Tag Archives: C&O Canal

Looking back on 2024

Posted on January 5, 2025 by John M

During 2024 our hiking group went on 102 hikes for a total of about 445 miles, averaging 4.4 miles per hike. We managed to get in 10 more hikes than last year while maintaining the same average distance per hike. … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, National Cherry Blossom Festival, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, Rappahannock River, Shenandoah Mountains, Washington DC, wildlife | 1 Comment

Looking back on 2023

Posted on January 2, 2024 by John M

During 2023 our hiking group went on 92 hikes for a total of just over 400 miles, averaging about 4.4 miles per hike. The distance per hike was similar to last year’s, but the reduced number of hikes inevitably lowered … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, Civil War, Great Falls National Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, Rappahannock River, Shenandoah Mountains, Washington DC, wildlife | 1 Comment

Looking back on 2022

Posted on December 31, 2022 by John M

During 2022 our hiking group continued to burn up the trails! We went on 108 hikes for a total of around 500 miles; averaging about 4.6 miles per hike. That’s not much different overall from last year, but this year … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, Civil War, Great Falls National Park, nature, outdoors, Potomac River, Rappahannock River, Shenandoah Mountains, Washington DC, wildlife | 6 Comments

Looking back on 2021

Posted on January 5, 2022 by John M

Seems like 2021 was a pretty good year for hiking, if our hiking group is any indication. During 2021 we went on 102 hikes for a total of 500.5 miles; averaging 4.9 miles per hike. That’s the most mileage we’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Hiking, Photography | Tagged C&O Canal, Carderock, Great Falls National Park, Manassas, Manassas National Battlefield Park, Potomac River, Rappahannock River | 4 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

Blue skies and the perils of hiking backwards

Posted on January 18, 2015 by John M

We closed out last year with a visit to National Harbor, Maryland, a 6-mile hike across Wilson Bridge and back from Jones Point Park in Virginia. The sunny skies’ brilliant blue, reflected in the glassy calm of the Potomac River, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Anne Archbold, Appalachian Trail, C&O Canal, Francis Scott Key Memorial, Georgetown, jones point park, Maryland, National Harbor, Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel, old town alexandria, outdoors, Potomac River, Rock Creek Park, Sky Meadows, Washington DC, Wilson Bridge | 3 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