Steer on the Loose - Sky Meadows State Park

It used to be that I only prevented the girls from running ahead on the trail when we were in black bear territory. Now, I will extend that rule to all trails. 

We walked the Snowden trail at Sky Meadows last week and we deliberately chose a trail that did not enter the cow pasture because I didn't want to be surrounded by the beasts with my small children. Apparently, though, farm animals can escape their fences. 

Luckily, the park staff and the cattle ranchers reacted quickly and we didn't run into this steer alone. I'm not even sure what I would do if that happened. Hug a tree, perhaps.

Astronomy for Kids with NOVAC - Sky Meadows State Park

I like star parties. I went to my first and second star parties at Whipple Observatory in southern Arizona. I lucked into my third star party hosted by the Shenandoah Astronomical Society when I took the girls camping over spring break at Shenandoah River (Andy Guest) State Park.

By my fourth star party, I knew to bring a headlamp with a red light mode so as not to ruin my night vision with white light. I knew to bring a jacket for the cool night air and a bottle of coffee for the drive home.

Star party #4, hosted by the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club, was the largest I've seen. Up to forty astronomers brought their telescopes to set them up during the afternnoon so they would be ready by sunset.

Before sunset we saw the sun through a filtered lens, sunspots, solar flares. An amateur astronomer used beach balls to demonstrate how big our solar system was. 

At night we observed the craters of the moon, Mercury, the bands on Jupiter and its moons, and Saturn with its rings.

Waiting for Paw Paw Fruit - Mason Neck State Park

Two years in a row I have stumbled upon ripe paw paw fruit on Leesylvania State Park's Lee's Woods trail. This morning my 3 year old looked up at the trees near the playground picnic tables at Mason Neck State Park and called my attention to the fruit dangling in a stand of three trees grouped together in a row. She found some early paw paw fruit dangling green on the vine. We will have to keep watch on this fruit as it ripens because the animals will get it immediately if it falls.

Here's some ripe paw paw fruit from August of 2012 that shows what we are looking for:

Snowden Trail - Sky Meadows State Park

Sky Meadows is a gem. It's exit 23 off Interstate 66, way before the turn to Shenandoah National Park in Front Royal and much closer than Shenandoah River State Park in Bentonville, but it was deserted.

Next time we go I hope the girls will be brave enough to try the North Ridge Trail. They were almost there, but then had second thoughts about encountering cattle in the wild. I don't think the cows will hurt us, but you can never be sure. I haven't seen very many athletic, aggressive cows.

We opted for the Snowden loop after the cows were too scary and we were lucky. The Snowden loop reminded me of the Merrimac Farms trail from Prince William County, wandering through light green spring vegetation and a little stream with lots of wildflowers. The trail is rated easy and is only a little over a mile, but  with two little girls, this trail took well over an hour.

The Snowden trail is very well maintained with several bridges over little creek crossings. This bridge even had a wire grate placed on it to help people not slip.   

The gift shop at Sky Meadow is the best-stocked I've seen. They have educational games, stuffed animals for creatures and birds that live in the park, camping supplies, and snacks.

 

I would love to come here for a Star Party if our bedtime wasn't at 8:00 PM. Apparently, there are several coming up. I want to come here again.

Powell's Creek Walk with Ranger Caitlin - Leesylvania State Park

From July 2013

We met Ranger Caitlin Greene at the Powell's Creek trailhead for her Ecosystems Explorations walk through the forest. We weren't very far down the trail before Malia picked up a nut and started asking questions.

Ranger Caitlin identified Malia's treasure as a hickory nut that has a strong fragrance if the nut is still green and young.

   

   

  

Park Babies and Eagles - Mason Neck State Park

The girls and I took advantage of a 65 degree day and visited Mason Neck State Park on a day when the Rangers were presenting a program on springtime babies.

Ranger Kevin told us about the bald eagles that nest in the park and they have already laid their eggs. The eggs will hatch in April and the babies will be full grown by June. Adolescent eagles are dark brown and don't get their white heads until they are a grown up eagle after five years.

An eagle's grasp is so strong that if it were to land on your bare arm and squeeze it could easily squeeze you down to the bone. Sounds terrible.

This nest on top of a telephone pole is the nest the park tried to build for osprey, another bird of prey, but the ospreys rejected the nest because it was too close to people.

At the back of the Visitor Center, there is a "box of bones" so that animals can chew them up for nutrition or to use for nests.

Ranger Kevin demonstrated how eagles and osprey fly differently. The eagles fly with their wings in a straight line. The other people in attendance must have had better eyes than I did. I need binoculars to see such things.

Frozen Waves - Leesylvania State Park

While walking at Leesylvania State Park after a week of cold temperatures, I noticed that the Potomac River had frozen nearly all the way to Maryland.

Despite the signs warning of danger, this man walked far out on the frozen ice. If he had fallen through, he would have been in trouble and put his rescuers in danger, too.