So this blog is suppose to be about a few other things than watercolor painting so I thought I would write a small trip report of my hike/run on the Potomac Heritage Trail between Scott's Run and Roosevelt Island last week.
Anyone in DC knows we've had multiple triple digit temps and extreme humidity. Normally things I don't tolerate at all. For some reason my body is finally getting used to the heat and this summer I've been more tolerant than any other summer since moving south of the MD line. Anyways the reason I mention it is that Sunday was suppose to be a respite from the heat. I had planned on leaving early in the morning, but somehow early with Leila meant getting to the trailhead at 8 vs. 6. And it was hot and humid...so much for cooler temps.
I knew the Potomac Heritage Trail (PHT) trail somehow linked in to Scott's run but I had failed to bring either map or guidebook or read any recent trail description....yikes, talk about bad preparation (more to come on that topic) So I probably ran about a mile in Scott's run heading east and North towards the river hoping to run into it. BTW the maps at Scott's Run make no mention of the PHT so don't count on them being any help. My instincts proved correct and I did intersect the green blazed trail down by the overlook near the river. Once I got on it I mostly backtracked uphil and south towards some private pool club and a residential area. GAIA GPS on my iphone soon came in handy and showed me both the trail and the stretch of pavementt I would need to do to get to the real trailhead at the end of Live Oak Dr. right next to 495 here.
From this point is 10 miles to Roosevelt Island! If you start at Scott's run it's more than 10 miles so plan accordingly for water and stamina. The trail is in good condition but heavily blocked by thick layers upon layers of spiderweb. Between this trailhead and Turkey run I had to wave a branch in fron tof me to clear trail most of the way. It made for a slow 4 miles (1.5 hours). I passed someone's stashed water jug near some cliffs and thought what a good idea...although I assumed my 2 litres and planned 3 hour finishing time to be sufficient and left it alone...Not my water anyways. I was to think about that water quite a bit.
I don't want to detail the trail turn by turn but lets say that it is a good variety of terrain with great views on the Potomac.The stretches along GW Parkway are annoying but at least spiderweb free. From Turkey run onwards I made much better time but I ran out of water after 3 hours. My legs started cramping shortly after that and I got to Rosslyn in 4 hours, dehydrated, probably a bit heat struck and barely standing. Every piece of clothing soaked. I ran bare chested the last hour as my nipples were so chaffed from the wet top. I lost 5 pds in 4 hours.
I suggest waiting for cooler weather to repeat, to cache water and to have at least 2 liters when starting with another 1-2 liters available along the way. Its definitely a nice trail although I could do without the sandy stretches and the cobwebs.
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