Duncannon, PA (USA)

[woke up in the middle of the night because of a LOUD siren (!) - fell back to sleep, luckily - up early (0600) - sunny, cold (teens F). Drove across the river, parked on PA-147 and hiked up (slippery) Peters Mountain. Was ready for ice, wind and cold - but nothing could prepare me for the depth of the snow! Sometimes, i was on the south/east side of the ridge and almost everything was melted. Most of the time, however, I was on the other side - deeper drifts... I was stepping in 4-6 inches for much of the morning - but occasionally I found myself knee deep (or worse, waist deep). Every step was treacherous! There were no other footprints and I actually lost the trail several times (blazes pained on rocks under the snow). My beard was nearly frozen solid and I could feel the needles and tingling sensations in all my extremities, despite many layers of clothing. When I'd finished the first half of the hike, I'd learned that stepping through that much snow is exhausting. All of it was worth the effort, though, because the views were amazing! Still, I took advantage of the first road I encountered and hiked back to my car on pavement (PA-225, PA-325, US-322). Completed 14 miles! By then, it was around 1 PM. Got a quick bite to eat at Burger King in Duncannon (1315) before scouting out trailheads to the east (all the way to I-81). Stayed the night at the hostel again - this time, I encountered a large group of AT hikers and hung out with them at the pub. It turned out I was the only fool who actually went hiking today... Ha! Feel good about that and will try again in the morning. AT Today = 6.53 miles / G.T. = 356.59 miles.]

Duncannon, PA (USA)

[drove to work - mailed book to Eileen (1145) - lunch with James L. - left work early (1400) - got gas in Mechanicsburg (PA - 1600) - What a difference three hours of driving (away from work) can do for the mood! Arrived in Duncannon around 1630 and scouted out the trailheads on both sides of the river. The sun was setting by the time I got started but I still managed to squeeze in 4 miles (some in the dark), mostly in town (easy). Lots of ice - Susquehanna River looked like Arctic environment. Felt good to cross it! After I got done, I had another great dinner and enjoyed the company of the locals at The Doyle (spending the night there again). It may be frigid on the trail, but the freedom I'm feeling is keeping me warm! AT Today = 2.00 miles / Grand Total AT = 350.06!]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[after work, rode Metro to Pentagon and then took a bus down Columbia Pike into Arlington - dinner with Joey and Stephanie at Maruko Japanese Restaurant (sushi, salad, Asahi beer) - bus back to Pentagon - home late (2230)]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[after work, went to Chevy's for drinks & dinner with Stephanie - home late (2200)]

Merifield, VA (USA)

[up early - got breakfast in the lobby - spent some time at the hotel taking care of more work/bills - ate lunch in room and then cleaned up - nice and sunny - Erin wanted to play tennis with a friend and we drove over to meet her at the Lee District Rec Center - not there - drove Mollie to CCD at St. Bernadette's (cancelled) - drove back to Lee District Rec Center and waited for Erin's friend to show up - then Mollie, Brenna and I went to Mount Vernon (thinking it would be free on Washington's Birthday - it wasn't) - walked around and explored the gift shop outside the grounds - then drove up to Jones Point and walked around under the Wilson Bridge - finished up and drove back to Alexandria - shopping with the kids at Giant - then dropped them off for the evening (1700) - back to the house, took care of bills and other paperwork]

Vienna, VA (USA)

[up early - snow had started already - ate breakfast in lobby - while waiting for the kids to wake up, surfed the web and watched some TV - drove out to get car serviced at Jiffy Lube in Vienna (1000) - then shopped for dinner groceries at nearby Giant - when I came out, the snow was really coming down! - had lots of trouble getting home (two near misses with ice and useless brakes) - went swimming in the hotel (alone) at 1400 - back in the room, figuring we were trapped for good, watched more TV & movies - couldn't go to Mass, unfortunately - spent the evening cooking in the room (Newman's Own sweet & sour chicken, broccoli and rice) - had great fun with the kids - watched movies at night and stayed up late (2330)]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[had to drive to Chantilly for day two of the Proposal Writing Course - got there early and worked for several hours before class started - finished around 1430 - immediately drove back to Merifield to check into the Homewood Suites again (1600) - Nicky dropped kids off at 1700 (first time they were on time...) - after a bit of time for them to get settled, we walked next door to eat dinner at the Silver Diner (1830) - spent the rest of the evening watching movies and (kids) doing homework in the room - bed late (2345)]

