Pine Hill Gap trail - Hot/Short Mountain Trail - Hanna Run Trail

 

I joined 6 other hikers to hike in the Shenandoah National Park for 13 miles with 3400 feet elevation gain in a hot (80-90f) and humid day, Pine Hill Gap trail - Hot/Short Mountain Trail - Hanna Run Trail. It was slightly cooler than less Saturday, but I felt sleepy all the time due to heavy sweating. I picked the wild mushrooms (chicken of the woods) and shared with one hiker. Thanks to Marco for carrying the heavy mushrooms for us.

On one of the trails, we agitated a rattled snake which was the only object triggered photographing on the hike. On another trail, we encountered another group of hiking friends who were hiking double our distance and elevation on the same day!

As usual, we filled out with cold drinks from the cooler after the hike, and then stopped by our favorite winery before heading home. Thanks to Susan for sharing watermelon.

It was too hot to run after hike on Saturday, so I ran/walked 7 miles Sunday morning in humidity in 80f but felt like 87f, still better than running later on Sunday. I did not handle humidity well and fast-walked instead of running most of the time.

play “POSTCARDS FROM IHATOV”

 

I went to First Stage Theater @ Tyson’s Corner to usher for the play “POSTCARDS FROM IHATOV” which was worthy of my efforts to travel in 94f (34c). It was adapted from the works of Kenji Miyazawa 宮沢賢治, a Japanese novelist, poet, and writer of children's literature, including the classic "Night on the Galactic Railroad (銀河鉄道の夜).” I love the stage designs that reflected transcendent power of imagination of a cosmic journey through the stars. I also enjoyed the conversation and food of the show closing party afterwards.

By the way, the theater redecorated the wall with postcards of previous plays. I ushered there since 2016.

hot hike (90f+/32c+)

 

I had a very hot hike (90f+/32c+) of 9.5 miles with 1700 feet elevation gain in the Shenandoah National Park near the Overall Falls with 5 friends. One of us did not handle the heat well so we cut short the original plan. We shared cold drinks after the hike, and then 4 of us stopped by a winery on the way back.

WOC-Hawksbill-Cedar Run

 I took this 13 miles 3500 feet elevation gain hike WOC-Hawksbill-Cedar Run in hot summer day. We ran into two other groups of hikers including a few ones I haven’t seen for a while.

Dickey Ridge - Fox Hollow to Snead Farm Road

 

I skipped a tick-infested hike and took this easy hike instead: Dickey Ridge - Fox Hollow to Snead Farm Road for 12 miles with 2200 feet elevation gain. The weather was cooler and less humid than last weekend, and there were cold breezes from time to time. I am getting used to summer heat now, so I felt pretty comfortable Saturday.

I got up early to run 8 miles Sunday morning, to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.

Rocky Sherman Gap hike

 

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.