Woodbridge, VA (USA)

[woke up around 0600 and watched TV - later, I took the dogs for a walk while Kelly made breakfast - we watched movies for a while - around 1000, we walked the dogs one more time and she drove me to get my car at Huntington Station - spent the rest of the day at my apartment completing office-related tasks]

Alexandria, VA (USA)

[weather has been VERY snowy - I'd spent time with the kids but haven't been anywhere for a long time... - late in day, met up with Sabrina and Kelly at the Eagles Club in Old Town - later, more of Sabrina's friends showed up - we stayed for a while and they enjoyed the really cheap wine - around 1900, I Kelly and I drove to the Huntington Metro Station and left my car there - I then drove her home (Woodbridge) - we took the two dogs (she was taking care of them for Zach) for a walk - after eating some leftovers (corned beef and cabbage - mmmm...) at her place, we drove across the street to Travinia for drinks with her friend, Mike - we didn't leave until 2230 - spent the rest of the evening with another walk and watching Lip Sync Battle - got to bed around midnight]

Elkton, VA (USA)

[I wanted to arrive at the entrance to SNP right when it opened (fee free day) so I left the hotel very early. Picked up breakfast at McDonalds in Verona, 0715). Sunrise over Massanutten was beautiful... Had to drive around an hour (via I-81 and US-33) but got there right on time for Skyline Drive to open (0800). It seemed like I was in luck - the gate was open! After is driven about a mile northbound, though, I began to wonder why... The road was barely plowed and it was obvious that no one should be using it with the limited guard rails and icy turnarounds. It is at times like these when I'm very happy to have a standard - my little car climbed and descended like a champ - I never even used brakes! However, I realized I would not be able to hike (or even park) anywhere. While stopped at my intended trailhead, I was startled to see three plows coming towards me. The driver of the first looked confused by my presence on the Drive and told me "you don't want to keep going north - the road is closed up ahead". I made a comment that I was surprised they opened the gate to the south but he just shrugged... After the first two trucks passed, I made a three point turn attempt and made a fool of myself (spinning tires, useless brakes) for the third. I nearly got stuck, until I remembered to turn the front wheels in the direction where I wanted to go. The resulting fish tail worked out and I made it back to the entrance gate without further incident (whew). I decided to hike back into the park. When I got out of my car (0945), the Internet forecasted temperature of 14 degrees was confirmed. Glad I had three layers on! After about a mile of trudging through snow up a big hill, I added a fourth. I had icicles on my beard, eyebrows and eyelashes (everything else was covered) within an hour. My water reservoir also froze (until I stowed the tubing in my backpack). It was windy and there was at least one inch of snow - nothing has melted like it had further to the south. But it was sunny all day and I was bundled up OK. I'd started NOBO without a particular destination in mind - I just kept walking until I'd covered over six miles! At that point, I hoped to find a good turnaround point (one I could remember) - I did when I located the Pocosin Cabin. After a short walk to the West, I hiked back on the road (much more icy than in the AM) - never saw any people during my nearly 13 mile trek until the very end. I encountered an underdressed family of four (small kids), carrying bags of food, hiking up Skyline Drive. They didn't seem to speak English, so I will never know what they were doing... For my part, I was VERY glad to get back to my car! After getting some gas a short distance away (Elkton, 1345), it took me a change of clothes, about an hour in the highest heat setting and some food to feel normal again. I stopped at my friend James' house in Warrenton to watch a Premier League (soccer) match and then headed home. It was a great weekend! I'd almost forgotten how good a hike makes me feel - it definitely clears my brain for better things. I guess I'm ready for work again now... AT today = 6.40 miles / G.T. AT = 607.10 miles]

Buchanan, VA (USA)

[I was up early this morning but I waited to leave the hotel until I saw how the forecasted snow would develop. Things seemed OK in town when I picked up breakfast (Hardee's, 0840). I then drove east on U-60 and then turned south onto the BRP. The gates were open but, after I had driven about 10 miles, the snow really started coming down. In some places, the road was completely covered. However, I caught glimpses of the valley below - it wasn't snowing down there... Just after I passed US-501, I encountered a park service employee who told me to get off the road because he was locking the gates as he headed north. This meant that I basically had to head almost all the way back to Buena Vista (that's the risk each winter day on BRP and Skyline Drive...). I used VA-130 and US-11 to get to Buchanan, where I drove east again on VA-614. Found the trailhead around 1030 - the snow was about a half inch thick by then and still coming down. Undeterred, I headed SOBO towards the top of Cove Mountain (where I'd turned around the last time was in the area. I saw no people and no wildlife (just tracks) all day. It was foggy at first - I was walking in the clouds until well after noon. It was cold (low 30s) at first but warmed up throughout my hike. It was almost all climbing on the outbound leg. When I reached a third summit, I was able to locate my last turnaround (a distinctive stand of three trees) and then headed back towards my car. Stopped to rest a bit (and test out a brand new privy) at the Cove Mountain Shelter. The snow was melting in the lower elevations - completely gone when I reached the road (1445). This gave me hope that I might fit in some more miles - but I hit a dead end when I drove east and had no cell signal to be able to navigate. Oh well - 10 miles in the snow had to be good enough... Made my way to I-81 and pre-positioned (at a Motel 6 near Staunton - 1615) for another day on AT. Watched the end of one NFL Playoff Game. After cleaning up, I drove a short distance North to get dinner (Wendy's in Verona, 1900). Will hike in SNP tomorrow! AT miles today = 5.00 / Grand Total AT = 600.70 miles]

