May 07

Time Travel to Ice Mountain

When my friend invited me to join her on a day trip to a little abandoned mining town in West Virginia called North River Mills for a festival with banjo strumming, local hikes and a blacksmith, I could not refuse her. Three girl friends met up early and hit the road by 8 am, visiting perhaps the last Starbucks in civilization along 66 west and heading into the hinterlands. When we hit the curvy mountain roads, we knew we had left 2012 behind and suddenly we arrived the 1700s (Video of Americana music on the porch).

A blacksmith was showing off his finest work, the back of the blacksmithery had been turned into a miniature art museum (“The Narrow Gallery”) and an old Ford sat outside a lean to building (once tavern) hundreds of years old and falling apart. A small circle of folk musicians had gathered on the porch to pick and strum – the music filling out the landscape. Once a thriving ice and mining mecca, the town had been abandoned and the majority of the remaining homes were left sagging toward the earth with the heaviness of their woes. Nearby, a dozen or so people have built retirement homes in the respite of the country but the area is otherwise a dot on the map near Capon Bridge, West Virginia.

The best part of the day trip was our hiking jaunt onto Ice Mountain, a significant preserved area under the protection of The Nature Conservancy. Known as an Algific Talus, it is a cold producing slope, one of only a few known in the world. Our guide, Gil, explained to the group that the winter ice and snow becomes trapped under the boulders on the northwest slope and without sun hitting the face, it comes out as a cold draft of air at the bottom near the river. I stood next to the rock and felt 39 degree air blowing out from underneath the rocks on a 78 degree day. What an incredibly special place! The people were warm and welcoming, happy to invite people to step back into time from our otherwise busy and consuming lives. The day reminded me to slow down, to look around me to find what is unique and special in life and hold onto what is good.

“The mind I love must have wild places, a tangled orchard where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass, an overgrown little wood, the chance of a snake or two, a pool that nobody’s fathomed the depth of, and paths threaded with flowers planted by the mind.” 
― Katherine Mansfield

 

 

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Posted in U.S. Hikes

May 02

Running the Trails: Completing my first trail half marathon

Misty morning to start a race

Running in the District is nothing short of invigorating and inspiring.  But sometimes one needs to get out of the city and hit the trails. My friend, Emma, connected with Honey (another friend) and me to run a half-marathon this spring and it seemed to make the most sense to select one that would be in a beautiful destination. We chose the Full Bloom 13.1, an inaugural half-marathon trail race held on Greenbrier Farm in Chesapeake, VA.

We set out from the DC area toward the coast and after fighting traffic for several hours, we were able to reach the location of packet pick-up before it closed. Success! I had been having some foot issues and had only run a few miles in the past week, but from my past training, I knew that a healthy taper (slowing down) of training was a good thing leading into the race.

Race day was perfect, aside from the 5 am wake-up call. It was a misty, 60 degree day that provided protection from the sun that would have otherwise added a lot of heat. The first few miles were a little faster than planned but a steady pace and allowed me to keep a good tempo up after mile 5.

The next several miles continued weaving us through the tree farm and jumping across several ditches (not as gracefully as I pictured in my mind).  I ran with the same three people, changing places every mile or so until we inched closer to the end of the race. My mind was  in a flurry – had I actually managed to run a half-marathon race without getting injured? Yes! I placed 7th in my age group in 2:04.39, a healthy time for a trail race.  This is definitely a wonderful race with excellent prizes. Hey, maybe next year?

“I always loved running…it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” – Jesse Owens

Post-race with Emma and Honey

Relaxing on the farm

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Posted in Health & Fitness

Mar 08

You Don’t Have to Look Far to Find Inspiring Women on International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day, and I cannot let is pass without posting my thoughts. It seems a non-event to some, but it’s a day of reflection to me, and I know for many around the world who are fighting for things as basic as the right to marry whom they want, or to own property.

