Sixteen degrees with a "feels like" temperature of -2....NEGATIVE TWO....although sunny and clear there was a wind advisory, just to make things interesting.
That is the weather situation that I faced as I headed out for a long run this morning. I always feel hardcore when I run in low temperatures. Some people might be scared off by that little "dash" in front of the temperature but not me, no way.
This run was long overdue. After my self-imposed week off last week, I hit the ground running (bah) last week and it felt good. But then I wasn't feeling well Thursday (woke up to run, had zero energy, went back to bed) and Friday (headed out for a 9 mile run, felt sick after 1.5 miles, run/walk back home). I was feeling better this morning but I still headed out with some trepidation.
Would all that time off put a kink in my fitness? With the holidays and being busy on the weekends, it has been a while since I managed to get in a proper long run, would I be able to make the distance?
Faced with -2 degree temperature, a recent illness and wind, I headed out but decided to stick close to home and explore some of the streets and neighborhoods around my neighborhood instead of doing my usual out-and-back. I didn't want to be 7.5 miles from home and not be able to make it back. It took me a few miles to warm up; before my arms no longer felt like they were going to freeze off. However, once I warmed up, I felt good running through the quiet neighborhoods.
I was aiming for anything over 10 miles but under 15 miles and ended up with a final distance of 11. 72. I was getting tired (tired of fighting the wind, tired of the cold, tired of my nose running, tired of the hills -- Military Road has some killer hills; good to know) and I didn't want to stretch my endurance so soon after a break.
I feel energized for marathon training, which starts...TOMORROW!!
Daily Dozen:
11.72 miles @ morning, long run
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Be Prepared
One of the things I’ve noticed about non-runners and runners who run almost exclusively on the treadmill in comparison to runners who run almost exclusively outside is the perception of what constitutes bad weather.
Fifty degrees and slightly overcast is perfect running weather. Rain usually isn’t an issue. Even cold and snow can be a good thing. However, to non-runners or runners who view the temperature controlled environment of a treadmill, these conditions are believed to be ideal.
This contradiction hit me as I was cooling down and walking home after my run this morning. I ran 3.5 miles in a light, wet snow that was hardly sticking to the ground but when it did it was mostly slush. Whenever I run in snow like this I imagine that this is what it must be like to run inside a snow globe because the wet snow resembles glitter as it falls past street lights along the bike path. The idea always makes me smile.
However, it struck me that most people wouldn’t see my run this morning as a “good” one. Most people would hear early morning run in wet snow and assume it took some massive feat of willpower that brought out to the streets this morning. Non-runners and treadmill runners may think the act of running in this morning’s conditions is impressive, or insane, or some combination of the two.
I started thinking that with the right gear I can run in just about any weather and enjoy it. To steal from the Boy Scouts, “be prepared” is my motto for enjoying running all year round.
In fact, braving the elements in running and discovering that not only can I “brave” them but can have a good run in spite, and even sometimes because, of them has given me the necessary mindset to seek out other activities in less than ideal situations. Hiking during the winter just required some additional layers. Skiing? Running tights and waterproof pants worked great this time, whereas I remember being very good last time. Inauguration in temperatures in the twenties? No problem!
Last year, I might have shied away from these things during the winter because I was afraid of the cold but I have nothing to fear from the cold. Or even the heat for that matter. As long as I have the right tools and equipment, temperature and weather do not make a run good or bad.
Today’s Daily Dozen:
3.5 miles run
Core workout @ lunch hour
Fifty degrees and slightly overcast is perfect running weather. Rain usually isn’t an issue. Even cold and snow can be a good thing. However, to non-runners or runners who view the temperature controlled environment of a treadmill, these conditions are believed to be ideal.
This contradiction hit me as I was cooling down and walking home after my run this morning. I ran 3.5 miles in a light, wet snow that was hardly sticking to the ground but when it did it was mostly slush. Whenever I run in snow like this I imagine that this is what it must be like to run inside a snow globe because the wet snow resembles glitter as it falls past street lights along the bike path. The idea always makes me smile.
