Walking with the Walrus
GUY MASON PARK DC USA VOLKSMARCH
MAY 24, 1997
A regular feature by Kevin Shaw
On this beautiful sunny Saturday, Peaches, India and I headed to Guy Mason
Park for the Walter Reed Wandervogel March for Parks 10 km event. I was
afraid of a lack of parking, but there was plenty. I found my own local
street way of getting there, so I was only about 5 minutes late from the
appointed 9 am time to meet my friends Dan Hanson and Marty Brumback. We
had to register inside Guy Mason Park, but pay our credit fees just outside
the park. We picked up written directions and were off on the trail.
We walked a few blocks through a nice neighborhood to Massachusetts Avenue
and up to Wisconsin and to the beautiful National Cathedral. Marty tried to
get something in the book store there, and Dan wanted to look around the
inside of the Cathedral, but no such luck- it wasn't open yet! Peaches,
India and I waited in front of the cathedral for a few minutes, then they
came back out and we were on our merry way.
We headed into another nice neighborhood, and hit checkpoint 1 in front of
a neat 2-story brick schoolhouse.
We crossed over Wisconsin Ave on Upton and explored Channel 9's broadcast
house, successfully finding the weather station there complete with
instrument shelter. We walked all the way around Broadcast House to find
that the station was actually right on the trail! Numerous towers were
nearby, and their wind equipment is mounted thereon.
Behind Broadcast House, we headed into the woods in Glover Park. The trail
was really tricky in places, as downed trees and roots and a general
downhill trend made me really pay attention to where I was going. We
crossed a few streets, climbing up and down and after reaching New Mexico,
we decided to take the 8 km option and headed into the finish on New Mexico
Ave, Tunlaw and Calvert. The 10 km trail was headed for some bushwacking
due to a trail detour and a down tree trunk, so we opted to skip that part.
We had had enough fun earlier in one part with a downed tree and several
low hung branches! I still have a little problem with up and down hills
and my knee, as it is not up to full strength. And with the pooches pulling
on me, I really have to watch it.
The trail was beautiful though, and thoroughly enjoyable. I saw several
volksmarchers at the start/finish, and over 200 walkers experienced this
March for Parks event. Great to see everyone out enjoying themselves. The
National Cathedral was a highlight and Glover Park was a nice woodland
area I had never walked in before.Thanks to the Walter Reed Wandervogel for organizing and hosting this great
one day event. The directions were good, even though in places it was quite
difficult to describe exactly where to go. Numerous street crossings were
explained well, and safely negotiated. I hope we can return here someday to
explore this neat area. Guy Mason Park, a small area with a noted
fast-pitch softball field and big shade trees, will benefit from the funds
taken in by this walk.
Seneca Valley Sugarloafers
AVA Walking Events and Clubs
About.com Washington DC
About.com Baltimore, MD
US National and State Parks
Previous Walking With The Walrus:
Kensington, Maryland April 12, 1997C and O Canal April 19, 1997
St. Michaels, Maryland April 26, 1997
Rockville, Maryland, Gunston Hall Plantation, Virginia, May 3-4
Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, May 10
C&O Canal and Mt. Airy, May 17-18
