Little Devil’s Stairs

 

Hiked Little Devil’s Stairs with friends for 8 miles with 2100 feet elevation gain, then went to a winery afterwards. I attended a dinner party Friday night, so I felt quite sluggish and hiked slowly on Saturday.

I did some grocery shopping and ran 6 miles after the hike. I ran another 6 miles on Sunday to complete my 20 hike/run mile weekend goal.

Mochi donuts

 Friday dinner at a friend’s house. Los of food and one very interesting desserts I tried for the first time: Mochi donuts, originated from Hawaii in the early 1990s, a combination of American doughnuts and Japanese mochi, that is fluffy and moist, with a satisfying chew.

Friday Lunch with friends at Mama Chung

 Friday Lunch with friends at Mama Chung, then ran slowly for 5 miles. No hike on rainy Saturday, so I ran 10 miles on Sunday while enjoying cherry blossom in Reston.

Rose River Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, Hawksbill

 

Today’s hike started at freezing 34f then gradually warmed up. We hiked via Rose River Falls, Dark Hollow Falls, Hawksbill for 13.5 miles with 3000 feet elevation gain. Very nice sunny weather paired gorgeous views.

We stopped by the winery as usual, then I went grocery shopping and ran 6 miles to almost complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal. I had a bad cramp on right leg so I was short of 0.5 mile.

Pass Mountain

 

After Saturday whole day rain, trails become muddy and stream water levels were high. I and two friends switched from Little Devil Stairs trail to Pass Mountain trail, then we passed the Bear Rock and turned around at the Skyline Drive for total 10 miles with 2250 feet elevation gain.

We stopped our favorite winery after hike. I only ran 4.8 miles after grocery shopping, because it was cold and windy while I was hungry. Therefore, plus Friday’s 4-mile run, I am short of 1.2 mile to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.

International women’s day

 

Happy International women’s day! I attended the 2024 International Women's Day Panel & Networking event hosted by MetroStar in Reston to meet and greet with new contacts Abe enjoyed the food,wine, and conversations.

I ran 4 miles before the event to add to my weekend exercise goal and account for the calories.

Synetic Theatre’s wordless Romeo and Juliet

 I metroed in Crystal City to usher for Synetic Theater at this site for the last time. They haven’t decided where to move to. Synetic Theatre’s wordless Romeo and Juliet started with the swinging of a pendulum, the ticking of a clock, ran 90 minutes without intermission.

Manassas gap and whiskey hollow

 

Three of us started late (9:30 am) to avoid the rain, and we actually beat the rain forecast and hike 14 miles with 3000 feet elevation gain on Appalachian Trail between Manassas gap and whiskey hollow. I dressed warm enough and stayed dry this time. I even brought a plastic junior firefighter cap in case I needed to hike in the freezing rain. But fortunately the rain wasn’t heavy.

We ran into a Boy Scouts group just walked a short distance to the shelter to camp overnight. As they were too noisy for three female section hikers, the ladies walked more to stay in another shelter. We had some drinks after the hike at the parking lot, since the winery we like is too far from where we were.

I was busy on Sunday, so I ran 6 miles on Monday to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.