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!

Old Dogs, New Trips

Yesterday Emily and I (and my mother) left the realm of "same-old, same-old" and ventured someplace new.  All three of us have joined a Meetup called The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group, and this was my mother's and my first trip with them.  We tackled 10.36 miles of Maryland's Appalachian Trail from Cramptons Gap in Burkittsville, MD to Harpers Ferry in, well, Harpers Ferry, WV.  Harpers Ferry is considered the half-way point for thru-hikers.

A week ago, the Appalachian Trail (the AT) was a big mystery to me.  I didn't know anything about it other than it from somewhere in the north to somewhere in the south (which I later discovered to be incorrect).  In fact, The Appalachian Trail actually begins at the summit of Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends on Baxter Peak atop Mount Katahdin in Maine.  

For some, the Trail is just a great place to hike and walk or take your dog on a nice day.  To others, it is a mission, a conquest, a life goal.  Immediately upon setting out, I made a connection with the AT and I feel it had made a connection with me.  There was something about it that said "Take me.  Conquer me."  It was like the Trail wanted to test me and challenge me to see ALL of it's splendor and glory, not just the part that we did.

The majority of my hike I kept thinking about how amazing it would be to do a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail (from one end to the other in one shot), but more importantly, how?  What would be the best way to tackle the challenge set before me by one of the most amazing places in this country?  It is broken down into four sections: The Southern Mountains, The Virginia Highlands, The Mid-Atlantic Lowlands, and New England; each with their own scenery, wildlife, and challenges.  Would I go section by section?  State by state?  Regardless of how I decide to do it, my goal is to do it in the next five years.  

Yesterday's hike on the Appalachian Trail was very different for me.  I had done hikes before that were similar in terrain, elevation, and length, so that wasn't the difference.  The difference this time was my lack of wanting to take pictures.  I normally have a camera glued to my hand and my hand glued to my eye, but yesterday I didn't.  I was so engaged with my surroundings that it I didn't even think about it.  I did take some with my phone since I was doing a GPS log of the trip.

Our trail took us over roots and rocks, deadfall, and even down a steep hill to the beautiful view form Weverton Cliff.  Along the way we passed by one of the AT's around-200 shelters.  For someone considering a multi-day, multi-week, or multi-month trip, the locations of shelters is very good information to have.  Most, but not all, of the shelters have a spring or at least access to some type of water source.  

This is the shelter that we went past.  There was an enclosed upstairs, and a three-sided platform below.  This shelter had a spring that was down a steep half-mile path.

Not too far past the shelter, we came across this sign:

We followed the path down a steep hill of rocks to the Weverton Cliff.  It was beautiful!  You could see the Potomac River, the bridge into Harpers Ferry....  It was just incredible.

 

Would I recommend this to beginners?  Yes.  If you are not comfortable on short steep hills, or long moderately-steep hill, or if you are not comfortable/able to walk over rocky terrain, this may not be the best hike for you.  For everyone else, get out there and experience the Appalachian trail for yourself.  It is incredible.

DC's Hidden Treasure

“Discovering this idyllic place, we find ourselves filled with a yearning to linger here, where time stands still and beauty overwhelms.”

Hike: US National Arboretum in Washington D.C.

Time: Approx. 2.5 hours

Length: Approx. 3.5 miles

This was my first hike with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking group and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I had never even heard of the Arboretum until I saw it on the group’s webpage. My mom said she’d be interested in visiting it as well so I signed us both up for the hike. The Arboretum is not the easiest location to get to so we took Metro to Union Station and then took a cab from Union Station to the Arboretum, which is about a 10 minute ride (this worked well as there’s a Yellow Cab station on Bladensburg Road not far from the Arboretum's entrance on R & 24^th so it was easy to get a cab back as well). However if you’re looking for a less expensive option there is a bus that drops you within a couple blocks of the Arboretum.

We arrived at the Arboretum and met up with the group. There were 42 people in attendance. We split into groups based on pacing preferences. My mom and I chose to go in the “social pace” group because we wanted to be able to enjoy the sights, and take pictures. This ended up being the perfect group for us. They were very friendly and everyone was flexible when people wanted to pause to see things or snap photos. You didn’t feel pressured to go faster and you didn’t feel like you missed out on seeing anything this way, which is good because there’s a LOT to see!

The Aboretum is has a lot of different route options for hiking/walking around. We passed through the Youth Garden, the Capital Columns, The Chinese Garden Pavillion, and the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. The Youth Garden is a vegetable and flower garden maintained by student volunteers and the produce is donated to soup kitchens. There is a Nature Explore Classroom where visitors can visit various stations to build, climb, or create art using natural resources (think tree stumps, pine cones, twigs, etc). The Capital Columns look almost like a Coliseum in the middle of the park. These majestic columns were taken from the old Capital building. The Chinese Garden Pavillion and the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum had the most amazing collection of Bonsai trees I had ever seen! I could’ve photographed every last one of them, they were just so unique! There was also a large Coi pond where you could purchase pellets of food to feed the fish. The Arboretum was a great mix of scenic views, gorgeous gardens, historical information, and educational information about various trees and plants.

