Sat. Jan. 5

Rated A. C&O Canal between Old Anglers and Great Falls.  Go-at-your-own-pace, out-and-back hike of 7 mi. between Old Anglers Inn and turnaround spot 1.2 miles beyond Great Falls Tavern, to kick off this dual-purpose hike series for 2008, plus optional post hike party at almost-nearby Potomac Pizza to tell One Day Hike stories and replace calories. Meet at 10 am at public parking lot across MacArthur Blvd. from inn (if weather is warm, get there early to get parking space). Call if carless or for directions. Leashed dogs welcome (on hike only). Leaders: Paul Elliott, 703/256-6351; Carol Ivory, carolivory@verizon.net; and Helen Epps, 202/363-1278 (leave message).

Sat. Jan. 12

Rated B.  National Arboretum Loop. Moderately paced two-loop circuit hike totaling 8 gently rolling mi., mostly paved, in exotic landscape featuring rare trees (ever see a lace-bark pine?), flowers in bloom, one mountain, one bonsai/penjing museum, one historic site, micro doses of history, and a Capitol treat. Do one loop or both. Meet at 10 am in arboretum's R St. parking lot. Call for directions or if carless. Leashed dogs and children welcome. Joint event with AMC/DC. Leaders: Paul Elliott, 703/256-6351, and Frank Wodarczyk, 703/569-6737.

Sat. Jan. 19

Rated B. Lake Artemesia & Paint Branch Trail. Out & back hike of Paint Branch Trail from beautiful Lake Artemesia to Cherry Hill Road Community Park, preceded by loop around part of lake. Entire 10-mi. route is paved. Out & back part is at your own pace. Leashed dogs and kids that can go the distance are welcome. Bring bag lunch, or eat after the hike (circa 1 pm) at restaurant (contact Mike for reservations) while watching planes come and go at nearby College Park Airport, world's oldest continuously operating airport. (After, you may want to visit aviation museum next door.) Meet at 10 am in parking lot of 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant (5240 Paint Branch Pkwy , College Park), 0.5 mi. from College Park Metro. Joint event with AMC/DC. Leaders: Mike Darzi, 301/593-4551 or Michael.darzi@saic.com, and Russ Norfleet, 703/294-6068 or russnorfleet@verizon.net.

Sat. Jan. 26

Rated C. Capital Crescent Trail.  Out-and-back hike of 10.2 mi. on former right-of-way of historic railroad through lovely wooded sections of NW DC, with optional indoor lunch stop in Bethesda. Total of 700 ft. elev. gain on a few hills. Moderately paced on "out" segment; go at your own pace on "back" portion. Meet at 10 am in upper parking lot of Fletchers Boathouse (now called Fletcher's Cove), off Canal Rd. Call if carless or for lunch details. Leashed dogs welcome (but not for indoor lunch). Joint event with AMC/DC. Leaders: Paul Elliott, 703/256-6351, and Carol Ivory, carolivory@verizon.net.

Sat. Feb. 2

Rated C. C&O Canal Towpath around Carderock.  Moderately paced 11 mi. from Carderock up to MP 16 and return, with a side excursion to the Great Falls overlook. Meet 9 am at Carderock, first parking lot; driving directions at www.mwrop.org/directions. Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306, and Rob Anderson, 202/285-1010.

Sat. Feb. 9

Rated C. Patuxent Branch Trail.  Approx. 12-mi. out-and-back hike, with a loop around Lake Elkhorn. Supper option at Ram's Head Tavern near trailhead. Meet 10:30am at Exxon/Tiger Mart/Wendy's, corner of US 1 and Gorman Road in Savage, MD, via I-95N exit 38A, MD 32 east and then US 1 south (allow 1 hour from downtown DC). Leaders: Mike McLain 202/829-7749 and Russ Norfleet 703/294-6068 or russnorfleet@verizon.net.

Sat. Feb. 16

Rated C. Terrapin Beach Nature Park & Cross Island Trail.  Wander for about 3 mi. on the unpaved trails of a park that is a small gem for bird and wildlife watching, then head out at your own pace over the hiker/biker trail that crosses Kent Island. You'll decide the total distance - up to 13 mi. - by picking your turnaround point. Leashed dogs and kids that can go the distance are welcome. We'll use a local restaurant by the bay for lunch, or you can bring your own food. To carpool, meet at 8:30 am at New Carrollton Metro station, in Park & Ride Lot 2, near lot's entrance. Leaders: Mike Darzi, 301/593-4551 or michael.darzi@saic.com, and Paul Elliott, 703/256-6351.

Sat. Feb. 23

Rated D or C.   Fairfax County Cross County Trail. A 15 mi. flat hike along a pleasantly wooded path in Fairfax County, with an 11-mi. option. These hikes include a loop around Lake Accotink in Springfield and an out-and-back to either Thaiss Park (longer route) or Eakin Community Park (shorter option) in Fairfax. Meet 9 am. at the Audrey Moore Recreation Center in Wakefield Park, 8100 Braddock Rd, Annandale. The entrance to Wakefield Park is just west of Exit 54A of I-495. Leaders: Christine Ford 703/425-6899 (before 10 pm) and Frank Wodarczyk 703/569-6737 (before 10 pm).

