Tag Archives: Billy Goat Trail

Looking back on 2016

Posted on December 30, 2016 by John M

Looking back, it has certainly been a busy year for hiking! Our hiking group grew by 1,779 members, from 6,796 to 8,575, and we met for 103 events during 2016, hiking a total of 450 miles at locations throughout Virginia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged azaleas, Billy Goat Trail, Buzzard Rock, Carderock, Dupont, Georgetown, Great Falls National Park, Kalorama, National Cherry Blossom Festival, nature, old town alexandria, outdoors, Patapsco Valley State Park, Rock Creek Park, Shenandoah Mountains, Sky Meadows, Virginia bluebells, Washington DC, wildlife | 7 Comments

Frozen fun

Posted on January 19, 2016 by John M

Billy Goat Trail Section A There’s just nothing like a cold morning to bring out the determined hikers, and this Monday was no exception: the temperature never got about 21o F (-6o C ), and the 10-20 mph WNW winds … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Great Falls, Great Falls National Park, nature, Olmstead Island, outdoors, Potomac River | 4 Comments

A brief reprieve

Posted on February 9, 2015 by John M

Consulting the weather forecast is always a good idea when planning hikes (or any outdoor activities), but especially during the winter season. Even then, you just never know what you’re going to get. A couple of weekends ago we were … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, blue heron, Burke Lake, C&O Canal, Civil War fortifications, Dumbarton Oaks, fairfax county virginia, Fort Ward, Great Falls National Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, Rock Creek Park, South Run, Tregaron Conservancy, Washington DC, wildlife | 4 Comments

Down to zero

Posted on November 24, 2014 by John M

The past three weekends have been filled with hikes, as Mother Nature put on her Autumnal show of colors before finally turning the temperatures down to zero. Here’s a few highlights: Brookside Gardens Brookside Gardens, in Wheaton-Glenmont, MD, with its … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, blue heron, Boulder Bridge, Brookside Gardens, C&O Canal, deer, Fort Ethan Allen Park, Great Falls National Park, Gulf Branch, nature, outdoors, Peirce Mill, Potomac Heritage Trail, Potomac River, Rock Creek Park, Washington DC, Wheaton Park, wildlife | 4 Comments

To the colors

Posted on October 29, 2014 by John M

With the arrival of Fall colors, the past couple of weekends have been taken up with trips to see them! The color changes in Virginia usually start in the mountains and over a few weeks, progress to the Piedmont and … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Fall colors, foliage, Great Falls Tavern, Kingstowne Lake, Leesylvania State Park, nature, Neabsco Creek, outdoors, Potomac River, Shenandoah Mountains, Sugarloaf Mountain, wildlife | 10 Comments

Long weekend, lost wonder

Posted on September 6, 2014 by John M

Whenever a Federal holiday comes around, yielding a three-day weekend, I usually feel compelled to fill up with hikes. Maybe this compulsion comes from something I was discussing with a friend not so very long ago, about the lost wonder … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, History, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Civil War, Great Falls National Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac Heritage Trail, Potomac River, Washington DC | 4 Comments

Mixed bag

Posted on June 17, 2014 by John M

I haven’t posted in a while because the last four hikes have been a really mixed bag of tricks: 1. A June 7th hike along the Mount Vernon Trail from Fort Hunt Park to River Farm and back was waylaid … Continue reading →

Posted in Cats, Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Fort Hunt, Mount Vernon Trail, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, River Farm, Riverside Park, Smithsonian National Zoological Park | 5 Comments

Wonderland

Posted on March 3, 2014 by John M

As the weeks go by, the “wonder” part of “winter wonderland” seems to be wondering just how much longer before winter eases its grip on us. Not just yet, anyway. Last weekend we went on a 6-mile hike along the Billy Goat … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, C&O Canal, Carderock, Maryland, Meetup, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, water temperature, winter wonderland | 5 Comments

Contrasts

Posted on December 30, 2013 by John M

This past weekend presented a study in contrasts. Saturday was sunny, clear and warm, and a big group of hikers turned out for a moderate to strenuous hike over rocky, hilly terrain, while Sunday was overcast, rainy and cold, and only a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, Bull Run, Civil War, Great Falls National Park, Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, Manassas, Mather Gorge, Matildaville, nature, outdoors, Paradise Springs Winery, Potomac River, Potowmack Canal | Comments Off

Carderock

Posted on December 22, 2013 by John M

A wonderful 6-mile hike on an unexpectedly warm, sunny Saturday on the Billy Goat Trail, sections B and C, starting from Carderock Recreation Area along the C&O Canal. (Google map here.) Section A is the most popular (and strenuous) part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged Billy Goat Trail, blue heron, C&O Canal, Carderock, Great Blue Heron, nature, outdoors, wildlife | 1 Comment