Chantilly, VA (USA)

[drove to Chantilly to attend a Proposal Writing Course - arrived early worked for a few hours - the class was very useful and informative and food was included - afterwards, stayed for nearly five more hours to finish up projects I'd missed during the day - longest work day I've done in a very long time: 13 hours - drove home in more wintry weather with phone calls on the way - home very late (2330) - tired...]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[snowing - trapped in apartment - teleworked all day (using my mobile hot spot - worked well) - around 1700 (once roads had cleared up), drove over to Arlington to pick up Stephanie - we had dinner near her house (Bangkok 54 Restaurant - Thai: mmmmmmm) - home around 2200 - lots of snow/ice to contend with this evening but I was glad to have my car ready for the next day...]

Waynesboro, VA (USA)

Up early and on trail at 0700. Had hoped to get some miles in along Blue Ridge Parkway or Skyline Drive but both were closed for the weather. Made the best of things and hiked SOBO from US-250 (where they cross). Saw the sun rising above peaks in the distance and disturbed a sleepy owl. I made good time in the snow and crossed several streams that were frozen completely solid - even walked on water! It wasn't windy today, fortunately. Made it all the way to the Paul C. Wolfe Shelter. It was only then that I realized how cold it was: my iPhone shut off when I took a picture and wouldn't turn on again - got a warning about temperature. It had been about 10 degrees F when I left the car but must have gotten colder as I walked. Basically, everything that could freeze on me, including sweat running down the inside of my pants, turned to ice. My beard felt funny too, but I was glad I had it for insulation. Sadly, got no additional photos... Hurried back to my starting point and followed Skyline Drive (across I-64) until I reached the Shenandoah National Park entrance. Right about then, the forecasted winter storm arrived in Waynesboro and I spent the rest of the hike in swirling snow. Happy to get back in my car... It took about 30 minutes for the tingling in my extremities to stop. Headed back to DC (via US-29, I-66 and I-495) with 12 miles of hiking under my belt - what a good weekend! Total AT today = 6.01 miles / G.T. = 348.06 miles.

Lexington, VA (USA)

Woke up at the hostel and found I was snowed in this morning. As a result, I got a late start (after a good breakfast, though!). Made my way from Oronoco back to Buena Vista (via US-60) and used US-501 to get to the AT trailhead again. Started SOBO today with the coldest temps I've EVER hiked in (somewhere between 4 and 10 degrees F). Probably worse, though: the windchill was almost unbearable. Luckily, I was dressed (barely) warm enough and the sun kept warming things up throughout... the day! Crossed James River on a very long foot bridge and hiked to the Matt's Creek Shelter. Backtracked to my car and the continued on the north side of the river to Johns Hollow Shelter. Trail was muddy, slippery with snow and ice and deserted (saw no one all day until I got back to my car). Did see lots of animal tracks and a huge heron by one of the creeks. Wrapped up my frigid adventure and then drove south and west (via US-501, VA-122 and VA-643) to VA-43 and Blue Ridge Parkway, hoping to do some more hiking. Saw beautiful views of the Peaks of Otter. Unfortunately, the BRP was closed because of the weather. Too bad... Decided to reposition again (for the morning). Drove to Buchanan and got on I-81. Stopped at the Devil's Backbone Outpost Brewery in Lexington and sampled eight of the beers (1645). Then got gas at the nearby Lee Hi Travel Plaza (1745). Continued north until I got to Staunton and switched to I-64. Stopped for the night at Waynesboro (Colony Motel - 1945). Took care of internet stuff and read before bed. Despite only getting 8 miles on the trail today, I feel pretty good that I was able to weather elements like these. Will try to hike the southern end of Shenandoah National Park tomorrow... Total today on AT = 3.92 / Overall AT Total = 342.05

Oronoco, VA (USA)

