Starting near the old military base of Fort Ritchie (you can see the current satellite towers above the base) and the top of Catoctin Mountain Park (Camp David is about 1.5 miles due East) the route is almost all gently descending to the southern base of the Catoctin Ridge. You’ll be sure to question this description as the first mile gently rises, but from then on get your big ring recovery going via rural back roads along the valley on the western side of the Catoctin Ridge.