It’s a time when I think about the incredible women that I know – Elizabeth Latham, my longtime collaborator on building

Debbie Farah (left), founder of Bajalia International, and Nina Streich (right), Executive Director of the Global Peace Film Festival

the Young Professionals for International Cooperation (YPIC) as part of the UN Association of the USA, who helped me to see I was worthy of a role bigger than I imagined; Anita Gale, co-founder of the International Space Settlement Design Competition, who taught me about leadership and crisis management; Nina Streich, Executive Director of the Global Peace Film Festival, who shows me love in action; Julie Colombino, my girl friend who went and founded Rebuild Globally, a nonprofit in Haiti after the disastrous 2010 earthquake, my forever partner in saving the world; Carol Wick, the CEO of Harbor House, an incredible domestic violence shelter and outreach resource center; and Debbie Farah, Founder of Bajalia International, a fair trade company that has given rise to women entrepreneurs in places like Afghanistan, Egypt, and Uganda, and inspires me with her energy and enthusiasm. I look at the list of Top 100 inspiring women from The Guardian and know these women also belong on this list.

Kathleen Skambis, lung cancer survivor, completes her first full marathon

I think also of the survivors I know – women like my mom, Marybeth, raising five children to be strong and believe in themselves in an otherwise impossible situation; Marilyn Wattman-Feldman, who survived multiple battles with breast cancer and goes on strong fighting to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research; and Kathleen Skambis, who beat lung cancer and recently finished her first full marathon. I’m running the Marine Corps Marathon, my first full marathon, in honor of them this October.

Today, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer delivered a video message to recognize women working on the front lines everywhere in the world on International Women’s Day. Ambassador Verveer quoted Secretary Hillary Clinton’s reference to this as the “participation age,” a time when everyone, regardless of gender or other characteristics, is poised to be a contributing and valued member of our world. It is my hope that we will all embrace the participation age and raise our voices, for women and for all those whose voices have not been heard.

We never know how one action, one word, one email, one phone call, one “yes,” can change the course of the world. We are alive because we can do something to make a difference in this world. It is that belief that drives me, that sustains me, that feeds my hopes and quells my fears on the long and lonely nights, encouraging me to rise in the morning strong, willing to fight again. Happy International Women’s Day to the dreamers, the hopers, and the fighters.

“Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  —Eleanor Roosevelt

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Posted in International Women's Day

Feb 20

Billy Goat Trail on a Cool Day

The Billy Goat Trail (Section A) is one of the most popular trails in the DC area.  The hike follows a path between the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and the Potomac River within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park (National Park Service) as part of Great Falls on the Maryland side (there is also a more popular Virginia side).

The park was established as a National Monument in 1961 by President Eisenhower, preserving the neglected remains of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. This had been an operational canal from 1831 to 1924, transporting coal from the Allegheny Mountains to Washington, DC.

It’s not far from the city, but enough distance away and coupled with a number of stunning vistas to make you feel you are a world away. I hiked it for the first time in the fall with a friend visiting from Orlando and enjoyed hiking this one again today with some good pals, including a little one – a very tough 6-year old! I was impressed with her willpower over this three hour hike complete with rock scrambles and a 40 foot ascent up the ridge of a rocky cliff. Here’s a glimpse of the hike through photos. I hope if you are in the DC area, you will check this one out!

 “My days are gone a-wandering.” - Francois Villon

 

 

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Posted in U.S. Hikes

Feb 14

Encounters on the Manatee Highway: A Valentine’s Day Story

When I knew I had to fly back to Florida to facilitate a leadership workshop for 71 young, eager high school students from 30 countries, it only made sense to extend the trip into the weekend and cash in on my voucher to snorkel with the manatees in Crystal River.  One of my favorite animals, I’d always wanted to get in the water and swim with them – both a delightful and scary thought (thoughts of a half-ton animal rolling on top of me).