Got away from DC for a hike again (finally)! This time - because of snow to the north - I decided to stay in Virginia. After getting on I-66 and heading west (got gas in Haymarket at 0830) and drove to I-81. Continued south to Lexington and then turned east on US-60. This was the first time I'd hiked in this area and I was pleasantly surprised there was no snow on the ground! Headed SOBO and enjoyed the brisk (~25 degrees F) weather - the terrain was not too difficult: just some mud and several crossings of Brown Mountain Creek as I hiked around the Lynchburg Reservoir. Saw ...three groups of hikers: one family, with small kids, was actually camping (!!!); two guys stopped for the night at the shelter (despite predicted 0 F temps); and two women told me about their nearby hiker lodge (Three Springs Hostel). I put in 14 miles overall and then drove up Mount Pleasant to scout out tomorrow's hike. It was sooooo COLD (snowing) up there but there were people camping! I talked to them, trying to understand what makes them tick... Then drove back down to the hostel and checked in, just as the snow storm hit. Snug and warm inside while snow and wind raged outside all night. Enjoyed a delicious home-cooked meal (by Oma and Marsha), watched some British comedy and had a nice talk with the other hikers. Also read my book before going to bed early... 6.81 AT miles today / Grand Total = 338.13

Arlington, VA (USA)

[work - at 1700, Metro (alone) to Chevy's at Pentagon City - happy hour with Stephanie and Joey (Sabrina joined later) - rode with Sabrina and Joey to Reagan Airport to pick up Erik - Sabrina dropped them off at Joey's house on Columbia Pike - then she took me to Braddock Road Metro Station - home around 2100 - did laundry]

Washington, DC (USA)

[work - at 1630, rode to Gallery Place Metro Station and met up with YAP members at Clyde's for drinks (Tasha, Monica, Jim Y.) and met Sabrina's mystery lawyer friend (by accident) - when the event ended, walked with group down the street towards Archives Metro Station - had drinks and snacks at Penn Social until round 2030 - took Metro home (arrived around 2130)]

Washington, DC (USA)

[work - at 1700, rode with Stephanie to Gallery Place Metro Station - met up with our Alumni group (Adam, Joe R., Joe B., Sabrina, Kelly, Joey, Nouri, Sean G., Levi) at Bar Louie - it was great and I made a well-received toast (to the end of our company and how we would all be alumni after our merger is completed at the end of the month) - stayed for several hours, leaving around 2100 - home very late]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[worked a long day - met up with Stephanie and took Metro to Pentagon City - drank margaritas and beer and ate fish tacos at Chevy's - had a good time talking and relaxing before heading home - rainy and cold - got a call from a college friend (Kevin) and chatted with him for awhile - read my book before bed...]

Burke, VA (USA)

[visitation with kids - picked up breakfast for them at Giant - they slept in until around 1030 (I read my new book "Sapiens" while I waited) - then they did some studying - we also watched movies at at the apartment until lunch time (made by Dad!) - when we finally went outside (1330), we found it was a beautiful day! - took Mollie to CCD (1345) and then took the twins to Pohick Regional Library - went back to St. Bernadette and walked down to the Accotink Stream Cross Country Trail and hiked about 2 miles - picked Mollie up at 1500 - then drove back to the library - helped Mollie with her homework and took care of some other internet business - around 1600, drove all the kids over to Burke Lake, where we walked on the trail for around an hour (about 3 miles) - drove them back to my apartment to get their stuff and then took them home - encountered Nicky... - watched some TV and read my book before bed]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[was supposed to see the kids last night, but Nicky wasn't in the mood to let me see them - woke up early and took care of some emails, bills - eventually (0845), went to the post office to pick up my new book (finally!) - then drove to the twins' high school to see their science fair - found out that I couldn't go in until 1030, so waited in the parking lot and had loooong conversation with Nicky - saved by a text from Erin to come in and meet her - was very impressed by the kids' knowledge of their subject matter (Brenna: oxidation of hydrogen peroxide; Erin: soy beans and salinity - finished up with them around 1130 and then went to pick up Mollie - had lunch with her at McDonalds and then went back to my apartment to wait for them to arrive - watched TV until Nicky dropped off Erin and Brenna - it was great to see them again! - the twins started working on homework while Mollie and I drove over to an area near the Clarendon Metro Station (Arlington) I expected to find an Eastern Mountain Sports store (I had Carolyn's gift card) - made some wrong turns when I used I-395, George Washington Parkway, Spot Run Parkway and Lee Highway - eventually located the place where the store was supposed to be (according to the Web) - found free parking on the street (meter broken?) - then walked to the purported location - store had gone out of business, though! - after being stymied, drove back to Alexandria - got gas at 1500 - Mollie and I parked at the trailhead for Huntley Meadows and hiked in for about 2-3 miles - it was a nice day and we went off trail a bit - saw some nice burned out areas where the birds were clustered - finished up around 1600 and then picked up my drycleaning - headed back to apartment and gathered up all the kids so we could go to church - Erin and Brenna had a giant fight about a pair of shoes - Nicky met us at St. Lawrence and we sorted out the shoe issue before Mass (1700) - finished up around 1800 and we ate dinner at Magic Wok (next door) - great food and we didn't have any leftovers - dropped the twins off for a babysitting gig and then took Mollie back to the apartment - we watched "Edge of Tomorrow" and "Ironman 3" on TV for several hours before I went back to get the kids (2345) - got them home and they all set up for a sleepover at the apartment (fun!)]

