Washington
Part Eighteen – Nearing the End: Through Washington – The Trek
September 5th. It’s been five months since I started the trail. Five months. It seemed like an eternity ago and as if it was yesterday at the same time. As I walked through the day, I reminisced about the various challenges I had gone through so far during this journey – the San Jacinto mountains, the Mojave desert, the Sierra Nevada, injuries & solitude in Oregon… I had gone through so much and was now getting so close to the end. I would stop at nothing.
Since starting Washington, I have been full of energy. My body handled the dramatic elevation changes well and on most days, I was able to push further than the mileage I had planned in the morning. Tonight, I camped a few miles away from Snoqualmie Pass, where I would resupply next. After pitching my tent, I sat down and removed my shoes. Suddenly, I stopped. The sky was blue and the sun was about to start its descent behind the horizon line. I felt relaxed. I looked around and took in the moment. The buzzing sound of bees in the bushes. The wind brushing the leaves and gently caressing my face. The clouds moving in slow-motion in the sky. The squeaking sound of squirrels hiding in their trees. I felt present, and lucky. Lucky to be here, to be able to enjoy all my senses, and to do it to the fullest. Because that’s what living is about.
Quick Stop in Snoqualmie Pass
Late in the morning, I reached Snoqualmie Pass — a small community crossed by the loud and busy I-90. There, I met up with Splat, Jennie, her brother Mike, and their golden retriever Olly. I had first seen them in White Pass before we all slept together in the Ulrich Cabin a few days ago to shelter ourselves from the weather. Over the several times that we leap-frogged each other, we started bonding. We shared a similar sense of humour and their dog was adorable. Plus, I felt ready to spend time with other people again without overstepping my need for independence. Nearing the end of this journey, I had just sat into the seat of a soon-to-start emotional rollercoaster and I was happy to have people to share some of these feelings and moments with. We stayed in the Alpine Lodge for one night, enough time to resupply, shower, and do our laundry. We planned together the rest of our trip to Canada: right after Stehekin, a wildfire had forced the PCTA to close a section of the trail until Harts Pass, the last “road” on the trail and last access to a town before reaching the border. A detour had been proposed, which added another 30 miles, and we had heard comments about the poor trail conditions following a lack of maintenance. In addition to that, we were not safe from this detour being closed as well if the fire were to grow bigger, as it had done so far. I wavered between two options: following the detour and putting myself behind schedule, or taking the ferry from Stehekin to Chelan and hitch to Harts Pass where I would rejoin with the PCT and walk the last 30 miles there and back. The latter option would make me miss about 30 miles of the trail, but not the official one. Plus, 30 miles represented nothing compared to the 2655 plus miles I would end up hiking by the end. I didn’t need to prove anything to myself anymore. This time, I wanted to enjoy the last remaining miles. To take the time, to take it all in. It felt right. Once in Stehekin, I would take the ferry. It was decided. Now I needed to find a ride. A few minutes after I had decided to take the ferry, Splat offered to give me a ride with her parents to Harts Pass once we would berth in Chelan. That was a sign for me that I had made the right choice.
Yeehaw and the Wasp: PCT-mania
Before reaching Steheking, we still had a few days of hiking ahead of us, including going through the difficult Glacier Peak wilderness – a section of the trail known to be remote and hence less maintained. Passing through Stevens Pass, a ski resort in the winter, I crossed paths with a lot of day hikers and weekend warriors. Some were more intrigued than others about my appearance – full untamed beard, long hair, dark skin, face marked by the journey, and probably the smell too – and stopped me to ask a few questions. Every time, the sole mention of having walked from Mexico to here provoked their mouth to open in cartoonish awe. It amused me and made me grasp the extent of the feat I was about to accomplish. When you are in the heat of the moment for so long, it gets difficult to realize what you are doing as it becomes your reality over time, a reality different than what most people expect. This life was my new “normal.”