The Manatee Highway

I made the two hour drive from Orlando on the coldest day of the year – a very crisp 38 degrees. Though I was not looking forward to pulling a wetsuit on in the cold, I was excited about the opportunity to encounter manatees. I had no idea the surprise I was in for! Not long after we pushed off and crossed into King’s Bay, we began to see these large creatures swimming along, just underneath the surface. The high numbers of manatees in these springs are due to the warmth of the water which remain at a stable 72 degrees year-round, leading this area to be known as the “Manatee Highway.”

Three Sisters Spring - Home to the Manatees

 

We entered the Three Sister’s Spring to the “oooo’s” and “ahhhhh’s”of everyone on our boat. Captain Gerald went over the rules of manatee encounters with us.  You are never to approach a manatee from behind, you could scare them (and ummm, they might roll on top of you? Not really.) You are not to reach out and touch the manatees without their permission. How does this large animal that communicates non-verbally grant permission, you ask? It’s simple – you float (why I have a yellow floatee in the pics) flat on the surface with your arms out and wait for them to come to you.  And if you don’t follow the rules, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife official is there to politely remind you! I took a deep breath and eased into the water – which felt warm compared to the cool air. Not even a minute later, a large gray mass bumped me from the side. I found myself

Petting the Manatee

incredulously face-to-face with a manatee which seemed more teenager than adult. I peered into his eye from beside him and saw him looking back at me. I forgot where I was, or that I was not a manatee, but a fragile human being. He urged me to pet him by swimming underneath my arm. I was ecstatic and anxious in the same moment. Within a few minutes, he swam away. I grew in confidence and languished in just observing these gentle creatures that eat 10 percent of their body weight daily in sea grass, as they slept, nursed their young, and observed me right back. A mother and her two babies swam right below me and I felt wonderment.

Almost two hours flew by without me realizing it. As I swam near the boat, a large manatee came up underneath me and began rolling into me, requesting love and affection. I gently scratched his back (this is apparently the best way to “pet” a manatee) and he loved it so much, he called two of his friends over – another female and male. Soon, I was surrounded and totally in awe of this magnificent animal and its graciousness to allow me into its world.

Surrounded by Manatees

Manatee Encounter

The trip was memorable, and I cannot believe I lived in Florida for 25 years and never took the time to do this. It took me moving away to appreciate the real beauty of the place I grew up. I’m unwilling to waste my moments in my new hometown and look forward to sharing about the adventures I have already been on in the Virginia area, and having new adventures. As we headed back to the marina, I looked out at the Indian mound constructed over centuries ago and thought, what magic was in this place.

“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
 - William Shakespeare

Resources: Plan your manatee encounter with Native Vacations.

 

Indian Mound

 

 

 

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Posted in U.S. Travel

Jan 30

The Quest for Perfection

This whole blogging/writing thing is difficult. Yes, finding time can be a challenge; but mostly, I am too hard on myself. I want every post I write to

Destination: Perfection?

be absolutely perfect. I have started at least five posts and not finished them, because I couldn’t find the right words. This has left me discarding my writing, even though it is at the very soul of my make-up. Similarly, I want everything I do at work, every interaction…to be perfect. I have found lately, that I fear the moment of regretting something I decided or said so much, that I don’t say or do anything, in that attempt to achieve the elusive perfection. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, I don’t want to let anyone down, I don’t want others to see my imperfections (which I used to pride myself upon). In spite of all of my “attempts” at perfections (for attempts is all they are); inevitably, people are disappointed, feelings are hurt, and I am found wanting.

I could spend time making excuses for myself, but that doesn’t jive with my “to thine own self be true” policy.  I decided this year that one of my goals was to run everyday. It is a goal I have kept, just barely on some days when I nearly run out of time, so I jog in place for a few minutes…or my legs are too sore; thus, a pool run. My inability to complete this chore as perfectly as possible (no, I am not Kara Goucher) has left me feeling disappointed and now I am alone to contemplate the week ahead and how to execute this resolution with perfection.