However, it struck me that most people wouldn’t see my run this morning as a “good” one. Most people would hear early morning run in wet snow and assume it took some massive feat of willpower that brought out to the streets this morning. Non-runners and treadmill runners may think the act of running in this morning’s conditions is impressive, or insane, or some combination of the two.
I started thinking that with the right gear I can run in just about any weather and enjoy it. To steal from the Boy Scouts, “be prepared” is my motto for enjoying running all year round.
In fact, braving the elements in running and discovering that not only can I “brave” them but can have a good run in spite, and even sometimes because, of them has given me the necessary mindset to seek out other activities in less than ideal situations. Hiking during the winter just required some additional layers. Skiing? Running tights and waterproof pants worked great this time, whereas I remember being very good last time. Inauguration in temperatures in the twenties? No problem!
Last year, I might have shied away from these things during the winter because I was afraid of the cold but I have nothing to fear from the cold. Or even the heat for that matter. As long as I have the right tools and equipment, temperature and weather do not make a run good or bad.
Today’s Daily Dozen:
3.5 miles run
Core workout @ lunch hour
My Day on the Bunny Slopes
This past weekend we headed up to Liberty Mountain in Pennsylvania for a weekend of skiing and other fun things to do in the snow.
Saturday morning we were up early, enjoying the free breakfast at our hotel (me up even earlier for a scheduled run) and discussing the day ahead of us. Our plan was to get to the ski resort early, get our gear and join a beginner's ski lesson so that we would have the afternoon to enjoy the slopes.
We worked our way through the process of buying tickets, getting our ski boots, trying to figure out how to put them on, getting our skis, clumsily carrying them outside, finding the right ski poles and then finally getting out on the snow and coming to the realization that we have absolutely no idea what we are doing.
Prior to this weekend, I had been skiing one time, while I was in college with some friends who had been skiing most of their lives. That day, I skipped the lesson and let my friends "teach me" a few things before they grew incredibly bored and headed off for the hard slopes. The only thing that stuck with me from that day was that I fell down a lot and that falling was the only method I could work out for stopping.
Obviously, this was not the most positive experience I could have had with skiing.
Fresh off the fun we had learning to cross-country ski with my parents, I put the one experience I had with skiing out of my head and went in to this with the mindset of a totally newbie, which let's be honest, I am.
Anyway, we met up with a ski instructor, George, who took us through an hour and a half lesson, where we started out skiing without our skis and by the end we were slowly making our way down the bunny slope in lazy S-shaped turns. We "French-fry-ed" and "Pizza-ed" our way down a mountain and I am happy to report that by the end of the lesson I felt reasonably confident.
With a short break for lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon going up and down the easy slope and Mike and I even worked our way over to the next slope with a mix of easy and intermediate.
It was a very fun day and I really enjoyed learning a new sport. Despite the cold fingers and toes, the long waits for the lift, and the next few days of soreness (what a workout for your thighs and hips!), I had a great time and erased all my previous misconceptions about downhill skiing.
I am really interested in making it back to the mountain one more time before the season ends and definitely going back next year.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Snow Run - Not to be
Unfortunately, this week’s snow didn’t fall during the “right” time for me to get in a good snow run. I ran 3.5 miles Tuesday morning, just as the snow was starting to fall and really it was more like tiny hale than snow. The crunch under my feet was more like running on gravel than the soft, muted crunch of fluffy snow.
The next morning I woke up, got bundled up for a snowy winter run, took three steps outside, slipped and slid and made a quick decision to head right back up to the apartment, change in to shorts and hit the treadmill. I did 4 miles with a one mile warm-up, 2 miles at tempo pace (9:30 for the first mile and 8:54 for the second) and a one mile cool-down. It had been a while since I hit the gym for a run in the mornings.
This morning, Thursday morning, I took a chance and headed outdoors for my final run of the work week, aiming for 3 miles. I saw the state of some of the sidewalk on the lesser used side streets and decided to run an out-and-back along the Wilson Boulevard. For the most part, I could stick to the sidewalks and keep a close eye on the icy patches to avoid any slipping; however, there were a few stretches that forced me on to the street. It actually turned out to be a good way to ensure that this morning’s run was nice and easy even if I did stretch it to 3.38 miles.
