One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to complete the 52 Hike Challenge – a year-long project (well, less if you’re a power hiker) that challenges you to hit the trails at a pace of one hike per week.  It struck me as a challenging but doable project for 2018 – we hike a lot, but once a week might be pushing it; like most families with young children we rack up hikes when the weather is nice but are a bit skittish about getting out in the cold or the muck.  But we’re planning to do a fair amount of hiking on vacation this year, and I figured with a little commitment, and the willingness to sneak out myself during naptimes if necessary, 52 hikes in 2018 is an achievable goal that’s still tough enough to be worth the effort.  Anyway, ten hikes in – as expected, I’m behind on pace but not too worried about it (yet) since there’s plenty of time to make up the deficit and the weather’s just starting to get nice.  For now, a recap of the first bunch from winter and early spring:

Hike 1: Theodore Roosevelt Island (McLean, VA), January 21, 2018.  Thought it fitting to begin with an homage to Teddy.

Hike 2: Scott’s Run Nature Preserve (McLean, VA), January 21, 2018.  It was the first weekend that it wasn’t freeze-your-face-off cold, so we took advantage of the (slight) thaw by knocking off two hikes in one day.

Hike 3: Huntley Meadows Park (Alexandria, VA), February 17, 2018.  Almost a month off between hikes – ouch; not a great start to this challenge.  Felt good to get back on the trail, even if the boardwalk was lousy with goose droppings.

Hike 4: George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Alexandria, VA), March 4, 2018.  There’s a nature trail through the woods on the estate, so we count it as a hike if we include that segment.

Hike 5: Piscataway Park (Accokeek, MD), March 10, 2018.  My sweet outdoor buddy chose hiking as one of his birthday weekend activities, and we found perfect spiral shells on the bank of the Potomac.

Hike 6: Burke Lake Park (Burke, VA), March 24, 2018.  Peanut brought a hand-drawn map so we wouldn’t get lost.

Hike 7: Mason Neck State Park (Lorton, VA), April 8, 2018.  Aunt Rebecca and Brandy the dog joined us for this one.  Much running and barking ensued.  Yes, Nugget is wearing pajamas, no shame.

Hike 8: Bluebell Loop Trail, Bull Run-Occoquan Regional Park (Clifton, VA), April 13, 2018.  Nothing unlucky about our Friday the 13th this time.  A gorgeous day and a favorite spring tradition (and a morning off work!).

Hike 9: George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Alexandria, VA), April 15, 2018.  Expect to see this one repeated a lot.  It’s a go-to and a family favorite, especially as the weather warms up and the animals start venturing outside.

Hike 10: Great Falls Park (Great Falls, VA), April 28, 2018.  Poor planning on my part, because we did this hike while constantly jumping out of the path of ultramarathoners running the trails for the North Face Challenge.  But it was a beautiful day.

I started slow with this challenge, thanks to the weirdly long winter and some frigid weather in January, but am picking up steam now.  The Bluebell Loop Trail was, of course, the highlight of spring hiking, and I also love every moment spent at Mason Neck.  Here’s to many more hiking weekends as the weather continues to warm up!