I’ve already signed up for The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group’s fall hike through the Arboretum to see how it changes with each season. Can’t wait to go back and hope to do a loop of the whole park next time!

More photographs from my trip to the US National Arboretum

Billy Goats and Camel Bladders

"Billy Goat Trail again?!" you might ask, and the answer is "YES!"  Emily and I were curious as to what Billy Goat Trail sections A and B would be like if we did it going the opposite direction we did before.  We also wondered what it would be like to do it at a completely different time of day.  It was a completely different experience!

Section A was, I felt, shorter but much trickier.  The parts we went up with relative ease the first time seemed much harder to go down, and the parts we went down with relative ease last time seemed much harder to go up.  The difference in the time of day from last time to this time made a huge difference.  We started on the trail about 10:50 or so in the morning so the majority of our hike took place in the midday heat.

It was cooler than it had been; the temp was low- to mid-80s and the humidity wasn't overwhelming.  It was a crystal clear day with blue skies, and while the sunshine was more than welcome, it did create a few minor blips.  First there is the issue of sunscreen: PUT SOME ON!  The first time we went on Billy Goat Section A, we were mostly shaded by the trees as the sun was setting.  At noon, the midday sun takes no prisoners.  Luckily Emily had brought some and slathered my back.  Yup, even with a pack on, the sun will still getcha!  Luckily Section B was much shadier.

Now, another problem that the sun presented was hydration.  Drink, drink, drink!  I had a 70oz (2 liter) Camelback bladder in my pack and not long after starting Section B I was empty.  A week and a half ago when we did C, B, and A I had water to spare.  This time, two hours in the midday sun used up the entire bladder.  Luckily Emily (she's so smart!) had brought a bottle of water in addition to her Camel bladder and so I was able to use that.  After completing Section B, as we headed back toward the car,  we stumbled upon a water fountain just off the towpath across an unmapped bridge.  Life saver!
All in all, it was really fun.  Taking into consideration the time of day and the type of day can really make or break your trip.  Not carefully planning ahead (like we didn't) and being prepared, can be the difference between a blistering sunburn and dehydration and a fun, healthy, trip.

Happy trails!

Billy Goat Trail Round 2

"Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb." ~Greg Child

We headed back out to the Billy Goat Trail yesterday. This time we made sure we considered the entire distance we’d be hiking including the tow path segments and got an earlier start at about 10:30am. We parked across from Old Angler’s Inn (in between Sections A & B of the Billy Goat Trail) and hiked along the tow path to the far end of Section A (Just past Lock 16). This way we’d be hiking the opposite direction from the first time we did Section A and be working our way back toward the car as opposed to moving further and further away from the car. It took us close to two hours to complete Section A. Personally, I found that the “scariest” portion of Section A was worse going this direction because instead of working our way down we had to make our way up and somehow the distance/height seemed a bit more intimidating when you’re looking up at it. I also found it difficult to place my feet a couple times working my way up, which I don’t remember from the first time. Got my first battle wound (a decent sized bruise just below my right knee from scraping it against a rock while climbing up). Aside from that we made it through without any major difficulties.

After completing Section A, we walked along the tow path to the start of Section B. We had planned to eat the lunches we packed somewhere along Section B, but had trouble finding a spot that wasn’t either super sunny or in the way of other people who might be going through the trail. Section B also seemed to be shorter than we remembered going this way because before we knew it we found ourselves back at the tow path with our lunches still packed in our backpacks. We decided to start our walk back to the parking lot and realized we were running low on water. Luckily we discovered a water fountain located on the opposite side of the canal. You’ll pass the Marsden Campground (on your left if you’re coming from the East End of Section B) and shortly after that you’ll see the bridge (on your right if you’re coming from the East End of Section B) that will lead you to water (Note: this is not the bridge that leads you to the parking lot across from Old Angler’s Inn). We filled our Camelbaks and debated whether or not to venture back through Section A, but ultimately decided to return to the car to picnic in the trunk “tailgating-style”.

Things Learned This Hike:

∙ Nike Alvord 8’s are a much better shoe choice than previous hikes’ shoe choices. They’re trail runners and offer much better protection for the soles of my feet. They’re less flexible than my previous shoe choices, which took a little getting used to for me.

∙ When you’re considering time of day for a hike, you should consider placement of the sun. Last time we did this hike (late afternoon), most of it was relatively shady, but that proved untrue this time around. Sunscreen should be applied generously prior to starting hike and possibly throughout hike depending on the time spent in the sun.

∙ Entering a trail from the opposite end can make the hike seem like a whole new experience even if you’ve done the trail before.

All in all, another successful adventure into the forest! Upcoming hikes include: US National Arboretum, a segment of the Appalachian Trail (Crampton’s Gap to Harpers Ferry), and a Monuments in the Moonlight Hike (all sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Hiking Meet Up Group)!

Great Falls Trail Map