Letter to the Editor: Guidebook said hike was rated easy

Honored The Hiking Times Editors:

I chose a trail that was rated “easy” in the “16 Easy Day Hikes Near Funkstown” guide book by Carmichael Fitzgibbons.  However, I found it to be deserving of at least a “moderate” if not a “strenuous” rating.

I sweated a great deal during the hike.  In addition, my hightop Cons were ripped by a rock.  I was out of breath at several points on the trail.  A higher difficulty rating would have led me to take sufficient water.  The soreness from the trail lasted at least 18 hours, and I would have had a blister on my foot if I had hiked it a second time.

I recommend that the rating for the Funkstown AED Trail be changed.  Please forward this to its author.

Lennie McCray

Funkstown, Maryland