Fortuitously, I watched Jane Fonda’s Master Class on OWN today, and she spoke about perfection (video). As she tells her story about how long it took her to relieve herself of the burden of perfection, I think of my own life and how I have always striven toward excellence, and I still believe in excellence as the bedrock of my being. But, in the past few years, the very important mark of excellence was eclipsed by my pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom in the veiled pursuit of perfection. I just kept pouring it, even though that person, those people, that situation, could never be satisfied by that performance, by my sheer determination to continue the job while smiling amidst my pain.

Negativity is like a cloud of dust - clinging to everyone around it

Looking back, I can see the agony under which I labored in some moments was not in vain, for the lesson is a valuable one. Perfection is that bottomless bucket; nothing will ever be enough.  What you are looking to fill outside of you, is already contained within. Some people are miserable and they drag that negativity with them wherever they go (picture “Pig Pen” from the Charlie Brown comic strip, with that cloud of dust following him everywhere, leaving others coughing in his wake). In spite of my best efforts, they may never see my sincere care for them, for the job at hand, or even my zest for life. In fact, my enthusiasm is probably infuriating to them! We all know people like this (you know who I am talking about). While my attempts are commendable, that energy could be better spent elsewhere. I cannot make the situation perfect, sometimes ”fixing it” is not within the realm of reality.  Likewise, not every post I write will be perfect. But there are things that matter more than being perfect, like being a good friend, motivating others, fulfilling my potential (even if I don’t do it perfectly), and ultimately, being happy.

This is a truth I know, and that I’ve always known, but like any quest, you can sometimes wander off the path. Thankfully, even on the quest for perfection you are bound to eventually stumble upon the truth. And if you are wise enough, you just might realize that stumble was the one perfect thing that could have happened. Living your life the best way right from where it is at, is perfection. For you were already made perfect and there is no more, less, or different. You are just you. I am just me.  And there is real satisfaction to be found in that infinite truth.

“We are not meant to be perfect. We are meant to be whole.”  - Jane Fonda

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Posted in Life

Jan 03

Pushing the Limits in 2012

As 2011 wound down (and consequently, 2012 ticked closer), I was thinking not only about the lessons I learned in 2011, but also about my plans in 2012. I cannot help it, but New Year’s Resolutions are a must for me. As I put these resolutions together, it is always a time of reflection as well as an opportunity to shape my goals in the year ahead. It’s January 3rd, and many reading this are already feeling disenfranchised about their resolutions in the New Year (“perhaps I shouldn’t have eaten that big piece of chocolate cake last night when I’m trying to lose 10 pounds?”). I have three words to help: do not fret.  You still have time to make it up. For those still unsure of their resolutions, here’s my two cents. Do something that scares you…at least a little. By that, I don’t mean to walk through a graveyard at midnight or watch a scary movie, but rather, do something that will require something of you. This is what it takes to grow, especially if you feel you are in a lull in an area of your life.

Intuition and Resolutions

We all have intuition, an inner knowing that speaks to us. It tells us not to make that left turn so quickly, or to leave work on time, or to get to the gym. Sometimes we listen, but much of the time, it’s easier to turn on the TV and tune it out. As I listened to this inner voice speak to me, my big resolution in the New Year became clear – the sum of many goals I was striving for, all wrapped into one.

Along the running journey

In 2008, I resolved to become a runner and complete my first 5K. I didn’t go on my first run until February 8th that year (what did I say, plenty of time!) and I haven’t stopped since. In spite of the miles I’ve logged, there has still been something lacking in my training, along with missed goals. Last year, I had two New Year’s running-related resolutions: to complete my first full marathon and to run 1,000 miles in 2011. I achieved neither. For me, this was dismaying but certainly not a total disappointment. I looked at what went wrong and right throughout the year. I ran 369.1 miles in 2011, about 80 less than the 450 miles or so I had done in 2010. I dealt with injury, illness, and a move to a new state in 2011 – all barriers to working out.  I also averaged about two runs a week, not much time in my schedule in the scheme of things. While I applaud myself for sticking with it, there’s room for growth (Runner’s World article on running resolutions).