Washington, DC (USA)

[worked late and then took Metro to Penn Quarter - met up with Drew, Kaitlin, Lizzie and Adam at Penn Social - had great time at the late happy hour: playing cornhole, listening to the good DJ and talking - left for home around 2200 - at my apartment around 2300 - fell right to sleep...]

Washington, DC (USA)

[worked late - met up with Stephanie, Dave H. and Dave Z. - the latter Dave drove us to Navy Yard (the long way) - met up with the rest of their contract team at the Bluejacket for drinks and apetizers (Dave's BDay party) - had a really good time until around 2000 - Dave Z. drove me to the Pentagon City Metro station (with Joey and Stephanie) and I caught the Metro home from there]

College Visit Trip - Day 4

[got up early and took care of several items from work (more than two hours) - got breakfast with kids and packed up the car - checked out of the hotel (0900) and drove over to the UNC campus - Brenna had made a reservation for an admissions info session and tour (I realized only then that it was scheduled for 1515) - decided to crash an earlier session... - we had to find the right campus building and (after driving around for a long time looking for the right parking lot) finally found a parking meter on Franklin - trying to locate the right building, we got some help from several nice students - eventually located the right building (1030) and enjoyed the Tar Heel pitch for about an hour - fed the meter again - then we walked round campus with a sophomore from Fredericksburg - the girls really liked the whole UNC experience - and the rainy weather held off until after we were done walking around - back at car around 1230 - left town on NC-86 and drove to I-40 - drove west until we intercepted I-85 - on our way north with improving weather - probably could have driven a better (more direct) way - stopped at the VA Welcome Center for a telcon (1400 - about 20 minutes) and then continued north to La Crosse (VA) - got gas ($1.86 per gallon!!!!!) and then picked up lunch for the kids at Sonic (1430) - everyone was pretty happy with that selection - drove north until we got on I-95 - made really good time all the way to Richmond and then encountered some traffic - all told, though, we made good time to Alexandria - dropped kids off around 1730 - what a great weekend! - back at the apartment, did laundry and got ready for work]

College Visit Trip - Day 3

[up around 0700 (nice to sleep in) - ate breakfast early with Mollie while Erin and Brenna got ready - eventually (1000), we drove north on US-15 to I-40 - drove east to Raleigh and got off the interstate near I-440, then surface streets to the NC State campus - located the Undergraduate Admissions Office and then parked on Hillsborough Street - we walked into North Campus and explored a lot (highlight was taking the Free Expression tunnel to the Central Campus) - eventually, found the student union - took lots of pictures (art, etc.) - walked back to the car after about an hour - got snacks at Insomnia Cookies (1215) - QOTD = "I'd go to NC State just for the cookies!" (Brenna) - we then drove east to the Centenial Campus and visited the Hunt Library (saw an automated book sorter and the kids ate up the scenes of student life) - kids were impressed by the school, I think... - we then drove back towards I-440 and got lunch at Burger King (1315) - after a short trip on the Interstate, we ended up using US-70 to drive to Durham - went right through town and discovered the East Campus of Duke - walked around for a bit (found student union, library, etc.) and got some information about the school - we drove south towards the West Campus of Duke - it turned out to be an amazing place! - we parked around 1445 and walked around for awhile (book store, quads, etc.) - kids really impressed (and so was I!) - we even walked around the sports complexes and found a tent city near the basketball courts - located the Undergraduate Admissions Office and got a bit more info before heading out of town (1600) on Chapel Hill Road until we found US-15 again - north of I-40, found a Freddy's Steakburgers restaurant and I got an early dinner while the kids had frozen custard (1630) - we then picked up Super Bowl snacks at the nearby Kroger(1715) - in a VERY good mood - continued south on US-15 until we got back to our hotel in Chapel Hill - watched movies and then the entire Super Bowl (including Katy Perry halftime show) - Patriots Won! - finished by 2230 - then bed]