Ice Flow (Potomac River)

Washington Monument (Boonesboro)

Along with much of the country, 2018 began with an arctic blast of cold weather. Around here, we had temperatures below freezing for two weeks with creeks, streams, and ponds freezing over. Last weekend I visited the Washington Monument near Boonesboro along the Appalachian Trail during one of the coldest days. We are talking the type of cold when nostrils stick when breathing during the middle of the day. I took a short hike north along the Appalachian Trail as well, after enjoying the beautiful view from the top of the monument.

Urban Wilderness Exploration

Living within the bee hive of the Washington DC Metropolitan area can make it difficult to feel connected to the natural world. Sometimes I feel like experiencing wilderness is like a drug, and I need to get a fix from time to time. These days, I have to take it in small diluted doses. One place I've been able to experience some wilderness is along creeks. I've gone on a couple of urban wilderness hikes in the last couple weeks, hiking along a couple different creeks where there are no trails, and places where most probably choose not to go. They are little gems however, and one can almost get a feel for the area before the Industrial Age. Of course there are plenty of modern day artifacts left abandoned in the woods, but for the most part, they appear almost pristine...