The Resolution

Albert Einstein said that “the definition of insanity is doing something the same way expecting a different result.” So, here I am in 2012, doing something different, that scares me a little; run every day. That’s right. Not when I feel like it, not when I have the time, not when there’s good weather or I have someone to run with; but every single day. What does this mean? It means I will run a mile slowly on one day, and perhaps 5 moderate miles the next. Some days I may run through sleet, rain or snow, greet the sun, or hear my foot steps into the night fall.

I don’t  know what will happen at the end of this journey, and that’s the exciting part. The scary part is doing it. When I first decided to do this, I thought, “there’s no way.” But as I had the conversation with my inner couch dweller, I realized there was no physical thing keeping me from it. I might have to wake up early, run in the city, or even on a treadmill from time to time to make this goal real. It will be interesting and requires adjustment – figuring out how to make this resolution real every day. But no longer will I have the question in my head, should I run today; the answer this year, every day, will be yes.

On January 1st, I took my first run; 3.2 miles near my home. As I ran, the sky began to open up and clouds rolled in. I watched a large flock of birds make their trip across the darkening sky, and my heart felt full. Within minutes, the drops were dowsing me. Rain at a wedding is supposed to be a sign of good luck, so I choose to see this as the same. Life, anyhow, is an adventure. You never know what to expect. This resolution will be a challenge, but I know that both the joy and pain I feel when running will see me through it, and I look forward to seeing who I get to become because of it. So, what is something big you can take on this year? Something that scares you a bit just thinking about it…now commit to doing it! Even if you think it’s impossible, just take it on, one day at a time.

“A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

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Posted in Health & Fitness, Life

Dec 30

Lessons Learned in 2011

1)     When someone shows you who they are, believe them: A self-committed do-gooder, I cannot help but to believe that people can change. It’s true, they can…but only if they acknowledge it themselves, and commit to the change. I have seen it happen this year in several inspiring cases, and I’ve seen it continue to not happen in the case of many others in my life. At a certain point, you just have to see the person for who they are, accept it, and if need be, let it go. When I saw Oprah mention this in her Lifeclass, I recalled how this kind of truth had yet to lead me astray.

2)     You usually know what to do, if you are willing to reflect on it: “Should I run today?” “I really shouldn’t be lazy and watch a movie tonight when I can get something productive done.” “Should I apologize and try to patch things up with my parent/sibling/friend even though they are in the wrong?” “Is this the year to move to that big, new city, even though I’m scared out of my wits?” We usually know what we need to do to take care of ourselves, advance personal growth and be a good friend/neighbor/colleague/family member. It’s doing it in the moment that can be the biggest challenge. If we can take a moment to reflect and consult our inner “Jiminy Cricket.” Beyond the inside banter and deafening opinions of others, the answer is always there; silently waiting for you to listen.

3)     Go to the source. Whether you need advice on what to do on an important issue in your life, require guidance on a medical treatment, or just need accurate information…go to the source – the experts, the professionals – people who have initials after their name and a proven track record, if possible. If I’d relied on the advice of my friends at the time in a specific conundrum, I would have endured greater struggle, and certainly wouldn’t have found the right information I needed. Instead, I followed my gut and found my way to the source. Sometimes when we start to question something, we ask our friends or family haphazardly and they are all too willing to share their opinion. That’s not the problem; it’s good that everyone has an opinion. The trouble starts when we take what they say as “fact.” Facts are indisputable and evidence-based, not flagrant opinions. So the lesson is, if you have health symptoms and notice it enough that it bothers you, you are not a hypochondriac. Go see a doctor, then feel free to tell your friend.