Although there was a lot of elevation gain, I kept a decent pace. Washington was steep and it had become harder to make miles as we got closer to Glacier Peak wilderness. « Fuck this! » I said, out of breath. « Fuck this shit! » My body was exhausted and I felt drained of all energy. You’d think that a week away from the end, my motivation level would be up the roof. But today it was the opposite. And the steepness of Washington’s climbs wasn’t helping. « Why do I do this to myself? Nobody asked me to do this! Why do I keep putting myself through this suffering? » I kept asking myself internally. But I kept moving forward. One foot in front of the other. I kept tripping over roots and rocks sticking out of the trail, each one bringing additional frustration. But I kept moving forward. The trail had become a parkour with giant roots, fallen trees across the trail, and small boulders which ended up slowing down my progress. Not that I was going fast anyway, but still. I kept moving forward. I swore at the overgrowth slapping my body and the spider webs getting stuck on my face. I kept moving forward. I promised myself that at the next switchback, I’d take a break. But once I reached it, guess what? I kept moving forward. I knew that if I stopped, getting up and walking again would be harder than just not stopping. So I’ll stop at the top of the climb. And once at the top, the answer was clear as to why I was going through all of this. Once at the top, everything made sense.
A few miles away from camp, I walked through light overgrowth when suddenly a sharp pain hit my right quadricep: “Ouch!” I yelled while slapping my leg. I looked down at the trail. A wasp. “Damn you!” I had been stung a few days before and knew exactly what the type of pain when a wasp stung you felt like. Luckily for me, I didn’t mind the pain. I was more worried about an allergic reaction, but having not reacted the previous time, I quickly forgot about it. My body didn’t. The next morning, my right quadricep had doubled in size. While hiking, the swelling continued to the point where by the end of the day, I couldn’t completely bend my knee. Small blisters appeared around the bite and along my leg, as well as hives in various areas of my body. I struggled to keep up the pace with the others. I didn’t know what was wrong with my body. I felt light-headed, exhausted, and deprived of all energy. That last climb of the day was torturous. But I pushed through and made it to camp, not without letting out a few screams of pain and suffering. Immediately, I hid in my tent, ate dinner, and went straight to bed.
A few hours after the bite. The swelling has already started.
Arriving in Stehekin
I slept in and woke up around 8 am. I felt instantly better from it. My leg was still swollen and a few blisters had popped and were seeping down my shin, but I was okay. I hiked down the mountain pretty fast, feeling good physically and mentally boosted. I caught up with Jenny, Mike, Splat, and Olly as we arrived at the campsite together in the rain. On the descent, we could see the switchbacks from the big climb that was waiting for us tomorrow – one of the last like this. At camp, we made a campfire to dry some of our gear and get some warmth. My leg, still swollen from the shin to the thigh, looked like I had gotten fat overnight. We laughed about it. Mike had gotten stung too and his thigh had started swelling as well. I learned that I had reacted pretty strongly to the sting, but it was behind me now.
The next two days, I climbed over Suittle Pass and made it to High Bridge, where a dirt road led to Stehekin and its famous bakery. After stuffing myself with pastries and ice cream, I took the shuttle down to downtown Stehekin and the banks of Lake Chelan. In the soft warmth of the evening, I sat on the patio of the restaurant facing the lake and caught up on messages, edited some pictures, and enjoyed the view of the lake. In my tent that night, I couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was all over the place. I was almost there, I could touch it, and it seemed unreal. What an adventure it had been.
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How Fourth of July became a celebration of history and hope
From revolution to massive fireworks, July Fourth evolved into a celebration of history, heritage and America’s values.
With 150,000 people expected to attend Saturday’s Fourth of July festivities on the National Mall in Washington DC, locals and tourists alike may be looking for alternative options to view fireworks on America’s 250th birthday.
Washington DC will offer a secondary firework show on the 4th, and there will be plenty of areas in the city and surrounding neighborhoods to catch the big firework display at the National Mall.
Here’s a look at some of the best places to watch the July 4 fireworks in Washington DC.
Where can you watch fireworks in Washington DC on July 4th?
The National Mall will be the most popular area to watch fireworks, with President Donald Trump promising “the largest fireworks show in history.” Officials say 850,000 firework shells will be launched, potentially breaking a Guinness World Record.
But you don’t need to be at the crowded mall and its strict security measures in order to watch the display.
The organizers of the firework show, Freedom 250, say there will also be viewing spots at Hains Point, Columbia Marina, Gravelly Point, RFK Stadium, Meridian Hill Park, Union Station, Lower Senate Park and Upper Senate Park.
