Rain or Shine...

August 3rd, 2011

“I think it's really important to use your hands and get close to materials. To be up close to real things like rain and mud; to have contact with nature.” ~Robin Day

Hike: Scott’s Run: Mclean, VA

Length: Approx. 4 miles

Time: Approx. 2 hours

When you’re starting off a hike, the last thing you want to see is a set of lengthy stairs in front of you and a gray sky above your head. That being said, sometimes appearances can be deceiving. The stairs weren’t as bad as expected and when the sky did inevitably open up, the rain was fairly refreshing after the humid start of the hike. Scott’s Run is not too far from Great Falls and has a lot to offer. There are beautiful views of the Potomac River, a small waterfall, and the remnants of a house once built on the land.

The trail is primarily packed dirt and rocks, but can be rather hilly in places. There was a pair of minor stream crossings with man-made stepping stones across the stream. There is a very minor rock scramble over a large rock placed right in the middle of the trail. The trail is almost entirely shaded, which offered some protection from the rain we encountered. We still managed to get pretty wet. This was my first hike in the rain and it did create a few challenges. First, you need to make sure you’re wearing the right clothes and preferably pack a rain jacket in your pack. Second, the right shoes are exceptionally important when facing potentially slippery conditions. I wore my new Vasque Mantra GTX’s for the first time tonight and they did the job perfectly! I had no trouble keeping my footing.

I would definitely like to do this trail again in the daylight and perhaps without the rain so that I could really soak in the views and take more pictures. It was definitely a good mid-week workout considering the hills and the length.

In other news, I’ve begun the process of becoming a Hike Leader for the Mid-Atlantic Hiking group. I contacted one of the group organizers and got the ball rolling. I’ll be co-leading two hikes next week. For one hike I’ll act as sweeper and the other I’ll be expected to lead a group. It’s a little nerve wracking, but I’m hoping it’ll go well and I’ll feel comfortable taking on the responsibility that goes with being a leader. If I do well, then I’ll have to go to Hike Leader Certification and Wilderness First Aid classes to become a full fledged hike leader. It’s very exciting and I’m looking forward to seeing how next week goes.

Keep checking in for updates on my other upcoming hikes including: the trails at Croydon Creek Nature Center, Cedarville State Park, Southwind Trails, and Sewell’s Pond trails! There’s a lot of hiking going on around here!

Rain Rain Go Away!

Trail: La Chouenne, part of the Mont de Lac des Cynges sector at Parc des Grands-Jardins in Charlevoix, Québec, Canada

Length: Approx. 4.4km or 2.75 miles (round trip)

Time: It took us 1 hour 15 minutes, the brochures say 2 hours

So I am up in mostly-sunny Québec where we get mid-afternoon showers almost daily.  This morning, my dad thought it'd be fun to go to Parc des Grands Jardins and get in a little hiking.  Most of the trails here are either 1-hour walks or 2-6 hour uphill hikes.  They are usually dirt with some roots and minimal rock-scrambling.  We went for the shortest moderate hike there was at the Secteur Mont de Lac des Cynges since we had encountered some heavy rains on our drive there and had no idea what weather we would encounter.  


We had been on the trail less than five minutes when the rain started.  I put on my raincoat and pulled out my pack cover.  About 1.5 kilometers in it started to pour.  I said to my dad, "I don't think this raincoat is a raincoat.  It doesn't seem to be waterproof!"  Sure enough, I was soaked through.  At that point, though, my feet were not soaked.  Once we were above the tree line, the rain was freezing!  


The top was beautiful, even in the rain.  One of the things I loved about looking out over the valley was seeing that not so far away there were fields and pastures that were sunlit and free from the thunder and lightening that we were in.  At the top we ate some wild boreal blueberries.  Yum!  There weren't many below the tree line and I can only assume that some creature had been munching on them as well!


I wish that I had pictures to offer, but I don't.  We will be going back there, so I hope to get some pictures of what we would have seen had when been able to see!


Be sure to check out the trip on Map My Hike!


Happy Trails!

Destination Delaware!