Interestingly, I saw more people running along Wilson Boulevard this morning than I do most mornings. This isn’t my normal route so I wonder if the street is usually run this much or if more people really were out this morning. Were other runners forced inside to use the treadmill yesterday and therefore, taking their revenge this morning? Regardless of these questions, it is nice to see so many people starting their day in such a positive, active way.
The forecast for the coming weekend and beyond is sunny with some rain coming mid-week next week. It doesn’t look like we’re going to be revisited by the snow anytime soon, which is disappointing as I was looking forward to a snowy run. Maybe it’ll happen in February?
Today's Daily Dozen:
Run - 3.38 miles
Core Workout @ lunch hour
The next morning I woke up, got bundled up for a snowy winter run, took three steps outside, slipped and slid and made a quick decision to head right back up to the apartment, change in to shorts and hit the treadmill. I did 4 miles with a one mile warm-up, 2 miles at tempo pace (9:30 for the first mile and 8:54 for the second) and a one mile cool-down. It had been a while since I hit the gym for a run in the mornings.
This morning, Thursday morning, I took a chance and headed outdoors for my final run of the work week, aiming for 3 miles. I saw the state of some of the sidewalk on the lesser used side streets and decided to run an out-and-back along the Wilson Boulevard. For the most part, I could stick to the sidewalks and keep a close eye on the icy patches to avoid any slipping; however, there were a few stretches that forced me on to the street. It actually turned out to be a good way to ensure that this morning’s run was nice and easy even if I did stretch it to 3.38 miles.
Interestingly, I saw more people running along Wilson Boulevard this morning than I do most mornings. This isn’t my normal route so I wonder if the street is usually run this much or if more people really were out this morning. Were other runners forced inside to use the treadmill yesterday and therefore, taking their revenge this morning? Regardless of these questions, it is nice to see so many people starting their day in such a positive, active way.
The forecast for the coming weekend and beyond is sunny with some rain coming mid-week next week. It doesn’t look like we’re going to be revisited by the snow anytime soon, which is disappointing as I was looking forward to a snowy run. Maybe it’ll happen in February?
Today's Daily Dozen:
Run - 3.38 miles
Core Workout @ lunch hour
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Hike: Prince William Forest Park, Attempt #2 – Success!
Before noon on Saturday, we set out to hike the trails of Prince William Forest Park in Prince William County, VA. We could not have asked for a more perfect hiking day. The temperature was in the low 40s; however, as we hiked along with the bright sun, clear sky and lack of any significant wind, it felt more like an early spring day. We even had to stop and shed some layers.
Mike had mapped out a wide loop around the southeast section of the park. With 37 miles of hiking trails in the, we set out to hike approximately 7 to 8 miles of them.
After checking out the Visitor Center and paying the $5 park fee (good for one week), we started the Garmins and head out on the west branch of the Laurel Trail Loop. This trail is a short little loop off of the picnic area next to the Visitor Center. A little less than half way around the loop, we came to a wooden suspension bridge that connected to the South Valley Trail, which we took heading north and west, following the South Fork Quantico Creek.
The trails through out the park are mostly dirt and occasional rocks and roots. This time of year it was covered in long-dead leaves, which made for some fun trails as we were able to crunch and kick through the small piles. There was also the occasional uphill and/or downhill but the hike was mostly flat.
The South Valley Trail can be followed all the way to the other end of the park; however, we jumped off relatively soon on to the Turkey Run Ridge Trail which slices up the middle of the park toward one of the larger campgrounds, Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground. From the campground we took the Mary Bird Branch trail toward the Quantico Falls Trails.
After only a few minutes on both these trails, we came to Quantico Creek and the Cascades. This is where the Fall Line is located, or where the Creek is no longer navigable by boat. The water throughout the park was low; however, it was easy to see how high the water could get and despite the low water, the cascades were interesting to see and hear (there was a constant burbling on the trails as you descend to the creek). Also, there was some evidence of beaver activity near the cascades…although, we couldn’t help but wonder if the beaver evidence wasn’t possibly man-made.
