege to access this remembered place, to learn who shaped it, and how its geography and geology are a testament to how the land was used. I hope to inspire current and future generations to visit, feel like they belong, and develop a sense of ownership and responsibility as environmental stewards.
Formed in 2020, Black Women Hiking the DMV is a group that gathers first-time and experienced hikers to amplify, value, and center the experiences of those with historically marginalized identities in the outdoors. The group’s mission is to inspire, educate, empower, and support women in pursuit of a meaningful, lifelong connection to the outdoors by creating opportunities for participants to physically occupy green spaces (via hiking, camping, backpacking, and skills-building) and foster a sense of belonging as a key to engagement in public lands.
As the hike leader with the group, I’ve had the pleasure of organizing and leading many group outings along various sections of the C & O Canal Trail. Cumulatively, we have hiked approximately 80 miles of the trail over the years from various starting points, and have explored additional trails within adjacent parks. We have funny stories to tell about hiking when the trail is iced over and trials and triumphs of our introduction to stand-up paddle boarding class nearby Sherman Island.
We’ve also explored Canal Towns including Harpers Ferry. On multiple occasions, we have leaped and scrambled across the rocks on Bear Island jutting over the Potomac River along the hardest section of the Billy Goat Trail. We have willingly contorted our hiking boots and bodies over rocks and boulders. We have touched the cool ground. For moments, we’ve revisited childlike glee and a sense of adventure.
To launch 2023, we also had the pleasure of exploring Great Falls as our first hike of the year. To hone in on the magnitude of the moment, we started the day off with moments of gratitude. Pulling into a tight circle, each person shared something pressing on their heart, including reflections on the past year and personal aspirations for the year ahead. Looking out at the vast landscape, the Potomac River and the C&O Canal NHP served as a serene backdrop for this conversation.
“Amazing”, “peaceful”, “beautiful”, “wow”. These are the words I hear in-between chirping birds, the gentle hum of a breeze, the swooshing sounds of the nearby Potomac, and other happy trail users passing by that have also been drawn to this place. We paused in awe while standing at the edge of Olmsted Island and revered the great rumbling waters over Rocky Island. I‘ve heard many on our group hikes along the Canal say, “Today is a beautiful day”, but I allow my mind to translate the comments as “This C&O Canal trail has made the day beautiful”.
Due to its natural beauty, environmental setting, biodiversity, and historical significance, we are year-round, serial visitors to this Park. Our next round of miles will start at White’s Ferry, MD to Harpers Ferry, WV, joining other hiking enthusiasts in the Sierra Club’s annual One Day 50k Hike (31 miles) along the C&O canal.
Credits:
Created with images by Tamika Graham • Sergii Mostovyi - "a hiking boots" • Rawpixel.com - "Trekking couple using map and compass in a forest" • Pennifield Lock by Penny Baile • Harpers Ferry by Erik Wang • Thick, Pre-dawn Mist by Roy Sewall • Pre-dawn, Panoramic View by Roy Sewall