Beth and I found ourselves in yet another Sheetz Gas Station. This was our holy city, after all. Muslims had their Mecca, Jews had their Jerusalem, and DCUL had Sheetz. We had come to make our mandatory sacrifice before going off into the mountains for the weekend. Some say that if you skip this part... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: “Celebrities of D.C.” Hike the “Grand Canyon of the East” (West Rim Trail, Tioga Co, PA) (August (30 miles)
“Senator [Quayle], I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.” – Bentsen, L. (1988). “Vice Presidential Debate.” In The New York Times (October 5, 1988). ##### Dmitri (“Dying Siberian Wolf” or “DSW”) stared out over Pine Creek Gorge, which is also referred to as “The... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: “What a Difference a Year Makes” Tour de Sods (Dolly Sods-Roaring Plains Wilderness Thru-Hike) (July 18-20, 2025).
“Suckers!” I thought. Two groups of DCUL backpackers were gathering at the Vienna Metro station for two different trips near each other in West Virginia. I signed on to the now-annual “Tour de Sods” expedition of the Dolly Sods and Roaring Plains wildernesses. The other group was heading to Spruce Knob and Seneca Creek just... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: Pelotherapy (Spruce Knob/Seneca Creek) (July 18th-20th, 2025) (27 Miles)
*sigh* I was typing away at my keyboard. It was another boring and uninspiring day at work. I was tired, stressed out, and not having fun. I glanced at the clock. It was a 7am on a Monday morning. I had only been here for 30 minutes and it was already unbearable. Why couldn't time... Continue Reading →
Trip Report: “What’s Up, Doc?” (Tour du Mont Blanc—the Alps in France, Switzerland, and Italy) (June 20-29, 2025) (117 miles, 41,000 feet of elevation gain and loss)
“We came all the way to Europe to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc trail, so why are we so focused on trying to avoid it?” Wasal (“WB”) asked. It was a good question. Six of us flew from Washington, D.C. to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc (“TMB”) trail in the Alps, but after... Continue Reading →