After taking a short break at the cascades, we headed south along the North Valley Trail, briefly cutting across Quantico Creek to the very edge of Prince William Forest Park. Here the forest, through which the trail cuts became a bit thicker for a while and we came across the ruins of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine. Abandoned nearly a century ago only a few foundations are left of the mine and the mine shaft had been covered over. We couldn’t help but be amazed at how quickly nature takes back its domain once people stop maintaining it.
Before long we were back on the other side of the Quantico Creek and quickly heading toward the end of our hike. We came up the remains of a suspension bridge similar to the one seen before as we began out hike crossing over to the South Valley Trail. One side of the bridge was still standing, the rusted cable and large bolts were scattered around and metal still stuck in cement was along the banks of the creek. We following the North Valley Trail until we came to the suspension bridge that we had crossed at the beginning of our hike back to the Laurel Trail Loop.
Back on the Laurel Trail Loops we decided to follow the east branch of the trail to get back to the car and knowing we were close to finishing our hike, I quickened the pace. I could feel my legs beginning to tire; I was really feeling the morning’s run after hiking more than 7 miles and I was eager to be done. As we crested a small hill, a giant green water tower seemed sprang up. I had hardly noticed it behind the Visitor Center as we were heading out and now here it was looming large, signaling the end of our hike. “How could I have missed that,” I wondered.
And then the hike was over, 7.5 miles, 2 hours and 50 minutes after we had started, we looped through the southern portion of the park and we were back at the car. Prince William Forest Park is a great place for a long, winding hike in the woods. Although the trails are not wide and have the occasional obstacle, they are well marked and provide just enough to keep me on my toes. With so many trails that interconnect, it would be possible to go again and again without taking the same route twice. I look forward to going back in order to check out the north section of the park which is supposed to have a more backcountry feel.
Mike had mapped out a wide loop around the southeast section of the park. With 37 miles of hiking trails in the, we set out to hike approximately 7 to 8 miles of them.
After checking out the Visitor Center and paying the $5 park fee (good for one week), we started the Garmins and head out on the west branch of the Laurel Trail Loop. This trail is a short little loop off of the picnic area next to the Visitor Center. A little less than half way around the loop, we came to a wooden suspension bridge that connected to the South Valley Trail, which we took heading north and west, following the South Fork Quantico Creek.
The trails through out the park are mostly dirt and occasional rocks and roots. This time of year it was covered in long-dead leaves, which made for some fun trails as we were able to crunch and kick through the small piles. There was also the occasional uphill and/or downhill but the hike was mostly flat.The South Valley Trail can be followed all the way to the other end of the park; however, we jumped off relatively soon on to the Turkey Run Ridge Trail which slices up the middle of the park toward one of the larger campgrounds, Turkey Run Ridge Group Campground. From the campground we took the Mary Bird Branch trail toward the Quantico Falls Trails.
After only a few minutes on both these trails, we came to Quantico Creek and the Cascades. This is where the Fall Line is located, or where the Creek is no longer navigable by boat. The water throughout the park was low; however, it was easy to see how high the water could get and despite the low water, the cascades were interesting to see and hear (there was a constant burbling on the trails as you descend to the creek). Also, there was some evidence of beaver activity near the cascades…although, we couldn’t help but wonder if the beaver evidence wasn’t possibly man-made.
After taking a short break at the cascades, we headed south along the North Valley Trail, briefly cutting across Quantico Creek to the very edge of Prince William Forest Park. Here the forest, through which the trail cuts became a bit thicker for a while and we came across the ruins of the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine. Abandoned nearly a century ago only a few foundations are left of the mine and the mine shaft had been covered over. We couldn’t help but be amazed at how quickly nature takes back its domain once people stop maintaining it.Before long we were back on the other side of the Quantico Creek and quickly heading toward the end of our hike. We came up the remains of a suspension bridge similar to the one seen before as we began out hike crossing over to the South Valley Trail. One side of the bridge was still standing, the rusted cable and large bolts were scattered around and metal still stuck in cement was along the banks of the creek. We following the North Valley Trail until we came to the suspension bridge that we had crossed at the beginning of our hike back to the Laurel Trail Loop.
