Walking Guy Mason Park DC

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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.

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