I
took the casual 13.7 mile 2150 feet elevation gain Perimeter Excursion
Hike in a dry cool Saturday. It was only 35f in the cold misty morning. I
hiked in the greater DC area for 20 years but here for the first time.
Shenandoah University preserves this 195 acres Battlefield of Cool
Spring along the Shenandoah River for the university and public. Some
hikers planned to check out the nearby Bear Chase Brewery, but gave up
due to the huge crowd prior to Halloween.
I
really enjoyed the foliage via the 12.5 mile 2500 feet elevation gain
hike to Big Schloss in the George Washington National Forest on
Saturday. Simply beautiful! I seized a dry window Sunday afternoon to
run 7.5 mile and met my weekend 20 hike/run miles training goal.
I
took this pleasant Little Devil Stairs Long Version hike (13.7 miles
with 3150 feet elevation gain) on this cool and sunny Saturday with 15
stream crossings. The skyline was busy with foliage traffic, but I think
foliage should reach peak in late October. Five of us went wine
tasting after the hike. On this beautiful Sunday, I ran 6.45 miles in
Reston to meet my weekend hike/run combination goal.
I
was crazy enough to hike in rain with six other hikers Sky
Meadows-Whiskey Hollow Circuit for 10 miles with 1800 feet elevation
gain on Columbus Day. Nothing was really water-proof after 2-hrs. I am
considering an anti-UV umbrella hat for hiking in both rain and sun. I
tried but simply couldn’t hike with an umbrella on one hand, so I need a
waterproof hat to pair with my poncho and hiking poles. BTW, there was
a half marathon race in the morning as well.
I
probably shouldn’t but ate in a Chinese buffet restaurant today anyway,
“feel like getting a part of my life” back from COVID-19. The policy is
wearing masks and gloves all the time except sitting and eating.
All
my carpool arrangements for a 20-m hike failed, so I ended up running
to the 99 Ranch Supermarket and back for 18 miles with only 650 feet
elevation gain. The way to there via Fox Mill Road was scenic but no
shoulder thus dangerous. I saw one dead deer, several dead squirrels, so
nervously checking my GPS and forgot to turn back my run trackers a few
times. The 99 Ranch Market is very spacey, has a few restaurants
inside, and sells some unusual items such as durian coffee. Not just
deco like Whole Foods, prices are higher than other Asian supermarkets
too. Most disappointing, all its moon cakes sold out before the Autumn
Festival on 10/1, so none left for me to buy today. I left without using
my extra backpack intended for carrying purchases. I saw some poisonous
cousin of the chicken of the woods mushrooms: jack-o-lantern. Don’t eat
this kind.