Back on the Laurel Trail Loops we decided to follow the east branch of the trail to get back to the car and knowing we were close to finishing our hike, I quickened the pace. I could feel my legs beginning to tire; I was really feeling the morning’s run after hiking more than 7 miles and I was eager to be done. As we crested a small hill, a giant green water tower seemed sprang up. I had hardly noticed it behind the Visitor Center as we were heading out and now here it was looming large, signaling the end of our hike. “How could I have missed that,” I wondered.And then the hike was over, 7.5 miles, 2 hours and 50 minutes after we had started, we looped through the southern portion of the park and we were back at the car. Prince William Forest Park is a great place for a long, winding hike in the woods. Although the trails are not wide and have the occasional obstacle, they are well marked and provide just enough to keep me on my toes. With so many trails that interconnect, it would be possible to go again and again without taking the same route twice. I look forward to going back in order to check out the north section of the park which is supposed to have a more backcountry feel.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Run on a Cold, Winter Morning
I was practically gliding over the streets this morning. My stride felt effortless, breathing was steady and strong, and feet were light and quick. About halfway through this morning's run, I realized that I should be more thankful for rest days because when I actually rest when I'm scheduled to rest, my run the following day is usually a good one. (Obvious, yes…Does that mean I always remember it, no).
As I ran through the dark streets of my neighborhood, I was thankful to be able to run once again. I missed being outside before the sun came up, silently slipping through neighborhoods, exploring under the cover darkness. There is a whole different world going on before the sun illuminates the world. I share the trails and streets not only with a (very) few runners, cyclists and dog walkers but also with the people who deliver the newspapers papers, the street cleaners and the men making bread deliveries to the restaurants.
I feel almost conspiratorial because I'm one of a few people who are experiencing this time of day in this way. The day is still asleep and so are most of the people. Those who are awake are mostly on their way to work. How many of them are exhilarated with what they are doing at that exact moment?
I'm running with a secret and as much I love to run, I'm not so sure I want to share these mornings with too many other runners. Everyone else can stick to the treadmills and gyms on their lunch hour or evening runs. I want to keep the morning run for my own. More people try to join this clandestine running movement during the spring and summer when the weather is warmer and the sun comes up earlier but as fall turns to winter they rarely stick around.
They're missing the cold, raw winter mornings when running fast isn't just a desire but a necessity for generating warmth. Do they know how satisfying it is to run, not because of perfect conditions, but in spite of them?
Today's Daily Dozen:
Run - 3.05 miles (5 min. run/1 min. walk x 7 intervals)
1 hour walk @ lunch hour
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Hike: Raven Rocks Trail
I stumbled on to a great website this past week - HikingUpward - and found a hike called Raven Rocks that looked like fun. We debated whether the elevation changes (3 steep ascents and descents along the way) would be too strenuous. I'm so glad we decided to face the challenge because this hike was worth it.
We drive a bit over an hour west of DC to get to the trail head in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As we started along the trail, which is really just a section of the Appalachian Trail, and followed the white blazes, I realized that this was actually the first time I've hiked on the AT! I've been sporadically and slightly obsessed with the AT since I read a book by a thru-hiker last year. I don't know if I would ever have the courage to put my life on hold and attempt a thru-hike but I think about doing it and I enjoy reading about people who have done it.
Anyway, I was excited to be on the AT as we made our way along the trail. It was a cold, cloudy day but I quickly warmed up as we hit the first of three ascents. At the top was a nice little overlook that gave us an excuse to stop and catch our breath. The trail was a fun hike
because their were plenty of big rocks to navigate, rolling terrain and switchbacks. It was an active hike, which I enjoy.
After catching our breath, we continued on the trail, shortly hitting the steepest ascent. I enjoy hills in hiking and in running. The inclines and declines use different muscles than flat terrain and even when the leg muscles are burning and the lunges are working in overdrive, it feels good to get the blood pumping and I love that feeling of accomplishment once I've reached the top. Not one to shy away from an incline, this trail would test that enjoyment several times but I have a motto - "Steady Forward Motion." Just keep moving until you reach the top otherwise you'll still have more uphill to tackle once you've rested.
