The Dirty Dozen Wilderness Challenge

In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the Wilderness Act a formidable new challenge has been conceived by The Wilderness Society and Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine.  

The challenge: Hike more than 10 miles in a dozen wilderness areas in the Southeast and document your experiences via an online submission form to win the unbridled admiration of your hiking peers and possibly some cool schwag.  What more motivation do you need for seeking out some of the Southeast’s wildest spaces?

For an extensive list of wilderness areas in the Southeast, check out:

http://www.southeastwilderness50.org/history-1

Pohick Bay: Paradise for paddlers, bird watchers, and anglers (even ones who don't catch a thing)

     I’m pretty sure my buddy is asleep in his seat behind me.  His bobber floats unattended on the glassy surface of Pohick Bay, a sheltered finger of the Potomac River.  Our kayak is tied to a fallen log, in a secluded cove dappled with lily pads.  In the clear water below, juvenile fish dark between long tendrils of algae, floating like aquatic dreadlocks.

     We have been out on the water for almost five hours, baking slowly in the relentless summer sun.  I am still half-heartedly casting a top-water frog into the lily pads, trying to muster the enthusiasm to make the lure dance convincingly in still water.   My buddy Tony clearly gave up long ago.
   
      Pohick Bay is a fisherman’s paradise.  Largemouth bass, catfish, striped bass, bluegill, carp and perch can all be hooked in the bay’s sheltered waters.   And seemingly, when we paddled out in the late afternoon, it was an absolutely perfect day for fishing.

     Yet, not a bite.  All damn day. 

   
      We spent the morning unsuccessfully fishing for catfish from the shore, casting pungent hunks of shad.  Instead, we amused ourselves watching a burly paddleboarder struggle futilely to mount his board in the water, the paddleboard repeatedly shooting comically from between his arms like a giant bar of soap. 

     I see a dark shape dart like a 16-inch torpedo underneath our kayak toward deeper water.  Tony reels in his line and checks his hook—gingerly picked clean.  Out in the middle of the bay, fish are jumping, and I swear they are the size of basset hounds.  We both cast again, and wait.

     The only successful fishing I have seen today has been on the part of the birds of prey scouring the tranquil water for a meal.  While my various, carefully selected lures snagged only copious amount of soggy algae, I watched more competent, beaked anglers consistently harvest shimmering, silver fish from the clear water.   The shrill calls of bald eagles regularly fill the air, and many of the trees on the shoreline are adorned with well-crafted osprey nests.  On a previous fishing trip to Pohick, I almost took a cheeky bald eagle directly to the face as the bird dipped low over our boat in an attempt to escape with the stolen prey of a rapidly pursing osprey.

     Tony and I begin paddling toward 13-mile Pohick creek, one of major watersheds entering the Potomac River.   We navigate past the angular hook of Fisherman’s point and nestle protected in the spatterdock and hydrilla.  Twilight is approaching and soon we will have to paddle out, but I put a top-water lure back on my line.  

‘One last cast,’ I say to Tony.

     Because, in the end, isn't fishing really just about hope?  Pure, blind, unfounded hope.  The hope that even though you have spent half a day adrift in a tiny, godforsaken boat without as much as a nibble, the next cast will undoubtedly hook that hulking river monster hovering just below the surface of the water. 

More about Pohick Bay Regional Park:

Pohick Bay Regional Park is about 25 miles south of Washington, D.C. The park is operated by the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority.  The park offers boats for rental (sailboats, kayaks, canoes, jon boats and standup paddleboards) as well as offering hiking trails, a miniature golf course, a disc golf course, camping sites, and a full waterpark).      

Pohick Bay 6501 Pohick Bay Drive Lorton Virginia 22079

For more information about the park, check out:

Pohick Bay Regional Park

www.nvrpa.org/park/pohick_bay/

For information about paddling Pohick Bay and surrounding areas, check out:

Occoquan Watertrail League

http://owlva.org/newowl/

For a detailed map of the watertrail, check out:

http://owlva.org/newowl/images/occoquanwatertrailmap.png

Best Hikes with Dogs in the Washington, D.C. Area

Best Hikes with Dogs in Northern Virginia

Even the most refined of Washington, D.C.’s urban dwelling dogs crave a trip to the outdoors replete with varmint tracking, rolling in smelly dead things, and splashing around in a good old-fashioned swimming hole. 

Shenandoah River State Park

This park is a treasure—with a varied network of trails and access to the lazy Shenandoah River.  The park’s Bluebell trail follows the river and provides plenty of access for impromptu swims or waterside picnics.  If you visit the park without the dog, consider stuffing a reliable inflatable tube in your pack and floating downstream back to your car after your hike.  Park at the Hemlock Hollow Trailhead, but jump on the Bluebell trail until it merges with the River Trail and continue along the river until you are ready inflate your trusty tube and float back to your car (get off the river at the park’s boat launch, right next to the parking lot for the Hemlock Hollow Trailhead).

