Sierra Club hikes the Potomac

Yeeker, yikers! Dinosaurs in Great Falls National Park? Well, doesn't it look like one? Emerging from the tree on the left with its mouth ajar and tongue extended?  Ready to eat your lunch! Actually it's the shadow of the tree seen below on a trail yesterday/Photo by Patricia Leslie

This is the real "dinosaur" whose branches are shadowed in the first picture above, scenery from yesterday's walk in the park at Great Falls/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A-hiking we will go, a-hiking we will go!  Hi, ho, the derry-o, a hiking we did go with the Sierra Club yesterday at Great Falls National Park/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Attention, Dog: Where is your common courtesy? One-lane or single-file is necessary at this stretch in Great Falls National Park where dogs must give way to oncoming traffic, too/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These roots along a trail at Great Falls National Park are worse than the ones you see growing on human heads, and these cause stumbles. Look like petrified snakes to me. That's the Potomac River out there/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Now this is what I call natural support, found at Great Falls National Park/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Sierra Club hike leader John McShane got pricked by this varmint pretending to be a plant at Great Falls National Park.  "Yowee," he kind of screeched when he touched it. (Why did he touch it? To show us not to touch it?) The name of the plant was something like, Grizzly Needles. Speaking of ground (and tree) nuisances, abundant poison ivy and other invasive species of plants were in full "bloom," perhaps brought over from our friends across the Atlantic. Thanks, friends from across the Atlantic! Please take these back home.  Mr. McShane said they cost parks big bucks/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Stendahl's The Red and The Black which was published almost 200 years ago (1830) may be the reasons these trees are named "Red Oak" on the left, and "Black Oak" on the right, Mr. McShane said, identified by their different barks which are quite similar but after a brief study, even a novice like me could see differences. I hope Great Falls National Park is going to host a big bicentennial birthday bash for The Red and the Black which, after all, stand not too far from the intersection we passed that in 1814 James and Dolley Madison crossed when they fled the British advancing on Washington. The Madisons took the high road, and the British (they likely brought over some of those nasty invasive plants), the low road/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These rocks in Great Falls National Park are, no doubt, covered by water from time to time, but yesterday, they were covered by hundreds of human feet, clobbered by the rocks/Photo by Patricia Leslie

I guess the man is too old to know how to read. The sign says "Danger Boat launching, swimming, WADING, and alcoholic beverages PROHIBITED Treacherous waterfall downstream."  Several people have died at the park, misled by the calm surface which hides "alligators" underneath to carry visitors away/Photo by Patricia Leslie

We did have lots of fun, we did have lots of fun, hi-ho, the derry-o, we did have lots of fun at Great Falls National Park.  Thanks, John and Larry!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Beautiful scenery from an overlook at Great Falls National Park. Absent (glory be!): boaters, kayakers, canoers, and swimmers/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another view from the overlook which looks towards the District of Columbia/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood, perfect for kicking off Memorial Day weekend with a leisurely four-mile Sierra Club hike (which actually turned out to be 3.5 miles or 3.7 miles, depending upon whose web counter was doing the talking or rather, the measuring). A group of 21 mostly strangers met Saturday at the crowded Great Falls National Park  to relish the sights and sounds of the falls and the trail, and be out in the woods.  Nature, you know, and the glory of all its benefits, recounted by hike leader John McShane reading from the writings of the Club's founder, John Muir.  (At the rear of the pack, Larry Broadwell was "the sweeper," to keep us "in line." Both leaders, outstanding in their roles. Applause.) It was that kind of a beautiful day. Everybody, out and about, including members of Rolling Thunder at the park. The hike was described in the posting as "easy to moderate" but when you're talking and admiring the scenery, my, how time does fly.  No snakes! But a (likely) volunteer was spotted, picking up small bits of litter along the trail. We were lucky that Mr. McShane knew so much about trees, snakes, leaves, and roots!  Not only did we get a walk, but we got welcome lessons in nature.  It was a crowded park, yes, but maybe, it's always like that. It took me at least 20 minutes (someone else said, 35) to wait in the car to make it through the gate (cost is $15/carload unless you have a senior pass).  When the hike ended two hours later and I exited the park, I counted 108 drivers waiting to get through the gate. (Two-lane road; no room for expansion.  Save the trees!)   Sierra Club hikes are highly recommended.  You don't have to be a Sierra Club member to participate ($2/person is requested to hike but is not mandatory, and no one takes a listing of who pays and who doesn't). But, if you are interested in joining, it's only $15 for new members to join the Sierra Club's Great Falls Group which you may do here and go here for a list of upcoming area outings which vary in length and degree of difficulty. Benefits, galore! patricialesli@gmail.com

Join us for morning hike along the Potomac River including stops at the spectacular overlooks and a discussion of some of the common trees in the area. DISTANCE--approximately 4 miles; PACE--easy to moderate; SURFACE--mostly flat, natural trails. Some sections of the trail are very muddy so wear sturdy boots. We will meet In the open area directly below the visitors center at 9:45AM to sign waiver. We will leave at 10AM sharp and return at 12 Noon. Facilities: there are restrooms in the visitor's center.Parking: there is plenty of parking at the visitors center. Fee: $15/car park entrance fee (unless someone in the car has a National Parks Pass). SCPRO appreciates a donation of $2 per person to support our many volunteer-led activities and leader training. You will be able join the hike even if youre unable to donate. You can become a Sierra Club member by clicking join on the Virginia Sierra Club website: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia Level: Moderate
Cost: There is a $15/car park entrance fee (unless someone in the car has a National Parks Pass). SCPRO appreciates a donation of $2 per person to support our many volunteer-led activities and leader training. You will be able join the hike even if youre unable to donate. You can become a Sierra Club member by clicking join on the Virginia Sierra Club website: http://www.sierraclub.org/virginia