Sat. Mar. 1

Rated E or C. W&OD Trail. Out-and-back hike of 17 mi. (or do a 12-mi. option if training for the 50K on Apr. 26) on paved surfaces, with a few small inclines, between Vienna and Reston (or Herndon). Meet at 9 am in the parking lot of the Vienna Community Center (120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, VA). Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306, and Frank Wodarczyk, 703/569-6737.

Sun. Mar. 9

RESCHEDULED

Rated D or F. C&O Canal and Blockhouse Point.  From Pennyfield, we'll hike upstream past Blockhouse Point, the Seneca Breaks, Violettes Lock and Rileys Lock to the Horsepens Branch campsite. From there, your options are to return to Pennyfield to complete the 13-mi. option or continue downstream past Pennyfield to the 2d turnaround point at Swains Lock for the F-rated, 19-mi. option. Meet near ruins at end of Pennyfield Lock Rd. at 8:30 am DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. Leaders: Larry Broadwell, bakpacker1@verizon.net or 301/215-7135 before 9 pm, and Ray Evert, 703/893-3792 or hikerdude22@msn.com

Sat. Mar. 15

Rated D or F. Rachel Carson Greenway/Sligo Creek Trail. Circuit hike of 15 mi. or 21 mi. Combination of natural-surface and paved trails, with a few stretches of sidewalk, and mostly in wooded Northwest Branch and Sligo Creek stream valleys, in Montgomery Co., MD. En route, we’ll learn about suburban environmental threats. Meet at 8:30 am at athletic field’s parking lot, Wheaton Regional Park, near restrooms and soda machines. Call leaders for driving directions or Metro station pickup (Wheaton). Leaders: Russ Norfleet, 703/294-6068 or russnorfleet@verizon.net, and Mike Darzi, 301/593-4551 or Michael.darzi@saic.com.

Sat. Mar. 22

Rated G or D. Parade of Parks. Circuit of 23 mi. (or 14.4 mi. option) on paved and dirt trails in DC and MD parklands, with some gentle elevation change. Meet at 8 am at Fletcher’s Boathouse lower parking lot, off Canal Rd. Leaders: Mike Darzi, 301/593-4551 or michael.darzi @saic.com; Frank Wodarczyk, 703/569-6737; and Mike Gingerich, 703/590-3188 or m.gingerich@comcast.net.

Sat. Mar. 29

Rated E or H. Mount Vernon Trail. Do a walking marathon with an out-and-back hike of 27 mi. (or an18 mi. option if training for the 50K on Apr. 26) on mostly flat, paved surfaces, with a loop around Fort Hunt. Meet at 8 am at the northeasternmost parking lot of Mount Vernon. Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306; Ray Evert, 703/893-3792 or hikerdude22@msn.com; and Paul Elliott, 703/256-6351.

Sat. Apr. 5

Rated E, F, G, or H. C&O Canal Towpath. Out-and-back hike on a particularly scenic towpath segment. Begin at Edwards Ferry (towpath mile 30.8) and turn around at Whites Ford (mile 40), Monocacy Aqueduct (mile 42.2), Nolands Ferry (mile 44.6), or “downtown” Point of Rocks (mile 48.2) for round-trip hike of 18.4 mi., 22.8 mi., 27.6 mi., or 34.8 mi., respectively. Meet at 8 am at Edwards Ferry parking lot, off River Rd. Visit www.onedayhike.org or call leaders for driving directions. Leaders: Frank Wodarczyk, 703/569-6737, and Tom Kloster, twk07@comcast.net.

Sat. Apr. 12

Rated H+, F, or D. C&O Canal Towpath between Point of Rocks or Brunswick, MD, and Harpers Ferry.  Options: Long hikers will start at Point of Rocks and hike to Harpers Ferry and back (28 mi.), with the option of going up to 4 mi. past the start before returning (for up to 36 mi.). Short hikers will start at Brunswick and hike to Harpers Ferry and back (14 mi.), with the option of going to Point of Rocks (21 mi.). Turnaround point in Harpers Ferry will be the Bolivar Community Center, the ODH's end point. To carpool, meet at Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station's Park & Ride open-air lot (in back of garage). Long hikers meet in that Metro lot at 7 am or in parking lot along the towpath at Point of Rocks by 8:15 am; short hikers meet in Metro lot at 8:45 am or in parking lot near the towpath under the MD 17 bridge in Brunswick by 10 am. Leaders: Mike Darzi, 301/593-4551 or michael.darzi @saic.com, and Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306.

Sat. Apr. 19

Rated G or C. C&O Canal Towpath North of Whites Ferry.  Out-and-back hike of about 25 mi. (or 13 mi. option) is a final “tune-up” for the 100K or 50K versions of Apr. 26 One Day Hike event and will familiarize those planning to do the 50K ODH option with their starting point. Meet at 8 am at Whites Ferry parking lot. Leaders: Gary Kosciusko, 703/765-0306, and Mike Gingerich, 703/590-3188 or m.gingerich @comcast.net

For more metro-area hiking opportunities, visit sierrapotomac.org