Breathless and bounding from rock to rock, we made it to Raven Rocks, a 2.7 mile hike, in approximately one hour ten minutes. Looking out over the Shenandoah Valley toward the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, even on an overcast day, made for an impressive sight. Despite the view, we didn't linger for very long at the top because a cold wind was blowing. We quickly headed back down the AT the way we came.
Near the top, the trail dips into West Virginia and had a sign to mark the border. After leaving Raven Rocks to head back, we noticed the other side of the sign -- Welcome to Virginia...Tennessee Border 535 miles!!!!
One of the things I enjoy about hiking, especially with Mike, are the topics of conversation and the return trip would not disappoint. We tried to figure out why some of the trees were charred (lightening, maybe?), whether trees make a sound when they fall in the woods and we aren't around to hear them and whether or not that proved I was a schizophrenic (I hope not).
With this conversation, our return trip seemed to fly and we made it back to the car in just over an hour. The trail to Raven Rocks and back was a strenuous but fun trail and it gets 5 stars in my book. It'll be fun to go back during the spring and summer to see how different it is with the streams running and the sun shining through the leaves.
Today's Daily Dozen:
Run - 3.96 miles, 4 min. run/1 min. walk x 7 intervals
5.5 miles hike - strenuous
We drive a bit over an hour west of DC to get to the trail head in the Blue Ridge Mountains. As we started along the trail, which is really just a section of the Appalachian Trail, and followed the white blazes, I realized that this was actually the first time I've hiked on the AT! I've been sporadically and slightly obsessed with the AT since I read a book by a thru-hiker last year. I don't know if I would ever have the courage to put my life on hold and attempt a thru-hike but I think about doing it and I enjoy reading about people who have done it.
Anyway, I was excited to be on the AT as we made our way along the trail. It was a cold, cloudy day but I quickly warmed up as we hit the first of three ascents. At the top was a nice little overlook that gave us an excuse to stop and catch our breath. The trail was a fun hike
because their were plenty of big rocks to navigate, rolling terrain and switchbacks. It was an active hike, which I enjoy.After catching our breath, we continued on the trail, shortly hitting the steepest ascent. I enjoy hills in hiking and in running. The inclines and declines use different muscles than flat terrain and even when the leg muscles are burning and the lunges are working in overdrive, it feels good to get the blood pumping and I love that feeling of accomplishment once I've reached the top. Not one to shy away from an incline, this trail would test that enjoyment several times but I have a motto - "Steady Forward Motion." Just keep moving until you reach the top otherwise you'll still have more uphill to tackle once you've rested.
Breathless and bounding from rock to rock, we made it to Raven Rocks, a 2.7 mile hike, in approximately one hour ten minutes. Looking out over the Shenandoah Valley toward the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance, even on an overcast day, made for an impressive sight. Despite the view, we didn't linger for very long at the top because a cold wind was blowing. We quickly headed back down the AT the way we came.
Near the top, the trail dips into West Virginia and had a sign to mark the border. After leaving Raven Rocks to head back, we noticed the other side of the sign -- Welcome to Virginia...Tennessee Border 535 miles!!!!
One of the things I enjoy about hiking, especially with Mike, are the topics of conversation and the return trip would not disappoint. We tried to figure out why some of the trees were charred (lightening, maybe?), whether trees make a sound when they fall in the woods and we aren't around to hear them and whether or not that proved I was a schizophrenic (I hope not).
With this conversation, our return trip seemed to fly and we made it back to the car in just over an hour. The trail to Raven Rocks and back was a strenuous but fun trail and it gets 5 stars in my book. It'll be fun to go back during the spring and summer to see how different it is with the streams running and the sun shining through the leaves.
Today's Daily Dozen:
Run - 3.96 miles, 4 min. run/1 min. walk x 7 intervals
5.5 miles hike - strenuous
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hike: Catoctin Mountain Trails
In the past, I've always wimped out and hung up my hiking shoes when winter arrived and let the trails hibernate until spring (and warmer/nicer weather). I've been missing out for some years now! A trail is a whole new experience when it is blanketed in snow!