350 Daughter of Stars Drive, Bentonville, VA 22610

www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/shenandoah-river.html

Not everyone is a swimmer, even at the Shenandoah River State Park

Riverbend Park

Riverbend Park, just above Great Falls, offers unobstructed views of the Potomac River and an eclectic assortment of trails.  You can make the easy two-mile hike to watch the churning falls tumble through Mather Gorge, or, take the the trail less-trodden, and explore Riverbend's ecological offerings with a wooded loop -- park at the Visitor Center and jump on Madison's Escape Trail (heading away from the river), at the trail junction with the Hollows Trail, hang a left and follow Hollow Run back toward the Potomac, at the river, take a right on the Potomac Heritage Trail and continue to Great Falls.  Turn around at Great Falls and take the Potomac Heritage Trail along the river back to the Visitor Center at Riverbend Park-- and your car.  

8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls, Virginia

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend-park/

www.fairfaxcouty.gov/parks/cct/downloads/riverbendtrailmap2.pdf

Hiking along Holmes Run at Roundtree Park

Roundtree Park

Roundtree Park is deceptive; from the road it appears to be the standard, suburban neighborhood park.  But hidden behind the baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and picnic pavilions is a secluded stream valley sheltered by a tract of urban forest and access to the well-maintained Holmes Run Trail (a Fairfax County bike trail). 

3311 Annandale Road, Falls Church Virginia 22042

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/maps/roundtreeparkmap.htm

Hiking along the Potomac River above Great Falls

Turkey Run (Potomac Heritage Trail)

Directly off the scenic George Washington Parkway, just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC, Turkey Run provides sweeping river vistas, craggy cliff scrambles, and plenty of opportunities to see charismatic local fauna-- including bald eagles and blue heron.  The Potomac Heritage Trail winds through the park giving hikers the option to go all the way to Roosevelt Island (about 7 miles)/  The route along the river includes some rocky sections that can become slippery and tricky to navigate in wet weather.   

700 George Washington Memorial Parkway, McLean, Virginia

www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/turkeyrun.htm

www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=190609

Taking a break in the Prince William Forest

Bluemont/Glencaryln Loop

Bluemont Park in urban Arlington provides access to two extended trails --  Arlington County’s Four-Mile Run Trail and the 45-mile W & OD trail stretching from Alexandria to Purcellville.  For a good dog friendly hike ending at the off-leash Glencarlyn dog park, begin at Bluemont Park (park in the lot adjacent to the ball fields and head toward the bathrooms and basketball court) and hike through the leafy, dog-friendly Bluemont disc golf course until merging with the Four Mile Run Trail.  Head east on Four Mile Run toward Long Branch Nature Center and Glencarlyn Park -- the dog park is on the right, accessible by a small footbridge, just after a well-maintained playground and picnic area.  Glencarlyn can be prone to water quality issues to be sure to check steam conditions if you have a water dog (http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/parksrecreation/documents/file87106.pdf)

601 N. Manchester Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22203

www.arlington.va.us/Departments/ParksRecreation/scripts/parks/bluemontpark.aspx

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/parksrecreation/scripts/parks/parks_images/file62370.pdf

http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ParksRecreation/scripts/parks/GlencarlynPark.aspx

Hiking with a handful in the Shenandoah National Park

Battery Kemble Park (Battery Kemble Trail)

The rolling hills of Battery Kemble Park were once part of Washington, DC’s Civil War defense, supporting two cannons trained on modern day Chain Bridge.  Today, the park's open expanse is a popular destination for area dog owners, but beware, as soon as you drive into the parking lot your car will be swarmed by a pack of enthusiastic canines, so be certain your dog is confident enough to handle a nosy crowd.  Aside from more-than-ample ball and/or frisbee tossing space, the park also provides access to the stream-side Battery Kemble Trail.  

49^th St NW and Garfield St NW (from MacArthur Blvd turn onto West street, then left on 49^th, and park entrance id down a steep hill to your right)`

www.nps.gov/cwdw/historyculture/battery-kemble.htm

www.yelp.com/biz/battery-kemble-park-washington

Seneca Creek State Park

Seneca Creek is an expansive park, with hiking trails, a disc golf course, kayaking rentals, and Clopper Lake.  For a foolproof hike, park the in the Pines Picnic Area and follow the Lake Shore Trail, hugging the water and making a perfect loop replete with bathrooms and shady picnic spots.     

11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/seneca.asp

www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/pds/seneca_map.pdf

Summer in Clopper Lake at Seneca Creek State Park in Maryland

On alert for deer at Riverbend Park in McLean

Winter Wonderland

Swallow Falls: A winter loop for the sure-footed

Visit Western Maryland's Swallow Falls State Park when nobody else wants to leave the fireside.  In the winter, when snow typically piles high in Garrett County, the park is spectacular.  The old growth hemlock forest sags with snow, the falls freeze with a statuesque artistry, and icicles hang ominously from the rocky river gorges.

