The Ramps Dinner

April 27, 2024

And Trek to the Mason-Dixon Line

In Chapter 9, I mentioned the Ramps Dinner that is held annually at Mason-Dixon Park in late April. Since today is the day, I made a trip back to Core, West Virginia to take in the dinner and head up to the top of Brown's Hill where the monument is located. Although the mileage for the day was rather short, the elevation gain was over 600 feet.

After a brief morning rain shower, the sun came out to warm things up. I decided to make the trek first and to work up an appetite before partaking of the food offerings. Ramps, as you may be aware, are a variety of wild onions that grow in this area and are in season at this time of year. Annually, the local park holds a festival and dinner. It also happens to contain the monument of the last boundary placement by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. As the story goes, they were not able to go any further due to a treaty with the local Indian tribe. The final 23 miles of surveying were finished later, after additional negotiations with the Native Americans, by two other gentlemen (Ellicott and Anderson), who have faded into obscurity.

Browns Hill must be climbed to get to the monument.

Brown's Hill begins as a very steep climb, past some cabin replicas and onto a goat path into the woods. The trail description says it is steep until you get on top of the hill and then it is a pleasant trek from there. After having done it, I wouldn't want anyone who may follow to be disappointed by that opinion. It is true that the grade moderates but there is still some climbing all the way to the monument and informational billboard. So, you have been forewarned... this is an all uphill venture, until you reach the marker. From the Dunkard Creek Basin, which is where the main part of the park is located, it is a mile to the last spot where Mason and Dixon left their mark on Browns Hill. A few photos of the trek, to the monument, follow below:

The Mason and Dixon Trail as it ascends Browns Hill and goes into the woods.

The Mason and Dixon Marker Trail continues.

The last observation spot of the Mason and Dixon expedition.

A broader view of the last observation spot... but the last marker is a little but further along.

The Mason and Dixon Line Marker (at the top of Brown Hill), wide view.

The Mason and Dixon Line Marker, from West Virginia.

The Mason and Dixon Line Marker, from Pennsylvania.

After reaching the monument, I decided to continue exploring, with the goal of making this into a loop and getting back to the main part of the park. The Mason and Dixon trail continued into Pennsylvania for a bit before turning back Southward to West Virginia. Along the way were some other interesting sites as well as some native tree, plant, and wildflower species. A few more photos, showing some of these sights, follow below:

A Paw Paw sapling. All around were full grown Paw Paw Trees. I know where I'll be in mid-September!

A hollowed out tree, near the Mason and Dixon Line Marker.

An Adirondack Shelter, rebuilt from a time when oil drilling was experiencing a boom in the area. Now, it is used by local scouting groups.

A few items left over from the drilling operations.

The trail re-enters West Virginia. This is better signage than I've seen along some of the roads and some other trails that cross the state line!

Flora along the trail. Wild Geranium, with thanks to Bill Shaneyfelt, for identification.

Fauna on the trail! Likely a Salmon Cherry Millipede, with thanks for Bill Shaneyfelt for assistance with identification.

More flora along the trail. These are in the violet family, with thanks to Bill Shaneyfelt for assistance with identification.

The trail runs along Dunkard Creek on its way back to the park.

In the Mustard family, with thanks to Bill Shaneyfelt for assistance with identification.

More flora along the trail. Thanks to Bill Shaneyfelt for identifying these as Fire Pinks.

A view of the Ramps Festival in Mason and Dixon Park from a vantage point above on Browns Hill.

By the time I got back to the park, the line to get into the dinner was out the door and into the parking lot. I got in line and started conversing with some people around me. They were friendly and the line seemed to be moving so the wait was not all that long. I struck up a friendship of sorts with a nice local fellow by the name of Tim-T. We went through the line and ended up sitting together. Seating was family style, meaning you're sitting with anybody and everybody, whether you know them or not. A friendly local couple was seated next to us and we all talked all through our meal. That was really great and what I had hoped for.

An unexpected pleasure, for me, was some Sassafras Tea that came out of a huge Gatorade-like container. It had a sweet and slightly woody taste but was quite pleasant and did the trick of quenching my thirst.

This little trek was worthwhile and tasty too. If you are ever out this way in late April, with or without your bike, check out the Ramps Festival in Mason and Dixon Park, on Buckeye Road, in Core, West Virginia. A few more photos follow below:

At least it's not another political sign!

Tim-T digging in. The pink cup has the Sassafras Tea.

Today's ride: 2 miles (3 km)
Total: 413 miles (665 km)

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