(reminder - click on the pictures to view them enlarged in all their glory)
The Great Falls Tavern starting location is quite pleasant and rustic. When arriving on a weekday, thought the sign says there is a $5 entrance fee, no one seems to stop and pay it. I can't vouch for what happens on the weekend. Look at this picture and remember: The road to hell is paved!
Staying on that path, it will lead you to walking over Lock 19 and proceeding down past the Overlook Trail. Proceed a bit down the nice gravel path, past the 'Stop Gate' to the entrance to 'Billy Goat Trail A'. On the way you can look out over the 'tourist safe' railing at this vista:
Even on a weekday we passed a great many walkers, joggers, and a few bicyclers. I remember thinking that if this trail remains like this, it is going to be a bit boring and just a little of a letdown after braving the infamouse DC beltway to get here. The park is great for all the 'normal' people who stick to the lovely paved trail. The Billy Goat Trail is something of a Darwin test for the rest of us idiots. There is even a sign at the entrance that basically says as much, warning you that you will surely die here.
The entrance to the trail is very well marked. In fact, i'd say that the trail itself is pretty well marked. The only caveat I would add is when the way gets difficult, the blue markers are right there to guide you. When the trail transitions to a sandy path in places, the blue markers are sometimes hard to spot off in the distance.
So off we went. I will admit, that while I intended to take a bunch of pictures, I got distracted. By the rocks. Lots of rocks. Many, Many Rocks. This was not a walk so much as a full body workout of stepping, grabbing, pulling, tugging, balancing, (not!) falling.
In any case, there a some truely unbelievable vistas to be seen. This (I think) is one of the first ones we came to:
The more grunting, groaning and pulling. And we came to this:
Spectacular! Who knew that less than a few miles from the seats of government of the most powerful country on earth was such wildness.
Eventually we came to the infamous 50 foot traverse:
A local told us that on weekends there are long lines of people at the top and bottom waiting lemming like to go half way up or down and throw themselves off. Actually, given all the other 'Rocks and More Rocks' this climb was literally child's play. Actually, as we arrived we watched a pair of kids scramble down, then some kids behind us climbed around us as we were inching our way up. Child's Play.
After a bit we came to this final vista:
We rested there and ate a little lunch. Since the temperature was close to 90 (damn you global warming!) we opted not to do the Billy Goat B trail today, but saved that pleasure for another day. As we limped back down the pleasant gravel path by the canal on the way back to the car, we were passed by walkers, bicyclist, old fat men, and possibly a couple of old ladies with walkers. We took full advantage of the benches, content to let all these healthy people pass us by.
With all the pain I have gone through recovering from our assault on the Billy Goat Trail A, I do have to say it really was fun and a quite different adventure which I highly recommend. I suspect that doing it in a little cooler weather might be advised, as it is a total body workout.
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