The shortest loop through the park is only a mile and a quarter-- but in winter is not for the faint of heart. Leave the flask back at the lodge for this winter sojourn, the trail tends of ice over in stretches and meanders alarmingly close to the the rushing confluence of the Youghiogheny River and Muddy Creek in some parts.



































In warmer months, the stretch of the Youghiogheny River from Swallow Falls to Friendsville is especially gnarly, providing great opportunities for whitewater enthusiasts.  During  summer months the short loop trail  also gets a lot of traffic, so pets are not allowed on the shorter Swallow Falls trail between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

For the winter loop, layer up and wear shoes that will provide some serious grip.  Starting from the parking lot proceed to the the T junction trailhead, veer to the right and follow trail marker signs for Swallow Falls, beginning with a gradual downhill.  The 1 and 1/4 mile trail makes a perfect loop back to the parking lot.  For a longer hike, there is also a 5.5 mile route from Swallow Falls State Park to Herrington Manor State Park through the Garrett Forest (leashed pets are allowed on this longer trail at any time of year).

Directions: Go north on 219 from Oakland, Maryland and turn left on Mayhew Inn Road.  Continue about a mile and half then turn left on Bray School Road.  Continue to the end of Bray School Road (about 1.5 miles) then turn right on Oakland/Sang Run Road.  After about a mile, turn left on Swallow Falls Road, the park entrance is about a mile and a half ahead on the right.

For park information:

www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/swfmap.asp
www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/swallowfalls.asp
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/herrington.asp

For more trail maps of Swallow Falls and other locations in Garrett County, Maryland:

http://garretttrails.org/trails--maps.html
http://garretttrails.org/central-region-trails.html

7 offbeat outdoor adventures in the Mid-Atlantic

The Gauley River, West Virginia

River routes with names like Pillow Rock, Shipwreck, and Lost Paddle provide fair warning to paddlers.  Just 65-miles from Charleston, West Virginia’s Gauley River drops almost 668 feet in 28 miles and winds through some of the most rugged terrain in the state.  Gauley season begins the first weekend after Labor Day and continues for 6 weeks.  The whitewater paddling community gathers annually in September for Gauley Fest, a jamboree of river-runners and river-lovers (September 19-20, 2014). 

The Priest Wilderness, Virginia

Virginia’s 6,000-acre Priest Wilderness, southwest of Charlottesville, provides plenty of opportunity to find religion.  Hike among the seasonal rhododendron and blooming mountain laurel and summit the four peaks making up Virginia’s Religious Range, including the Little Priest, the Cardinal, the Friar, and the pinnacle, the 4,063-foot summit of the Priest.  The Appalachian Trail (AT) also passes through the wilderness, and the stretch of trail from the Tye River to the summit of the Priest is one of the most rigorous climbs of the entire AT, gaining 3,100 feet in elevation in just four miles.

  

Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Visit North Carolina's Outer Banks in the fall; the crowds are gone but swells and westerlies are abundant.  Campsites on the dunes in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore provide a perfect vantage point for watching the surf and the sunrise. Water temperatures become wetsuit-worthy by early October.  

The Youghiogheny River, Maryland/Pennsylvania

Snaking through the Allegheny Mountains, the Youghiogheny River boasts gnarly whitewater and undisturbed forest vistas.  For thrill-seekers, between Swallow Falls State Park and Hoyes Run, the river tumbles over a series of falls ultimately dropping 280-feet in four miles.  For more leisurely paddlers, the middle section of the Yough offers wider, more navigable stretches of river and more forgiving rapids. 

Mount Porte Crayon, West Virginia

Mount Porte Crayon, in the Roaring Plans Wilderness, offers such idyllic backcountry skiing the area was once slated to become a resort.  However, outcry from environmentalists and outdoor lovers thwarted development plans leaving the 6,792-acre Roaring Plains Wilderness almost untouched.  Roaring Plains is a more remote extension of the nearby Dolly Sods Plateau, and the network of high-altitude meadows and sweeping plans provides a perfect playground for skilled backcountry skiers and navigation-savvy hikers and backpakers.   

Transylvania County, North Carolina

The name is spooky and evocative of eerie folklore from another era, but the 250 waterfalls of Translyvania County are anything but creepy.  The waterfalls are just miles apart, spread between the Pisgah National Forest, Dupont State Recreational Forest, and Gorges State Park, and 400-foot Whitewater Falls is the highest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.  If the waterfalls aren’t enough, check out the over 1,000 miles of hiking trails, nearly 500 miles of fishable trout paradise, and the climbing options on Looking Glass Rock, one of the biggest monoliths in the Appalachians. 

False Cape State Park, Virginia

Barely 40 minutes from hordes at highly popular Virginia Beach, nearby False Cape State Park offers some of the last untouched stretches of seashore in Virginia.  The park is accessible only by foot, bike or boat (although a tram operates in peak season from April to October).  Fringed by the critter-rich Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, only primitive camping is allowed in the state park, increasing chances of encountering locals -- like feral pigs and water moccasins.