Firefly Fiesta (Rating: D)

You must read the following NVHC Sign-in Sheet Statement/Liability Disclaimer, https://nvhc.com/signin.pdf and then answer the question that you will see when you RSVP with "I accept" to be permitted on the hike.

[Up to 6 mile fitness and nature hike.]

THIS IS A TWO-FER: First we'll start at the Belle Haven picnic area along the paved Mt. Vernon Trail and do a roughly 3.5-mile, moderately paced hike to Jones Point Lighthouse on the Potomac River. After we return to our starting point, we'll head to the Dyke Marsh Preserve and hike slower through the marina and then along the 3/4-mile dirt trail to the end of the boardwalk and back We'll hike at about 2.5 - 3 mph when moving along most of the hike -- but on our return through the preserve, we'll stroll SUPER SLOWLY and stop often to enjoy the bulk of the fireflies in near darkness -- from roughly 9:30 to 10ish p.m.

(NOTE: There is NO guarantee that we'll see fireflies but we likely will, according to a well-known naturalist.)

*MUST-READ* IMPORTANT NOTES: PARK CLOSES AT 10 P.M. but there is no gate and the trail is still open to commuters so we don't have to rush to get back to our cars. PRACTICE SAFETY WITH YOUR FLASHLIGHT SINCE WE'LL BE WALKING IN THE DARK! Adults only. Restrooms at start and at the lighthouse. STAY RIGHT ON THE MT. VERNON TRAIL due to the bike and pedestrian traffic for everyone's safety. Adults only. No pets, not even pet fireflies.

WEATHER:
Hike likely be postponed if there is rain. Weather forecast will be posted here on Thursday by 5 p.m.
https://www.weather.gov
https://www.weather.gov

MEET: 7 p.m. by the restrooms on the Mt. Vernon Trail near Dyke Marsh Preserve. (Belle Haven picnic area.) Copy these GPS coordinates into Google Maps: 38.780110, -77.052038

BRING: MANDATORY FLASHLIGHT (preferably with a RED LIGHT option or cellophane cover so it doesn't interfere with the fireflies) AND MANDATORY WATER, sense of awe, and sense of humor. Optional: bug spray or long pants for mosquitos, fully-charged cell phone, and/or camera. iPhones seem useless for the firefly photos but "real" cameras and some Samsung phones seem equipped to photograph them.

MT. VERNON TRAIL MAP:
https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/upload/Mt-Vernon-Trail-map-508-2021.pdf

DYKE MARSH PRESERVE:
NPS: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/planyourvisit/dykemarsh.htm
Friends group: https://www.fodm.org

DC BOUNDARY STONES: (We’ll see the first one marking the new District of Columbia. It will disappear someday.)
https://boundarystones.org

JONES POINT LIGHTHOUSE: (One of America's last rivertine lighthouses.)
https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/historyculture/jonespointlighthouse.htm

NORTHERN VIRGINIA FIREFLIES: https://www.audubonva.org/news/wildlife-sanctuary-almanac-2024-june

FIREFLY CONSERVATION & RESEARCH:
(I posted this so you can learn more about protecting fireflies. I used this organization's firefly photo but it is not connected to our event.)
https://www.firefly.org