July 31^st, 2011

“It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy...Beach Therapy.” ~Amy Dykens

Hike: Cape Henlopen State Park: Lewes, DE

Length: 3.8 miles

Time: Approx. 2 hours

There’s nothing more fun than spending a day at the beach with friends. A friend and I headed to Delaware on Saturday anticipating an early morning on Sunday since our hike at Cape Henlopen started at 8am to attempt to beat the heat. There was a little confusion over the meeting place within the park, but once that was sorted out the day was off to a good start. We started our hike from the campground parking lot and headed to the walking dune overlook. Walking in the sand is a bit more challenging than your typical hike terrain. It’s definitely a good workout. I wasn’t sure what shoes to wear for this hike, but was glad I decided on my trail runners because I think if I’d worn my Keen sandals I’d have ended up having to get things out of my shoes all along the hike.

On our way toward the walking dune overlook we came upon one of the observation towers. These towers can be found throughout Cape Henlopen State Park. They were once used by the military during WWII. There are also several bunkers in the park that were used during WWII. We picked up several other trails and I’m not sure exactly which ones they were as I didn’t have access to a trail map during the hike. I believe we used the Pinelands Trail and possibly the Salt Marsh Trail. In total we hiked nearly four miles in the park. The trails were a mixture of shade and sun depending on where we were in the park. Trails were sand, crushed shells, or paved for the most part. We had hoped to do some bird watching around Gordon’s Pond, but found that the portion of the trail we would’ve needed was closed due to the birds’ nesting.

After the hike, we elected to go get lunch in nearby historic Lewes. We picked a restaurant called Kindle, which offered both indoor and outdoor seating, but after hiking all morning we decided the air conditioning would be a welcome change from the midday heat. The menu was fairly small, but offered enough variety that everyone was able to find something to eat. The food was delicious and reasonably priced (I strongly recommend the Brie Baguette)! I would definitely return to the restaurant on future trips to Lewes!

From the restaurant, we headed back to Cape Henlopen, but this time parked in the Gordon’s Pond parking lot. It was beach time! The water was chilly, but refreshing! Three of us went in to cool off and swim. The sky had gotten a bit more overcast as the day went on and it even rained on us a little bit. The rain didn’t put a damper on our time at the beach though. We were able to make the best of the day and enjoy the beach! I hope to do this hike again in the future, but plan it a bit differently perhaps to include camping at the Cape Henlopen Campgrounds.

Things I Learned This Hike:

∙Bass Pro Shop is the place to go for hiking clothes at a reasonable price! (We made a pit stop at Arundel Mills on the way to Delaware)

∙ Sunscreen is a MUST! Apply and re-apply liberally!

∙ Bug spray is critical! The horse flies and mosquitoes were intense especially in the marshy areas!

∙ Hikes that require lengthier drives need to be really well planned and directions need to be clear to fellow hikers to ensure that hike begins on time.

∙ I want to become a hike leader!!

Gettin' Movin' Mid-Week!

July 27^th, 2011

“I have never been in a natural place and felt that was a waste of time. I never have. And it's a relief. If I'm walking around a desert or whatever, every second is worthwhile.” ~Viggo Mortensen

Hike: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Chantilly, VA

Length: Approx. 3.5 miles

Time: Approx. 1.5 hours

Tonight, a friend and I headed out to Chantilly to meet up with other members of the Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group to hike at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, VA. The group met at the Walney Visitor Center off of Walney Road. The visitor center is a stone house that was once home to the families who lived and worked on the Walney Farm. There are several historical buildings on the property that give visitors an idea of what the land looked like and how it was used in the past. Unfortunately, the visitor center closed at 5pm and we arrived at 6:30pm so we weren’t able to explore inside. I was able to pick up a few brochures about the park though.

There were about twenty people in attendance for this hike. It was a fun upbeat group of hikers with lots of opportunities for good conversation! We started off from the visitor center and made our way along the Walney Road Trail through the woods toward Walney Pond. The trail is very shaded with lots of tree cover. The path was mostly dirt, easy to navigate, and had only a few places where you needed to watch your footing. For the most part, I was able to focus on my surroundings and observe the various plants and trees as well as a few deer we spotted through the trees.