Other popular areas to watch the fireworks include the Cardozo Education Campus in Columbia Heights, the Washington National Cathedral in northwest DC, Lady Bird Johnson Park off the Potomac River and the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on Capitol Hill.
Washington DC officials have also released an interactive map that allows you to see your view of the fireworks from any place in the city.
Are there any other fireworks shows in Washington DC on July 4th?
Anacostia Park will serve as the viewing area for a separate fireworks display that will be concurrent with the National Mall fireworks, which are expected to begin at 11 p.m.
DC officials say you can enter the park through Marion Barry Ave. SE, Nicholson St. SE or the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail near the Skate Pavilion.
The event is free to the public, as is the National Mall’s show.
After DSA candidates roiled traditional Democrats with wins in New York City last week, Tuesday’s primary in a Denver-centered district tested whether the left wing’s appeal could prevail elsewhere.
It turns out the democratic socialists’ reach extends well beyond New York — and it may well grow before the year is out.
Melat Kiros, backed by the national Democratic Socialists of America and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, upset Rep. Diana DeGette, who has held her reliably blue seat for almost 30 years.
“What we’re seeing right now is the response to voters feeling like the party has not actually been fighting for working people,” Kiros told MS NOW last week.
The result is that Kiros, a critic of the Israeli government and high-ranking Democratic leaders, will likely be a member of Congress come next year. That happened even as DeGette cast the race as a warning, with President Donald Trump’s second term continuing to upend governance from the nation’s capital.
“Now is not the time to gamble and send somebody with no experience to Washington,” DeGette said during a recent candidate forum. “We need a strong, bold, hardened leader who will hold Trump accountable.”
The result was one of several Colorado results Tuesday to test incumbents or prominent statewide officials navigating a turbulent moment in Democratic politics — one in which voters have shown an appetite for untested fighters over familiar faces who’ve served in Washington’s halls of power.
The night’s theme wasn’t clear-cut; the three marquee races diverged on everything from ideology to questions of approach and clout. But each pitted an incumbent whose Congressional ties became fodder for a challenger.
In 2020, Democrats’ ability to woo former Gov. John Hickenlooper into the Senate race was seen as a boon for a party trying to unseat incumbent GOP Sen. Cory Gardner, one of the last Republicans left representing a blue state in the Senate. That move came after Hickenlooper’s 2020 presidential primary campaign fizzled. Even so, he faced a somewhat-competitive primary that year, taking 58.7% to his challenger’s 41.3%. Hickenlooper went on to win the seat that November by a little over nine points.
Photo by Elman Studio.
June 30, 2026 (Washington, D.C.) – The Washington Chorus (TWC), DC’s most dynamic choral ensemble, celebrates its 65th anniversary during the 2026-2027 season. Through thought-provoking pairings of classic major choral works, artistic collaborations, and groundbreaking premieres, TWC celebrates its history of providing an inclusive community where choral music connects, reflects, and inspires everyone while continuing its mission of creating transformative musical experiences that bring people together through the joy of choral music.
“Our 65th season showcases TWC’s commitment to honoring choral tradition while embracing the living voices shaping American music today,” said TWC Artistic Director Eugene Rogers. “We look forward to serving the entire D.C. community, bringing new audiences into our special anniversary celebration through this repertoire and outstanding guest artists.”
The season begins with TWC’s guest appearance with the National Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. On Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. at Joseph Myerhoff Symphony Hall; Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. at Music Center at Strathmore; and Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at Meyerhoff TWC joins Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for John Adam’s On the Transmigration of Souls as part of the BSO’s Alsop Conducts Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique concert.
The Washington Chorus’s own season kicks off with two weekends of A Candlelight Christmas concerts in December, continuing its beloved holiday tradition now reimagined in new venues across the city. This cherished program brings together The Washington Chorus with the National Capital Brass and Percussion Ensemble, alongside award-winning music director, organist, and conductor Paul Byssainthe Jr., soprano Colleen Daly, and jazz-mezzo Christie Dashiell. The program will also feature the premiere of a new work by Evelyn Simpson-Curenton. Blending timeless carols with vibrant new voices, A Candlelight Christmas offers a warm and luminous celebration of the season – honoring tradition while embracing the rich musical spirit of our community. Venue and performance info are listed below.
