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| Al Geis Loop Three Connecting Trails The Al Geis Loop trail branches a short distance from the MPEA parking lot on Trotter Road to form a loop. Two of the segments lead to the river and the third segment connects those two along the river. The loop is named in honor of Aelred D. Geis, a former president of the Middle Patuxent Valley Association (MPVA) and a continuing strong voice in the preservation of the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (MPEA). Thus, the Loop consists of three trails. The trail names have a distinct ring after the character of Columbia's street names, although they do not have the same origin. The “official” trail guide does not include some interesting history that is noted here. Nor does it credit at all those who established the trail and maintained in during its first years. Lack of such credit may be one reason the trail has been frequently in poor shape in recent years. Let us give credit where it is due! The original edition of this guide – the first guide available - contained the trail map; that is now in the “official” guide and has been omitted in this edition. However, this edition has been updated to include references to the trail markers, which were not present when the original edition was prepared. |