After our trek through the forest, we came to Walney Pond. The pond was covered in lily pads. We made our way around the pond and continued our hike across the street at Cabell’s Mill. The Mill dates back to approximately 1760’s according to the park’s website. The Mill was very similar to the visitor center in the way it was built. Other hikers mentioned it being a popular place for weddings to be held. The venue would be nice for people looking for a historic or woodsy setting.

This was a great mid-week hike because it wasn’t strenuous. Even after a long day of work, you can find the energy to make it through this hike. It’s fairly scenic and gives you a little taste of history as well. I’d never been out to this area before and it was nice to find a park this size tucked into a fairly busy community. I would definitely venture back to Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in the fall because I’d like to see how it changes with the seasons.

Great Food, Great Fun, Great Falls!

July 24^th, 2011

“Rivers and rocks and trees have always been talking to us, but we've forgotten how to listen.” ~Michael Roads

Hike: Great Falls, VA (Difficult Run Trail/River Trail/Matildaville Trail)

Length: Approx 7 miles

Time: Approx 3.5 hours

This hike was set up by the Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group to celebrate their fourth anniversary. The week leading up to the hike, temperatures were at a record breaking high. They spiked into the hundreds and with the heat index felt even hotter. Thankfully, Sunday seemed to offer a little relief from the heat. It was still hot and humid, but not as bad as previous days. The sky was fairly overcast, which seemed to help. We started off from the Difficult Run parking lot and hiked along Difficult Run Trail until we picked up River Trail to the Great Falls Park visitor center. From the visitor center we hiked back to the Difficult Run Parking lot. Most people elected to drive their cars back over to the Visitor Center parking lot for the cookout following the hike, but one of the hike leaders and I decided to hike back instead.

Despite the name Difficult Run, the trail was not strenuous at all. There were a few minor hills, but nothing too exhausting. Most of the trail is dirt, but there are a few areas that are a bit rockier. The majority of the hike was through shady areas of forest, but River Trail has a few places where you can view the river, which puts you in the sun a bit more. I had sunscreen with me, but naively assumed I’d be okay without it given the fact the day was fairly overcast and the trail was mostly shady. I narrowly avoided a sun burn (lesson learned for next time, always wear sunscreen!).

One thing that was different about this hike compared to the last time I hiked River Trail back in June, was the number of animals/insects that were out and about. We encountered a pair of beautiful butterflies shortly after starting off on Difficult Trail. There was a wake (group) of turkey vultures on a bank across the river and also a pair of birds (unsure of their identity) perched on a rock in the river. We encountered several deer and a few toads (of varying sizes). Another group of hikers encountered a snake and a lizard. I’m always fascinated by creature spottings. It’s part of what has drawn me to hiking. Hopefully as I continue hiking I’ll get better at identifying the creatures I meet along the trails.

Another successful hike with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group! The cookout was a lot of fun too and gave me time to talk to new friends and friends I have made on previous hikes with the group. I’m looking forward to continue adding mileage to my hiking shoes/sandals/boots! Keep reading to see what other adventures I’ll encounter as I venture out onto trails both new and old. Upcoming hikes include: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Cape Henlopen State Park (my first Delaware hike)! Maybe I’ll see you on the trails!

Scenic Sykesville...

July 17, 2011

"If you know wilderness in the way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go.... This is the story of our past and it will be the story of our future." ~Terry Tempest Williams

Hike: Piney Run Reservoir

Distance: Approx. 5 miles

Time: Approx. 2.5 hours

Visiting Piney Run Reservoir reminded me of playing in the woods behind my dad’s house as a kid. I wouldn’t go as far as saying I was a tomboy when I was younger, but I loved being down in the woods, trekking in and out of the creek, catching crayfish and minnows, crossing over logs, and just wandering. In the woods, the world seemed endless as a kid. You looked in any direction and all you could see was forest. The woods were a place where everything felt like an adventure. Even when I got into my teen years it was the place I went to clear my head at times. Returning to the woods through hiking has reminded me how refreshing it can be and how the daily stresses of life can fall away when you’re immersed in nature.