Yesterday, we decided to head up to Thurmont, MD to check out the trails on Catoctin Mountain. Mike went to school nearby at Mount St. Mary's University and he wanted to go back to the area to check out the hiking. We had decided to hike the 8.5 loop that hits all of the highlights within in the national park.
As we got closer and closer to Thurmont we noticed there was snow on the ground and cars. We were supposed to get some snow flurries on Friday and I believe it did flurry for a little while in the afternoon but down in DC it didn't amount to anything. Evidently, this was not the case further north!
We parked at the Catoctin Mountain Visitors Center and grabbed a map from inside. The Visitors Center was a surprisingly nice building, with some exhibits, restrooms, maps and a wonderful fireplace complete with roaring fire. After talking to the park ranger, we decided to hike the loop counter-clockwise and hit the more strenuous uphills first. I started the GPS and we headed off for the trails just after noon.
The first section of the loop is on Cunningham Falls Nature Trail (1.2 miles). We were quickly emersed in
the forest, crunching snow and dead leaves under our feet, following the footprints of earlier hikers. Without blazes or other trail postings, these footprints were the our only guide along the trail. One of the things that struck me as we first started our hike was how different the mountain trails were compared to the trails along the Potomac River we hiked last weekend. The Billy Goat Trails were marked by the bright yellows and greens of leaves still clinging to the trees, and autumn. As we hiked Catoctin Mountain very few leaves were still hanging on to the branches and the few that were, were brown and appeared frail and brittle, as if they were using all their strength to avoid falling to the bright white snow below. The differences were visually striking.
The Cunningham Falls Nature Trail took us over MD 77 into Cunningham Falls Park (.4 miles) and lead us to Maryland's largest cascading waterfall. Honestly, the falls seemed a little underwhelming - really, that is the state's largest cascading waterfall, OK. Perhaps it is more impressive at another time aIt was a nice little waterfall and was obviously the main attraction in this area. We saw several hiking groups and families headed to the waterfall.
Afterwards, we backtracked to the state park and headed up Hog Rock Nature Trail toward Hog Rock Vista (1 mile). This section of the trail was much steeper than the previous trail but it fun. I love hiking hills and this section of the trail proved to be a surprising challenge. It was a deceptively long ascent and got mylegs, lungs and heart pumping. The crunch of the snow as we huffed and puffed our way to the level trail at the top was a wonderfully physical experience. And the views at the top, were worth the effort.
After stopping for a few minutes to survey rtThurmont off in the distance (and
to catch our breath), we continued on Hog Rock Nature Trail toward Blue Ridge Summit Nature Trail crossing the Hog Rock Parking area (.7 miles). This section of the trail was more rolling than the previous two trails with short ups and downs. We quickly made it to Blue Ridge Summit Vista and has similar views on the other side of the mountain; however, we didn't linger at this spot.
Being unprepared for the amount of snow on the trails, our shoes were starting
to get a little wet and we made the decision to cut our hike short and head back toward the Visitors Center, just over a mile and a half away. The trail was flatter for approximately a half mile and Mike took off on a run. Naturely, I had to give chase. This was my first time, however brief it happened to be, running on snow-covered trails and it was marvelous. The thrilling crunch of the snow underfoot combined with the heightened awareness of the terrain (rocks and leaves and roots), as I leapt over rocks and avoided slippery patches was a good deal of fun. I couldn't help but smile as I ran down the trail. It didn't last long but it was a highlight of the hike for me.
As we got closer to the end of the trail, the downhill section began and it was more or less downhill for the rest of the hike. Although my
shoes were wet and my toes were just starting to feel the cold, I was a little sad to see the hike come to an end. We ended up hiking just under 6 miles (5 of actual trail and about another mile of backtracking and meandering) in roughly 2.5 hours. I can't wait to go back to the mountain and see what the other trails have in store for us.
We finished off our Saturday adventure with a quick swing through the Mount St. Mary's campus and then headed north toward Gettysburg for some lunch. I mentioned to Mike, "I love that you love to hike" and I do because these experiences are so much more rewarding when they are shared. I am looking forward to our next hike. Today? Maybe. Next weekend? Definitely!