4)     Ask for what you want. I have found in my years of searching, listening, observing…that most complaints stem from an unspoken desire or request. We’ve been taught that it’s bad to want, but unfulfilled desire mostly leads to suffering. Heck, half the time, we don’t even want what we think we want, we just need to communicate it to someone. Here’s a great article that discusses how to develop your “want muscle” (hint: it starts with speaking). It’s taken a long time for me to get here, but if I want my boyfriend to communicate with me more frequently, I just ask him instead of spending my time trying to send cosmic waves to his brain, hoping he will magically sense the request and change his behavior. My odds of success are much higher.

5)     Pride is never worth it. It may not be a secret that I’m a Jane Austen fan, and no classic has had more widespread success than her “Pride & Prejudice” – perhaps because so many people can identify with it. We refuse to forgive, or we say that we forgive but we refuse to forget, not realizing that can be even worse, because we are now under the delusion that we have forgiven that person and can cross it off our list while silently resenting that person who may have caused us hurt. We toss around heavy words and blame with great satisfaction on our lips – believing wholly we are right. Guess what; you can be right and alone, or you can be wrong and happy. I choose happy…and I’m proud of it.

6)     Take care of you. This sounds cliché, I know, but when I say “take care of you,” I don’t just mean in the areas of clothing, food, shelter, exercise, health, but in the ways we are not taught. There is a philosophy I share with one of my closest friends, Shawn, which we entitled “self-preservation.” In short, if someone is constantly tearing you down, judging you, causing you to question your gut (true gut, not prideful gut) feelings, then you may need to consider that your time with that person has lived out its purpose and you can let it go. This is hopefully, of course, after you have communicated your feelings to them and providing adequate opportunity for behavior change. If the offenses continue again and again, consider that it has nothing to do with you, but there is simple incompatibility – as in, they are not compatible in the life you are committed to leading. By eliminating the negativity in your life, you instantly increase your happiness and peace of mind. There’s a big difference between friends/family who care for you and give helpful (albeit, sometimes unwelcome) advice, and a peanut gallery. Life is hard enough as it is, without having hecklers to jeer your every move. If you are having trouble figuring out whether or not to take this kind of action, I know it’s tough…imagine what your life might be like without that person. If you feel lighter just thinking about it, you have your answer, and then do what you have to do to take care of you.

7) Now is the time. Ever wanted to climb a mountain? Train for a half-marathon? Start cycling? Stop smoking? Learn a new language? Travel to China? Move to a new city? Leave an unhappy relationship (more bad than good, and beyond fixing, as in been-to-counseling-and-back)? Are you also trying to figure out the best time to do it? The answer is now. A new year is upon us, the glorious 2012. There is no time like the present to conquer that fear, climb that mountain, take on something that scares up the courage deep inside of you.

“Life is not a dress rehearsal. Stop practicing what you are going to do and just go do it. In one bold stroke you can transform today.”  - Marilyn Grey


 Happy New Year!

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Posted in Life

Nov 22

Fall Colors in the Roaring Plains

Crossing the soggy part of Dolly Sods

Crossing the soggy part of Dolly Sods

I have been told that this has been a short autumn; falling even as the winds which seemed to have just passed over them with a paint of color, are as easily swept away entirely. Short as it may be, as I haul out my winter coats and woolen scarves and mittens, I am nonetheless appreciative of the

colors which I could not have seen in a Florida autumn where the heat would have been clinging to the days of October. So, with this recollection of a fall well spent, I dwell on the Roaring Plans hike in West Virginia, where I backpacked this September.

It was my first outing with this particular hiking group and I had started to feel poorly. But having committed to driving three other women out to the trailhead, I felt obligated and that I would shake the ill feeling. We had a late start, having entered the area just around midnight – enough to see the cool fog rolling over our headlights. I was exhausted after a long week of work and was glad when they decided we would set camp there that night, even though it meant two campsites. I chose to share a tent with a lovely woman named Patricia, so there would be less tear down in the AM.

