User:Collsh0311/sandbox

Wiki Project: 1. Title:Difficult Run

2. List of model featured articles for future reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draining_and_development_of_the_Everglades https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades_National_Park

3. Outline: Possible Headings: Geography, History, Recreation (trails, rapids,etc), & Flora and Fauna

4. References: http://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/DifficultRun/ http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/DifficultRuntoGreatFalls_8872.asp https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Difficult_Run http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X12004606 http://novaoutdoors.com/nova/difficult-run-stream-valley-park-in-mclean-va/ http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1930 http://www.nps.gov/grfa/learn/historyculture/carousels.htm http://www.nps.gov/grfa/upload/GRFA-complete-map.pdf List of trails (from GRFA-complete-map.pdf): Swamp trail, Old Carriage Road trail, Matildaville trail, River trail, Difficult Run trail (all accessible from difficult run). http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/watersheds/publications/dr/chapter2.pdf http://www.nps.gov/grfa/planyourvisit/outdooractivities.htm

Annotated Bibliography: 1. "Difficult Run Hike." Difficult Run Hike. Hiking Upward, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. http://www.hikingupward.com/OVH/DifficultRun/ This is a credible source because the website is published by a group of hikers who research and work in order to provide information to the general public about specific areas of wildlife. This source is useful to us because it describes Difficult Run and its various trails. It gives the topography of the area, and details the qualities of certain aspects such as “views, solitude, streams, and difficulty.”

2. Elliott, P. (2006). 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles - Washington, D. C. Menasha Ridge Press. This is a credible source because it is written by an esteemed author and experienced individual from the park field of studies. This source is useful to us because it covers Difficult Run Trail with different information compared to the other sources. The more diverse information is beneficial to us by supplying a wider array of topics to discuss. This in depth overview of the trail gives us deeper insight into the trail and helps us understand the trail better, allowing us to write more accurately.

3. "Great Falls Loop Hike: Run Ridge and River." Fun in Fairfax. Wordpress, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. http://www.funinfairfaxva.com/great-falls-loop-hike-run-ridge-and-river/ This source's credibility stems from the nature of how it is written. While it seems to be a personal account of the park, it provides many pictures that are integral in painting the canvas that best portrays difficult run park. This source will be useful to that end; we will we adding pictures to the wikipedia page and this website provides a breadth of options that will verily help us in the molding of the final product.

4. Ferguson, K. (2006, November 26). Difficult Run to Great Falls Loo. Retrieved from Local Hikes: http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/DifficultRuntoGreatFalls_8872.asp This source is reliable because the information provided comes directly from people that study the trail and wildlife. They gather information from doing so, which demonstrates how first hand experience from many researchers occurs in order to reach one conclusion. This source will help us write our article because we will be able to further our scientific data about the trail and include statistics in our article. This website gives a lot of geographic information and statistics about the Difficult Run, such as how long the trail is, elevation, etc.

5. Hupp, C. R. (2012, October 3). Geomorphology. Retrieved from Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X12004606 This source is reliable because it was written by people who directly work in the geographical filed and have conducted research in a lab regarding this topic. It was also published in 2013, which i relevant to today's time. This source will help us write our article because it gives us information about the scientific part of the park, such as minerals in the park as well as the formation of the park. This source discusses the sediment issues that the stream has. The immense amount of sediment creates issues within the stream and surrounding area.

6. Kamber. (2015, November 25). Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Mclean, VA. Retrieved from NoVA Outdoors: http://novaoutdoors.com/nova/difficult-run-stream-valley-park-in-mclean-va/ This source is credible because the website is produced by Kamber Petty, who lives in northern Virginia and is a microbiologist. This source will help us with our article by being able to insert images of the wildlife at the Difficult Run into This source provides actual pictures of the Difficult Run. It shows actual pictures of the trail, stream, wildlife. etc.

7. Lenik, Edward (2008). Making Pictures in Stone: American Indian Rock Art of the Northeast. University of Alabama Press. pp. 75–76. This is a credible source because it is a book written by Edward Lenik who has previously written about other formations that have occurred in other parks. This book was also published by the University of Alabama Press. This source is useful to us because it provides more historical information about the park. This source gives insight into the sediment formation that occurs in the Difficult Run trail. It discusses the petroglyphs that have been forming since the late 1900's.

8. Oakmore, John. "Difficult Run Stream Valley Trail." Difficult Run Stream Valley Trail (n.d.): n. pag. Fairfaxcounty.gov. Fxparks.org, 21 Feb. 2000. Web. 16 Mar. 2016. . This sources is reliable because it comes from a government owned website (as seen in the domain). This was published through the local government which the trail belongs to. The local government supplied two different maps with various important points, and information. These maps are good informational sources because of the trail discussion of land marks and other amenities of the trail.