Yesterday, we decided to head up to Thurmont, MD to check out the trails on Catoctin Mountain. Mike went to school nearby at Mount St. Mary's University and he wanted to go back to the area to check out the hiking. We had decided to hike the 8.5 loop that hits all of the highlights within in the national park.
As we got closer and closer to Thurmont we noticed there was snow on the ground and cars. We were supposed to get some snow flurries on Friday and I believe it did flurry for a little while in the afternoon but down in DC it didn't amount to anything. Evidently, this was not the case further north!
We parked at the Catoctin Mountain Visitors Center and grabbed a map from inside. The Visitors Center was a surprisingly nice building, with some exhibits, restrooms, maps and a wonderful fireplace complete with roaring fire. After talking to the park ranger, we decided to hike the loop counter-clockwise and hit the more strenuous uphills first. I started the GPS and we headed off for the trails just after noon.
The first section of the loop is on Cunningham Falls Nature Trail (1.2 miles). We were quickly emersed in
the forest, crunching snow and dead leaves under our feet, following the footprints of earlier hikers. Without blazes or other trail postings, these footprints were the our only guide along the trail. One of the things that struck me as we first started our hike was how different the mountain trails were compared to the trails along the Potomac River we hiked last weekend. The Billy Goat Trails were marked by the bright yellows and greens of leaves still clinging to the trees, and autumn. As we hiked Catoctin Mountain very few leaves were still hanging on to the branches and the few that were, were brown and appeared frail and brittle, as if they were using all their strength to avoid falling to the bright white snow below. The differences were visually striking.The Cunningham Falls Nature Trail took us over MD 77 into Cunningham Falls Park (.4 miles) and lead us to Maryland's largest cascading waterfall. Honestly, the falls seemed a little underwhelming - really, that is the state's largest cascading waterfall, OK. Perhaps it is more impressive at another time aIt was a nice little waterfall and was obviously the main attraction in this area. We saw several hiking groups and families headed to the waterfall.
Afterwards, we backtracked to the state park and headed up Hog Rock Nature Trail toward Hog Rock Vista (1 mile). This section of the trail was much steeper than the previous trail but it fun. I love hiking hills and this section of the trail proved to be a surprising challenge. It was a deceptively long ascent and got mylegs, lungs and heart pumping. The crunch of the snow as we huffed and puffed our way to the level trail at the top was a wonderfully physical experience. And the views at the top, were worth the effort.
After stopping for a few minutes to survey rtThurmont off in the distance (and
to catch our breath), we continued on Hog Rock Nature Trail toward Blue Ridge Summit Nature Trail crossing the Hog Rock Parking area (.7 miles). This section of the trail was more rolling than the previous two trails with short ups and downs. We quickly made it to Blue Ridge Summit Vista and has similar views on the other side of the mountain; however, we didn't linger at this spot.Being unprepared for the amount of snow on the trails, our shoes were starting
to get a little wet and we made the decision to cut our hike short and head back toward the Visitors Center, just over a mile and a half away. The trail was flatter for approximately a half mile and Mike took off on a run. Naturely, I had to give chase. This was my first time, however brief it happened to be, running on snow-covered trails and it was marvelous. The thrilling crunch of the snow underfoot combined with the heightened awareness of the terrain (rocks and leaves and roots), as I leapt over rocks and avoided slippery patches was a good deal of fun. I couldn't help but smile as I ran down the trail. It didn't last long but it was a highlight of the hike for me.As we got closer to the end of the trail, the downhill section began and it was more or less downhill for the rest of the hike. Although my
shoes were wet and my toes were just starting to feel the cold, I was a little sad to see the hike come to an end. We ended up hiking just under 6 miles (5 of actual trail and about another mile of backtracking and meandering) in roughly 2.5 hours. I can't wait to go back to the mountain and see what the other trails have in store for us.We finished off our Saturday adventure with a quick swing through the Mount St. Mary's campus and then headed north toward Gettysburg for some lunch. I mentioned to Mike, "I love that you love to hike" and I do because these experiences are so much more rewarding when they are shared. I am looking forward to our next hike. Today? Maybe. Next weekend? Definitely!
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