We had a later morning start, as everyone was groggy. We packed everything up and climbed up for about 90 minutes to the

The mountain view from our Roaring Plains campsite

spruce den where we set camp, a truly spectacular gem in the Dolly Sods. There was quite a bit of slogging through the muck as we made our way through narrow pathways in the plains. After constructing our home for the evening with our respective tents, we gathered to prepare for a dayhike. I thought our hike would only be five miles, as it was nearly 2 pm by the time we set out from camp…but we ended up hiking closer to 8 miles that day. Along the way, we were lost a couple of times, and crawling up the side of the mountain even, to find a summit. In spite of the wandering about, poorly marked trails and my dwindling condition, it was nothing short of memorable. That night however, as I fell into a dreamless sleep, I awoke unable to breathe. My nasal passages were completely blocked. I decided I

Resting for a break along the Roaring Plains

would hike down as soon as it hit daylight and see if I could either wait by the car, or if

A sea of red along the hike

Viewing a sea of red along the hike

possible to switch my passenger load to another vehicle, leave entirely to try to find a doctor on a Sunday. I lucked out and another hiker agree to drive the three women back to the DC area and I was able to get to the minute clinic just in time to be diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotics.

While it took another two weeks to recover from the infection, I still have not recovered from the sight of the burnt siennas and lemony hues dotting the mountainside, or the sea of red leaves lighting the sky afire across a lone mountain plain. This autumn in the Roaring Plains will continue to warm my thoughts this winter.

“We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character”
- Henry David Thoreau

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Posted in U.S. Hikes

Oct 31

Snowfall Beyond Sperryville: A Day on Old Rag Mountain

After a failed weekend to get outdoors and enjoy the fall weather, I was eager to  make it up with a Saturday on Old Rag – the DC area’s most popular

Snowfall beyond Sperryville

hike with beautiful vistas and an exhilarating rock scramble to the top; considered to be the “must” for any local hiker to bag. As the weather forecast came into focus toward the end of the week, it appeared rain and snow were eminent. In the 24 hours before the hike, RSVPs began falling away from the list. Out of the ten committed to go, five in all showed up Saturday morning (as it turns out, the sixth person was en route to meet us at the trail head and swerved off the icy roads into a ditch – she is fine and has reported the kindness shewn by local authorities).

The rain began to change as we drove away from DC into the more rural areas of Virginia; the droplets of water began to clump and then fall like soft rose petals hitting the windshield and disappearing gradually away. I looked out the window, filled with awe and wonder at the falling snow. The road began to ice and we slowed down. Within 20 minutes we were at the Shenandoah National Park lot  and hauling our packs out of the vehicles. With snow falling around us, we made our way up the trail marked with cornflower blue blazes. Winding up the mountain on switchbacks against a sea of white, dotted with red, orange and yellow leaves; we could imagine ourselves just as easily drifting along across a deep blue sea with cresting white, foamy waves. But that was another season, a long ago summer that had ended only weeks ago, and now the snow pulled us into its mesmerizing blanket of white.

I hung at the back as usual, but toward the upper ridge of the hike I led the group through the snowy path with my slow but steady hiking gait.  The snow at our feet grew deeper as we approached the rock scramble near the summit and the wind blew across the overlook, snow spraying into our eyes and the crevices of our packs. We had met several groups of hikers on their way back stating the rock scramble was too dangerous to attempt. We decided to enter the beginning of the scramble, just to see how far we could get safely. We made it about 100 yards before turning back, after slipping and sliding down icy rock faces, laughing and falling into the snow, before heading back down the mountain.

An educated hiker knows to listen to their body, their inner intuition; and that it is always wiser to turn back, even if you are just shy of summiting, if it means you will be alive to tell the tale of your journey. That day, though we could see the icy top of Old Rag Mountain we did not summit it; but we left with something much more…a walk through a wintry wonderland of the unlikely melding of ice and autumn, a beautiful picture that would remain in our hearts forever.

Thank you to my hiking friends: Bill, John and Rachel, for the photos!

“…by bringing myself over the edge and back, I discovered a passion to live my days fully, a conviction that will sustain me like sweet water on the periodically barren plain of our short lives.”
– Jonathan Waterman

 

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