Urban Hiking-DC 8/7

[grouseking]

I've been in Virginia for almost a month now, and no hikes so far. There is just too much darn pavement for my liking. But on the other hand, I was really itching to do something. After awhile, I searched on google for some hikes in and around Washington DC, and found a couple hits...Roosevelt Island, and a Potomac River trail. The latter is a 10 mile trek along the Potomac. I wanted to do that one, but didn't have anyone to pick me up. So, I fell back on Roosevelt Island, which is on the Potomac and technically in Washington DC. After that, I took a trip to Arlington Cemetery and climbed up the hill for some views, and touristy type things.

The trip to the island was strange for me. I took the metro into town. If you are familiar with that area, I got off at the Rosslyn stop in Arlington, and walked a few blocks, above I 66 and turned right onto a bike/running trail called the Mont Vernon trail, and walked to the island.

Views are definitely different in an urban hike, but I liked the Arlington skyline very much.


Roosevelt Island is a conserved piece of land dedicated to Teddy R. since he was such an advocate for conservation. I was fiarly impressed with the trails around the island. The tree canopy was tall, and you almost forgot that you were in the city. Almost....Regan Airport couldn't have been 2 miles away.

Cool canopy


Literally a walk in the park


Teddy R


After some walking, I took a detour off to a more narrow side trail. That wasn't the best of ideas, since there was poison ivy everywhere, and I heard some sort of snake rattling in the bushes! I'm not used to biting/venomous snakes at my feet.

After some walking, and maneuvering of blowdowns, I ended up underneath
I-66 with a nice view of Arlington.


I walked a bit longer and got back on the main path, and came across a nice tidal marsh that made up part of the island.


Pathway




This part of the trail was about a mile long, which was a nice surprise for such a small island. After completing the trail, there was a branching trail over to the other side of the river, looking at Georgetown and vicinity.

Watergate!


Georgetown




The super ritzy Georgetown waterfront


Cont. in a minute

 

[grouseking]

Paaat' two-Arlington Cemetery

With the afternoon still young, I headed over to Arlington Cemetery to check things out. I immediately walked up the steep roads to the top of the hill near a place called the Arlington House (where Robert E Lee resided) and was rewarded to beautiful views across the Potomac into DC.





My fav view pic






Tomb of the unknown soldier (s)


Beautiful cemetery, but so depressing at the same time








Still, it was a great day to be out. It was the first time we had a true "New England-like" summer day with temps in the low 80s and very low humidity. Too bad its back today, and it will be 95-100 tomorrow and Monday.

Hope you enjoyed my little hike into the urban areas. Soon I will do some real hikes in the mountains, or at least in the country!

grouseking

 

[akafuzzjones]

You gotta hike what's near by. I had some dirtbag tell me that I'm not a real hiker since all I hike are the "whimpy" mountains in New England. Hey, they are in my backyard so that's what I hike. He said to be a real hiker you have to be climbing the 12K - 14K peaks out West. The only time I've been out there I hiked up from the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon on Friday (95+ in the shade), drove to Flagstaff that night, then knocked off Arizona's highest peak (12K+ Humphreys) on Saturday (full winter gear - still snow capped in April with 50+ mile an hour winds). What I told him was sure, you climb to 14K but you start at 10K or 11K so you only hike about 3K in gain and we went from 2K up to 8K one day then from 8K up to over 12K the next day (before people are offended I know the elevation has an impact but still).

Anyway, I am in Washington this weekend with my kids and did the National Mall Traverse - I was looking for more but that tired them out.

 

[1HappyHiker]

Kudos to you Phil for getting out there and making the most of what’s available to you.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[TrishandAlex]

What a great narrative and series of pictures! Thanks for the hiking tour through that part of the country. Looking forward to hearing more.

 

[grouseking]

Thanks everyone! When this torrid weather cools off, maybe I can get a few other more standard hikes under my belt. It is just too hot right now...we hit 97 degrees the last two days and its already 90 today.

grouseking

 

[Tom Rankin]

if you live in NYC, the Brooklyn Bridge / Brooklyn Promenade is a great hike!

Right Papa Bear?

Not to mention the VFTT Human Logo was created there!

 

[Jimmy Legs and Little D]

And, as I recall from living there, it's freakin' humid now, too -- right?

Barkingcat
Do you remember the phrase Hazy, Hot and Humid when a good old Bermuda high would breeze on in during the summer? It definitely is extremely uncomfortable today; and part of the problem is we haven't had any days in the 90's since mid-April so we're not used to it.

Grouseking,
A very fine report and photos on our Nation's capital. In particular the moving photos of Arlington Cemetery.

Little D