Buena Vista, VA (USA)

[Aaaahhhh... It was good to be back on the trail after more than a month! After a good night of sleep, I got on the road (0905) and made my way back (through fog and rain, using I-66 and I-81) south toward unhiked sections of the AT! Stopped on the way for gas (Raphine, 1145) and used US-60 to get to the BRP (arrived at 1230). The weather was brisk and windy but all precipitation stopped while I was hiking. Starting from mile marker 51.7 (with a bit of a misdirection, initially), I made my way NOBO and returned to the Pedlar River Bridge. I'd been there on a pleasant day back in February 2015, right before a massive snow storm. I was prepared for the same change in weather but it never materialized, fortunately. I only saw one small group of hikers - I passed them outbound and then caught up to pass them on the way back to the car. Other than that, I saw several pretty views, a wild turkey and other large birds in flight (that I guess I flushed). Lots of hill climbing and I didn't finish until around 9 miles (at 1600). Headed into Buena Vista for the night, planning to hike again in the morning (if the snow holds off...). Picked up dinner at the Burger King in town (1810) and then watched some NFL Playoff games. AT Today = 4.10 miles / G.T. AT = 595.70 miles]

Arlington, VA (USA)

[met Sabrina at the Bonefish Grill at Pentagon Row (around 1600) - had a nice happy hour and drinks - Joey and Erik showed up later - finished at 1850]

Washington, DC (USA)

[attended a "win party" (alone - the only one from the office) at the Old Ebbitt Grill (near White House) - had a great time, networking and representing our company - walked back to Metro (Archives) - got home very late]

Washington, DC (USA)

[went to happy hour at Vie de France, dinner with Kelly and Jim R. at 701 Restaurant (near Archives) - took Metro home, arriving very late]

Joppa, MD (USA)

[woke up early and had breakfast in the hotel lobby - Kelly and Emma visited with their friends one more time but joined me later - we all enjoyed the good food before departing - I drove us this time and we made good time to the house, arriving by 1130 - they dropped me off and headed to another party - worked around the house for a bit, relaxing and getting some exercise before it got dark - glad to have friends who can pick me up when I'm in a tough spot...]

Joppa, MD (USA)

[without the kids, I wanted to find something else to do - Kelly told me that she and Emma were going to a birthday party on the east side of Baltimore and asked if I wanted to go - at that point, almost anything sounded good - they picked me up around 1500 and we headed east - Emma and I played the License Plate Game (her first time) and she was a DJ for the car - we arrived in Joppa, Maryland, around 1700 - after a quick stop at the package store, we arrived at her friends's house - they were very nice to me (a complete stranger) and I watched football with the other guys there - the party was actually for a very young child, so Emma was a bit bored - her friend never actually showed up, so she had to hang out with older teenagers (with varying degrees of success) - we stayed very late and eventually moved down the street to a Homewood Suites (with two big bedrooms) - Kelly and I watched the end of the late football game]

Washington, DC (USA)

[went to happy hour at Vie de France - the entire group relocated for dinner at Station Z (near Waterfront station) - great meal and enjoyable company - Jim R gave me a ride back to my car (at Huntington) - home by 2230]

Woodbridge, VA (USA)

[slept late, went shopping (for party, Giant at 0955), we drove down to eat brunch at Kelly’s, Mollie had fun playing with Emma and Aidan, around 1630, we drove back to Alexandria - I dropped Mollie off at her house (1700)]

Winter Break Trip - Day 7

[drove home from Massachusetts (left Hanover at 0600), used I-95 all the way to I-80 and then drove to northern New Jersey so we could hike, late breakfast in Vernon, NJ (Burger King at 1020), Mollie didn’t want to hike so we got on I-84 and headed home (via I-81, etc.), gas in Pittston, PA (1310) lunch (sandwiches and snacks packed by Katie and her kids), home around 1700, clean up (laundry, etc.), dinner (mac and cheese, fruit), movies and reading]

Winter Break Trip - Day 6

[slept late, breakfast (eggs, pastries), went for another walk around town in the morning, then watched movies, reading, TV, lunch (leftovers), watched ND Bowl Game in the afternoon, light dinner, Mollie went with Katie and family into Boston to shop, I stayed home and went to bed early]