B: Riverbend Park, VA
Leader: Stephanie Mason
Members $35; nonmembers $49
Take on two of your New Year’s resolutions at once: spend more time outdoors exploring nature AND get more exercise by signing up for one or all of these winter hikes. This season’s series begins in Prince George’s County along the western shore of the Patuxent River where the Jug Bay Natural Area protects old field, forest, and freshwater tidal wetlands. We’ll hike between 3-4 miles on mostly level trails which will be a mix of natural and paved surfaces. Our next two hikes visit the scenic bottomlands along the Potomac River. Hike B will use the natural surface Potomac Heritage Trail along the Virginia side of the River to move from Riverbend Park to Great Falls Park, VA–and back–for a round trip of just over 3 miles.  While basically flat, this trail may be muddy and slippery–and there is a small amount of rocky scrambling. We’ll keep eyes and ears open for the earliest signs of spring as we hike upriver on the flat C&O Canal towpath from Pennyfield Lock near Potomac, MD to the end of Blockhouse Point Conservation Park. After enjoying this dramatic stretch of cedar-topped cliffs, we’ll reverse course and hike back to Pennyfield for a round-trip of nearly 4 miles. On all three of these hikes, we will search for over-wintering birds and other wildlife, while practicing our winter botany skills and enjoying the open landscapes of the season. Hikes may be modified depending on weather and ground conditions, which could be muddy or snow-covered. These hikes are designed to offer a natural history experience for persons who want to move farther and faster than the pace of most Nature Forward field trips. We will stop to observe and admire nature, but will keep a pace necessary to cover the distance stated. REGISTER.