Rocky Sherman Gap huke

 

I hiked on Saturday with a group of friends out and back from Buzzard rock trailhead to Sherman Gap it's about about 13.3 miles with about 3100 feet of elevation gain in the George Washington Nation forest. It was cool in the morning then turned hot in the afternoon, and the trails were rocky. I will avoid hiking Sherman Gap in the future because I don’t want to walk so carefully on the ridges all the time in afraid of falling off the trails.

It was nice to share cool drinks and snacks after hike in the parking lot. I was panicking when pulling out a tick from my body when got home. Even it’s short stay shouldn’t cause Lyme disease, I will monitor the bit areas for two weeks.

The good news was I fixed my rice cooker power cord with heat shrink solder butt connectors after dinner at home, so my rice cooker is up and running again.

I ran 6.7 miles Sunday morning to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.

Jeremys Run hike full of ticks!

 

Six hikers took Jeremys Run hike with 15 stream crossings, 18.6 miles and 3200 feet elevation gain. We saw some wild birds and the peak of mountain laurels.

The uphills at the 2nd half of the hike were draining and full of ticks, and some of us were disappointed that the park store still couldn’t sell their favorite blackberry ice cream. Nevertheless, we had cold drinks after the hike, and the went to our favorite winery to chill out. Enjoy the last few cool days before the hot summer!

There were many ticks found on hikers’ bodies, so I decided to check my body for ticks and shower, and rolling the 1.4 miles to my Monday run.

Wolf Trap 2024 open season fireworks

 I went to Wolf Trap 2024 open season fireworks & concert tonight with a friend and her daughter. We got there just for the last three songs then went in the field for the fireworks that synced with music clips of this coming season.

Overall Run Long Version hike

 

I had my 1st hot and humid hike this summer, and I expect the weather will get hotter and more humid. This Overall Run Long Version (13.5 miles, 3100 feet elevation gain) ended near a famous water hole. Since it was a hot day, we saw many people to and from the water hole. I was very hot and sweaty so I skipped the waterhole and went back to car for cold drinks.

Water crossings were easy, but I got several poison ivy bites on an overgrown section. It was very hot so I simply cannot wear long pants to cover my legs. We walked via a section full of blooming mountain laurel. I still think the peak is yet to come. Some analysts f us also saw a big rattlesnake.

I went grocery shopping then ran 6 miles to finish my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal (short of 0.5 mile due to hunger, to make up later).

“trail-ran” 17.5 miles

 

After Saturday dragon boat race, I only slept 4 hours, and then I “trail-ran” 17.5 miles with 3500 feet elevation gain on Sunday, 4H club to Compton and North Marshall Peaks and back on the Appalachian Trail. I was very tired after the hike and have a big blister on my right foot.

I was rushing to catch up with the group, so I hike alone most of time for the first part of the hike, and I did not take any photos (the posted photos were taken by others). I expect the flowers will peak in about two weeks.

Ali set a very fast pace for the whole group, and the group didn’t have a lunch break and no group photos. I was 0.5 miles behind and gave myself a short lunch break so I had energy to continue. I didn’t plan but was forced to trail-run today : ( We missed the turn to the parking and added another 0.5 mile to the hike at the end.

Plus my walks between Foggy Bottom and Thompson Boat center, and 6 trips between our tent to the boat dock, I completed my 20 walk/hike miles weekend goal.

2024 Dragon Boat Festival in rain

 

I took Metro into DC to compete for Taiwanese Embassy 2024 Dragon Boat Festival in rain. Fortunately, it was not cold. I raced for both Flagship team and News Breakers team, so I raced 200 meters 4 times and 500 meters twice.

Although not as many bystanders showed up due to the rain, Taiwan got more friends and supporters for the event this year. I met the new ambassador for the first time, but just photos with him as a group.

The lunch boxes and bobbles tea arrived after 1 pm, and I couldn’t eat sticky rice dumplings 粽子before race, so I took food home. They also gave me extra for dinner. We had pork ribs 排骨and spicy chicken 塩酥雞lunch boxes this year.

I took home a paper dragon head then realized it has an electric light, so it is a dragon lamp 燈籠.

Mary's Rock, Bucks Hollow /Ridge 16m hike

 

I attended a meetup hike Mary's Rock, Bucks Hollow /Ridge, Cave Falls and back for 16 miles with 4200 feet elevation gain. There were many different flowers blooming in the park. You bet I was tired after the hike.

I beat the weather and finished 4 miles run before rain! I thus completed my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal. I had one regret that I did not pick up the eatable mushroom Dryad's saddle last weekend, and saw the vacant spot on the tree today. Someone got it before me.

giant mushroom Dryad's saddle

 I gambled on the weather to stay dry regardless the rain forecast, and I was lucky to stay dry for the whole hike Dickey Ridge and Fox Hollow Trails for 12.5 miles with 2200 feet elevation gain. It was foggy but dry : ) I saw one giant mushroom Dryad's saddle (Polyporus squamosus), but I did not know it was eatable and didn’t take it home.

We shared drinks after the hike and headed back to town early. I did some grocery shopping then ran 5 miles before it rained heavily. I will run 2.5 miles to make up my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.