Piney Run Reservoir is a beautiful park. I’ve never seen so many lily pads on a body of water! We started the hike from the Nature Center (Unfortunately it was closed at the time of the hike. I’m a nerd for nature centers. I think I still have a “nature” box under my bed at my childhood home complete with rock collection, feathers, turtle shell, etc.). There were places in the park where you could smell the fragrance of the pine trees. The trail was mostly shady, but there were places where the sun filtered through the trees in really cool ways. The trail could be a bit narrow in places and had a few minor changes in elevation throughout the hike, but nothing major. It was a good hike for newbies because it wasn’t strenuous at all. There were places where the trail followed along the edge of the reservoir and offered gorgeous views of the water. The park also has a place where visitors can rent boats for fishing or kayaking (I really want to try both sometime in the future! I don’t think I’ve been fishing since I was in middle school.).

My mom accompanied me on this hike and it seems she’s been bitten by the hiking bug as well. She wants to find newbie-friendly hikes to do once or twice a week with me now and has even picked up a few trail necessities at our local thrift shop (small backpack, water bottle sling, etc). It’s nice to be able to get outdoors and do something fun together. We’re doing another hike with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group next weekend and may even attempt to find some local trails to explore on our own. I’m looking forward to continue trying out new trails in the upcoming weeks!

By the Light of the Moon...

July 15, 2011

“No sight is more provocative of awe than is the night sky.” ~Llewelyn Powys

Hike: Monuments in the Moonlight, National Mall , Washington DC

Distance: Approx. 4 miles

Time: Approx. 3.5 hrs (takes into account time for taking pictures and soaking in the sights)

When you live so close to the United State’s Capital city you sometimes forget all that it has to offer. You can take for granted all the tourist attractions and you don’t always take the time to go and explore what there is to see and do. I’ve walked the National Mall many times with friends and family during various excursions downtown, but I’ve never experienced the National Mall at night and certainly not under the glow of a full moon. The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group organizes a moonlit walk around the Mall whenever the full moon falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Seeing the monuments and memorials at night gives you a completely different perspective. They seem even more majestic in the light of a full moon.

One nice thing about this hike is that it is metro accessible, which is how I chose to get to the meet up location. I took red line from Bethesda to Farragut North and walked a few blocks to Cosi where I met up with a few fellow hikers. We had a nice light dinner with fun conversation before heading toward the Washington Monument, which is close to where we were meeting the rest of the group. There were well over one hundred people in attendance at this hike and it was a great way to meet fellow hikers and make new friends. I chose to go at the “social” pace and had a fantastic group of hikers walking with me. The leisurely pace really gives you time to chat and soak up the beauty of the monuments and memorials as well as snap a few pictures.

We visited the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial and Washington Monument. I think my favorite was probably the Korean War Memorial. I love the statues of the soldiers and the faces etched into the wall. They were really a sight to see at night. I learned that I really need to invest in a better digital camera because it was difficult to capture the true beauty of the hike without getting blurry images from the extended shutter speed needed for the dim lighting conditions. I did manage to get a few good shots though. I look forward to seeing the pictures Alie has to post because she went with the “photography” pace, which gave time to set up tripods and shoot longer series of photos.

Overall the hike was truly enjoyable. I met many great people who I hope to see on future hikes with the group. I’ve signed up for a second “Monuments in the Moonlight” hike in August because my mom wants to experience the National Mall at night too! Tomorrow I’ve got a five miler with the group. I’ll be sure to blog about that one as well! Hiking is becoming quite the addiction! Happy trails!

You Never Know What You Can Do Til You Try!

