We often head west a few hours to get to the woods. But today was a different story — 13 miles from McLean to the National Mall. For more than 200 years, the National Mall has symbolized our nation and its democratic values, which have inspired the world. The National Mall - the great swath of green in the middle of our capital city and stretching from the foot of the United States Capitol to the Potomac River - is the great civic and symbolic space in our nation. Sunday morning, we met at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Information building. Instead of the intense, longer hikes we usually complete with the troop, this 6 mile, relatively flat terrain hike was the perfect way to get back in shape after a year of pandemic-inspired takeout food and snacking. The group made its way around the Mall, taking a quick look from a distance (they didn’t let anyone get close — see the perimeter fencing below) at the White House, visiting the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol Grounds, MLK Memorial, and much more. The beautiful mid-March weather was definitely a plus during the stroll, with temps reaching about 67 degrees, and a sun-filled afternoon ahead of us. Even though the trees looked barren, we were still able to see the green tips of the soon-to-be Cherry Blossoms poking out, ready for a spectacular season. You can plan your own trip to the National Mall right here, or by using the Troop 1916 map we created below. Thanks to Mr. Thesmar for the great photos.
Check out the troop photos here.
Information/excerpt from the National Park Service (nps.gov)
- Sebastian Herbolsheimer