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| Sierra Slope passes near the ruins of farm buildings, a sawdust pile (from a long-ago sawmill, and newly re-opened meadows as it descends from 380 feet to the river at 300 feet. The fields and meadows from the many years of intense cultivation provided mating grounds for the woodcock. However, as shrubs and small trees began to take over, the woodcock left. The Department of Recreation and Parks cleared the fields and seek to maintain them for woodcock and other birds. Mature trees in the vicinity of the sawmill illustrate nature's reclaiming of the land. This trail follows an old farm road to the river. It was re-discovered by River Hill resident and biologist Ken Paynter who guided in marking it in April 1997. The honor of completion of this trail goes to the Howard County Sierra Club (1). Hence, the name "Sierra Slope." And, speaking of mountains, it must be noted that the Rouse Company, Columbia's developer, envisioned a ski slope from the "high" point of this trail (between marker 2 and where the trail enters deeper woods). The side loop (markers 3-6) was added to the original trail. It goes to the right and gently downward; the main trail continues straight ahead and gently upward. The sawdust pile, now covered in leaves and vegetation is to the right of the trail, about 60 feet beyond where the side loop rejoins the main trail. There were several old ESSO oil cans near here when the trail was being developed. Prior to marker 7, the trail makes a sharp turn to the left at a bench. The original trail (both in the sense of an old farm trail and in the trail initially re-established) continued straight ahead to the river. |
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