Published: November 10, 2008 12:21 am         

Few hikers travel Big Savage Trail

Path where B-52 crashed gets attention of forestry students

GRANTSVILLE — Though not heavily used to begin with, the 17-mile Big Savage Hiking Trail within the Savage River State Forest has experienced even fewer footsteps recently because of weeds and saplings clogging the path.

“In 2002 we had a bad ice storm above 2,200 feet and we have also had a number of years with bad gypsy moth infestations,” said Larry Maxim, forest supervisor. “The result is that we lost our leaf canopy, the sunlight got in and things such as weeds, blackberries, greenbriar and saplings have filled in.”

Maxim said that his crew cleared one section of the trail, but that in a month it was clogged again.

The northern terminus of the trail is at St. John’s Rock and the southern terminus is at the whitewater campground on Savage River Road downstream of Savage Reservoir.

Dan Fiscus, assistant professor of forest ecology and biology at Frostburg State University, said nine of his students in the forest science program have chosen the trail as their semester project.

“In December they will present a feasibility report about the trail,” Fiscus said. “We will give the study to (Maxim) for his management decision.”

Fiscus said the students could propose that the trail be closed, that some sections remain open or offer other alternatives.

“I told them to weigh all the issues,” Fiscus said. “One option may be to wait until the canopy grows back and then attempt to clear and reopen the trail.”

Maxim said he is grateful for any and all help he gets in ideas or muscle power. He said he does not have enough personnel to clear the trail on a regular basis.

“Frankly, the trail never got a lot of use, even before it got grown over,” Maxim said. “Although, it offers spectacular views.”

Maxim said at one time trail counters were placed and indicated that hundreds of hikers were using the trail on weekends.

“We thought, wow, that’s a lot of use, so we went to the trail to look around, but couldn’t find a boot print in any of the muddy spots on the trail. Turns out insects were setting off the counter,” he said.

A portion of the trail is only 200 yards from the site where a B-52 crashed in 1964. A proposal is now being considered within the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to place a plaque on the trail commemorating that crash.

“The crash site is on private land and the landowner, Frank Sgaggero, has been having people walk off the trail there,” Maxim said. “He is concerned that one of his bulls, which he described as cantankerous, might injure one of those hikers.”

Maxim said an interdisciplinary team at DNR is reviewing the proposal for a rest area that would include a bench and a plaque. “The wording for the plaque has not yet been proposed,” he said.

Sgaggero said he is willing to prepare and maintain access from the road to the rest area once the DNR approves use of the trail site. He plans to erect the memorial too. “It’s going to cost about $3,000,” he said.

The B-52 crashed during a snowstorm on the night of Jan. 13, 1964. The plane carried two unarmed nuclear bombs. Three of the five crew members perished, one in the plane and two after parachuting. The pilot, Maj. Thomas McCormick, and the co-pilot, Capt. Parker Peedin, parachuted and survived.

Sgaggero said the original marker in tribute to bombardier Maj. Robert Townley, who died at the crash site, will remain on his property so that family members can still schedule private visits there.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.