9. Singleton, Mark. "Difficult Run - Old Georgetown Pike (Route 193) to Potomac R." American Whitewater. AW, 11 May 2005. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. http://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/1930 This source is a reliable source because it was published by "American White Water" of Virginia, which is an organization that is an advocate for the preservation of wildlife in Virginia. The directors for this organization, who write for the website all have credible and viable experience and backgrounds on this topic. This source will help us write our article by how it provides information about activities that one can do while all on the trail, which will further our "Recreation" category. This source talks about the different rapids associated with Difficult run and mentions the best strategy to safely navigate them.

10. United States. National Park Service. "Nature." National Parks Service. U.S. Department of the Interior, 02 Mar. 2016. Web. 02 Mar. 2016. This source is credible because the web site comes from a government funded service. This is useful to us because we can have access t government approved o trail descriptions of the trail we are looking for. It was recently updated on March 17, 2016. Making it up to date and accurate, supplying us with trail difficultly and length and other important information for the description.

11.Farifax County. "Farafax County ." n.d. Farifax County Publications. 25 March 2016. This is a credible source because if comes from a local government funded service. This is a useful source because it supplies information regarding the environment. It is updated and it is accurate information on the animals found in their habitats because it comes from the county in which the trail is located.

12. National Park Service. NPS. n.d. 25 March 2016. This is a credible source because it comes from a governmental funded park services where the trail runs through. This is useful because it has a scientific research and reliable facts and figures about the environment, geography, and soil.

13. Fairfax County Parks Department. (2016, April 6). Retrieved from Fairfax County Park Authority: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/quicktakes/#SP16QT1

Flora and Fauna

Along the trail, various species of birds, fish, and other animals have been seen to populate the environment. Muskrat and beaver can be found in the stream which runs adjoined to the trail which empties into the river known to provide habitation for various fish. Regarding birds, 63 different species of birds can be found here. These birds would include ducks, geese, and herons. Others would include songbirds, woodpeckers, vultures, and kingfishers. As for snakes, copperheads are the only type of venomous snake found in the trail.

Soil

There are 41 different soil types found on the trail and alongside the stream. Two major soil groups make up the contents: The Glenelg-Elioak-Manor association and the Manor-   Glenelg-    Elioak association. The Glenelg soil type makes up 40.5 percent of the watershed area and is found throughout the watershed, primarily on hilltops and side slopes. Manor soils make up almost 11 percent of the watershed.

Recreation

There are a myriad of opportunities for recreational activities at Difficult run. Many of these opportunities revolve around but are not limited to hiking, biking, bird watching, climbing, boating, fishing, and sight seeing. Additionally, Difficult Run offers access to Great Falls National Park from certain areas of the trail, adding to the options for recreation.

Difficult run watershed

Using community planning, a secluded 12-mile (19 km) hiking and biking trail was built along Difficult Run from Reston to Great Falls Park. The trail is well-known among area mountain biking enthusiasts for its rolling terrain which makes for fast, smooth rides although there are portions requiring technical skills. The portion of the trail that sees the most mountain biking activity starts near the end of Michael Faraday Court, behind SkateQuest-Reston ice skating rink and follows the tributary stream valley to Lake Fairfax. From Lake Fairfax the trail crosses over Hunter Mill Road and follows Difficult Run itself all the way to Great Falls Park. Great Falls Park is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and is administered by the National Park Service. In addition, almost the entire length of Difficult Run is paralleled by the Cross County Trail,[4] which is maintained by the Fairfax County Park Authority for continuous coverage along the run.[5]

Trails

The Difficult Run trail enters Great Falls Park and offers outstanding views of the Potomac River and Great Falls. The trail is 4.9 miles roundtrip and is estimated to take 2.5 hours. The various trails of Great Falls (Ridge trail, Matildaville trail, Swamp trail, and Old Carriage Road) park are also accessible from this hike. The trail is well marked with signs that point you to your desired location. Along the trail is the Cow Hoof Rock that is a popular spot for many of the parks rock climbers.

Fishing

While fishing is allowed at the Park, a license is required if you are over the age of 16. The Potomac River is known for catching Large and Small Mouth Bass mainly. It is encouraged that all mess is cleaned, as the park has a no trash policy.

Boating

This is the most popular of recreational activities at the Potomac River adjacent to Difficult Run. Whitewater boating (kayak/canoe) is commonly exercised as the rapids found in Great Falls Park are rated from class 2 (moderately easy) to class 6. Class 6 rapids are considered extremely dangerous, and are they highest category of all rapid classes. The Potomac River has many challenging currents, standing waves, and hydraulics. (citation). Swimming, wading, and tubing are not allowed in the river.

Bird Watching

Throughout the year, 163 different bird species can be seen near the trails on difficult run. Among them are waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and herons. Other species include songbirds, woodpeckers, vultures, and kingfishers. This large variety of birds makes the area an excellent location for birding. (citation)

Climbing

Climbing at difficult run can be done both with or without direction. The large number of rocks offers creative options for some park visitors. Others find direction by climbing routes set near the Potomac River. Routes vary from 25 to 75 feet in length. All climbing is top rope and no screws may be drilled into the rock (citation). All climbing materials must be supplied by the park goer.