Wyatt's First Hike

During the previous two winters, cold temperatures, wind, and snow have kept us mostly bundled up and inside. This winter, if you can call it a winter, has been different. Rarely has it been cold enough to require thick winter coats. The few times it has snowed the afternoon sun has melted it all away. In fact, February is traditionally the snowiest month of the year in the western DC area, with five of the top ten largest snowstorms in recorded history all coming during the month. The other five storms that make up the top ten have been spread pretty evenly through the months of November, December, January, and March, with January being the only one out of those to claim more than one of the top ten.

So when fall came, it was natural to think that we would be in for another long, cold winter, with the brunt of the cold and snow hitting sometime about now. Fall did it's job and convinced all the trees to drop their leaves, but then it decided to stick around a few more months, keeping winter at bay. Now, with March fast approaching, it seems as though we just might move from fall straight into spring with winter uttering no more than a few little snowflakes and perhaps only a week or so of cold air, once all is said and done.

On Saturday, winter was still somewhere in hiding and clear, sunny skies greeted us with nearly 60 degree temps. We took full advantage of the nice day and headed to Red Rock Wilderness Overlook Park in Leesburg.

We had heard of this place from others, but had never taken the opportunity to explore. After spending a few hours there, it may have easily become one of our favorite local places to spend time outside. There are a number of trails to follow, marked by colored spots painted on trees. We chose the white trail, and wound through trees and down the hill to the edge of the Potomac River.

Max and Isla tossed little sticks into the river's lazy current, and Wyatt happily tagged along in the kid-carrier. After exploring the rivers edge a bit, we continued on our hike. We followed the white trail as it made its way along the banks of the Potomac and snaked its way back up the hill. There were plenty of fallen logs, little streams and bridges, and other things to keep us entertained and moving steadily along. Each time the trail would split, Max would choose which color of trail to follow. He was pretty good at sticking to the white trail, until we came to a fork and the white trail branched away from a trail marked by painted spots of green. He quickly diverted us and we followed the trees marked with green all the way back to the parking lot.

We had a great time at this little park, and I'm sure we'll be finding our way back in the near future. Unless, of course, winter can fend off Fall before Spring sets in and drops a foot or two of snow. Or at the very least, cools the days down about thirty degrees or so.