Western Md. Trail Closed As Sandy's Effects Linger

CUMBERLAND, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says it's closing a popular western Maryland hiking trail because of lingering damage from Superstorm Sandy more than nine months ago.

Maryland Forest Service Director Steven Koehn told the Cumberland Times-News Monday that the agency decided to close the 17-mile Big Savage trail after six hikers got lost and had to be rescued.

He says there are too many toppled trees to count.

Koehn says it may be weeks before the agency can start clearing and blazing the trail. He says volunteers have offered to help but much of the fallen timber is in remote areas that are hard to reach.

Natural Resources Police say all the lost hikers were in one group that tried to hike the trail last month.

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