July 10^th, 2011

“I'm really an outdoorsy girl. People think I can't go anywhere without getting all primped up, but I love to go camping, and I'm totally fine with not doing my hair or makeup, not taking a shower and just hiking.” ~Vanessa Hudgens

Hike: Appalachian Trail- Crampton’s Gap to Harpers Ferry

Distance: 10.36 miles

Time: Approx. 6 hours

I’m not going to lie, I was a little nervous about attempting a 10-mile hike with a group. I worried I might slow people down being new to hiking, but The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group makes everyone feel truly welcomed and accepted regardless of their speed and previous hiking experiences. The fact that they offer different paced groups for each hike is really beneficial to both experienced and inexperienced hikers and if you’re not sure about your ability contact a hike leader and they will help you make a decision. I found this very helpful as the hike leader I spoke with also offered me advice about what to wear and what to bring. For this hike, I tried to do as much as I could to get organized the night before since I knew I’d be getting an early start on Sunday morning. I chilled some Gatorade and water in the fridge to fill my Camelbak, pre-made lunch and snacks to pack, laid out my clothes/shoes, set out my sunscreen and bug spray in a place I’d be sure to see them and put them on, charged camera batteries, and other little things that would ensure I was prepared. Packing for a hike is not unlike packing for a vacation, you always feel like you’re forgetting something! Thankfully, I was well prepared on the trails and didn’t want for anything.

This hike is considered moderate by the group’s standards more for length than anything else. The beginning of the trail is a very gradual incline which evens out in some places for more level hiking. Then you begin to head downward toward lower elevations and eventually get on switchbacks to head down toward the C&O Canal Tow Path, which takes you into Harpers Ferry. The trail is primarily dirt, but can be quite rocky in places (no rock scrambling required, just rocks you have to step on or over as you hike). Make sure you wear shoes that protect the souls of your feet. I recently bought a pair of Vasque Mantra GTX’s and had wanted to wear them, but have not had a chance to break them in yet so I settled for my Nike Alvord 8’s, which are trail runners and these did the job fairly well, but my feet did hurt somewhat by the time I reached the end (though this could simply be because I am not used to such lengthy treks vs. my choice of shoes). The trail is mostly shaded, but there are a few spots such as Weverton Cliffs and parts of the C&O Canal Tow Path where you are exposed to sun. I applied sunscreen prior to starting the hike and also while on the Tow Path and still got a fair amount of color on exposed areas of skin. Bug spray is also highly recommended.

I think one of my favorite parts of this hike was stopping by the shelter for hikers passing through this part of the Appalachian Trail. We never did much camping or hiking when I was a kid and the limited camping I’ve done as an adult has been on a friend’s grandparents’ property in the middle of 500 acres of corn fields so we were not quite “roughing it” the same way you are out on the trails. Instead of peeing in the woods, we peed in a corn field, which at night can be equally freaky because it all looks the same once you’re a certain distance into the corn stalks, but that’s neither here nor there. This was the first time I’d ever seen a trail shelter or a privy. I would love to spend the night at a shelter sometime in the future when doing a longer hike that spans several days. I’d also be curious to see who else you’d encounter out on the trails. There were two men passing through while we were completing a longer hike along the Appalachian Trail and it was interesting listening to their experiences.

Things I Learned This Hike:

∙ I am capable of doing a 10 mile hike! Yay!

∙ It is always helpful to bring along extra fluids both for yourself and in case hiking companions run low or start to feel sick. I had two bottles of Gatorade with me in addition to a 3L Camelbak and I shared one Gatorade with several others in the group who were starting to feel the effects of the lengthy hike and the heat.

∙ Wearing non-cotton clothes really does make a huge difference in how comfortable you will be while hiking.

∙ If you’re not sure you’re capable of doing a certain hike, talk to others who have done it or are more familiar with the area where you’re hiking. They can help you make the decision and you will be better prepared for having asked.

∙ Hiking companions can be a good source of information on what kind of gear is most beneficial. Pay attention to what others have/use and ask questions. You can learn a lot of helpful pointers to apply to future hikes.

Completing this hike really gave me a sense of accomplishment. I sometimes avoid taking risks or pushing myself and reaching the ending point of this hike reminded me that I am capable of more than I give myself credit for and it can be fun to push myself occasionally. I am planning on signing up for future Appalachian Trail hikes with the group and perhaps doing some on my own with friends. I hope to do a multi-day hike along the Appalachian Trail once I’ve developed stronger hiking legs. If you’re reading this, thanks for reading, please follow us and feel free to post comments!

Upcoming hikes will include: Monuments in the Moonlight (DC) and Piney Run Reservoir (Sykesville, MD) Stay tuned!