Fall hike at Rock Creek Park (and post-hike food and drinks)

DETAILS:
We’ll do a nice fall jaunt in the serene and lovely Rock Creek Park on what should be a sunny and seasonably warm day! Afterwards, we can head over to Mount Pleasant or AdMo for some food and drinks.

The plan is to start at Peirce Mill on Tilden Street NW (address: 2401 Tilden St NW, Washington, DC 20008) and do a loop that spans the Western Ridge trail and Valley trail. The start point is about a 15 minute walk from Van Ness-UDC or Cleveland Park metro stops on the redline, and there is some parking nearby as well. We'll end near Mount Pleasant.
Distance: 5.6 miles
Elevation gain: 685ft
Duration: 2-2.5 hours for the hike, and about 1 hour for post-hike hangout

The trail map can be found here: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/washington-dc/western-ridge-trail-rock-creek-valley-trail

What to bring:
-Trail map
- Hiking boots, trail runners, or sturdy sneakers
-Bug spray
-Sunscreen
- Moisture-wicking clothes
- 1.5-2 liters of water
- Snacks
- Positive attitude

Additional expectations

1. I am not a guide and this is not a service - I expect you to be fully prepared with the gear listed below and the mindset that you could get yourself out of trouble if needed.
2. We stick together - this is a group event, so if you feel that you are not flexible in working as a team, this will not be a good hike for you.
3. You can be turned away from carpool or the trailhead if you look/seem unprepared.
4. Showing up without registering on Ridj-it with a profile and then actually signing up for the trip is a safety hazard and will get you banned. Do not message to join in any alternative manner.