In the new year, The Washington Chorus presents A Song Flung Up to Heaven: Honoring 65 Years of TWC on Sunday, February 28, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. at DAR Constitution Hall. The program juxtaposes two major works from contrasting origins – Nkeiru Okoye’s When the Caged Bird Sings and Poulenc’s Gloria – that treat sacred themes with a striking blend of reverence and theatricality. Together, these two major works meld European and American musical traditions into a powerful, life-affirming concert experience with a deep connection to spiritual rituals, while each composer’s innovation imbues them with new discoveries and uncovers mysteries of the human condition.
The centerpiece of this performance is the East Coast premiere of Dr. Nkeiru Okoye’s dramatic work When the Caged Bird Sings – a “musical ceremony” fusing many genres, including opera, musical theater, spoken word, and choral singing, and American musical styles including gospel, spirituals, traditional anthems, and jazz. Okoye’s evocative new piece celebrates the spirit of rising above expectations and transforming adversity into triumph through the milestones in the life of one Black woman. Partly in tribute to the activist and poet laureate Maya Angelou, the work celebrates and explores the transformative ability of the human spirit, commemorating those who have paved a path for future generations. The concert opens with a cornerstone of 20th-century sacred music, Francis Poulenc’s Gloria, which first premiered in 1961, the same year as TWC’s founding.
In May, TWC partners with the National Philharmonic to present Requiem and Renewal featuring Mozart’s monumental Requiem. This will be preceded by Jocelyn Hagen’s large-scale symphonic work, What the Soul Already Knows, on Saturday, May 8, 2027 at 7:30 p.m. at Music Center at Strathmore. Jointly commissioned by Pacific Chorale under the direction of Robert Istad and The Washington Chorus, the work will have its East Coast premiere as part of TWC’s 65th Anniversary Season.
Rooted in an exploration of the sacred – in both the physical world and the unseen – the work invites listeners to reflect on the deep interconnectedness of all life. At its core, What the Soul Already Knows is a meditation on our shared humanity and the potential for beauty that arises when we live in alignment with gratitude, unity, and service. The title received inspiration from the book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul by Celtic spiritual teacher John Philip Newell, whose writings illuminate the sacred as present not only in heaven, but within the earth and all living beings. Both Hagen’s and Mozart’s works are meditations on the soul in a program that asks: What is the soul, what is sacred, and how should we live – before and beyond death?
Closing the season is a theatrical version of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and conducted by its Artistic Director Jonathon Heyward on Friday, June 11, 2027 at 8:00 p.m. at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall; Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 6:00 p.m. at Music Center at Strathmore; and Sunday, June 13, 2027 at 3:00 p.m. at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. This staged performance of Verdi’s masterpiece is our third collaboration with Heyward and the BSO’s multi-year Verdi Opera Initiative.
Performance Information
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Friday, August 14, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
Filene Center, Wolf Trap | 1551 Trap Road | Vienna, VA 22182
Tickets: $57 – $132
Link: wolftrap.org/show/26filene/081426/
Program:
Beethoven – The Consecration of the House – Overture
Beethoven – Elegiac Song, Op. 118
Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
Artists:
National Symphony Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Tessa McQueen, soprano
Cecelia McKinley, alto
Demetrious Sampson, tenor
Jonathan Patton, baritone
The Washington Chorus
Eugene Rogers, artistic director
_______________________________
Alsop Conducts Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique
Thursday, October 15, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 8:00 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane | North Bethesda, MD 20852
Sunday, October 18, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201
Tickets: Subscriptions are on sale now, with single tickets on sale August 2026
Link: my.bsomusic.org/20342/20381
Program:
Barber – Adagio for Strings
John Adams – On the Transmigration of Souls
Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique”
Artists:
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor
The Washington Chorus
Eugene Rogers, artistic director
_______________________________
A Candlelight Christmas
Saturday, December 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.
Cramton Auditorium, Howard University | 2455 6th St NW | Washington, DC 20059
w/Howard University Chorale
Friday, December 18, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 19, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m.
Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University | 730 21st St NW | Washington, DC 20052
Monday, December 21, & Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane | North Bethesda, MD 20852
Link: thewashingtonchorus.org/2026-27-season
Program:
Evelyn Simpson-Curenton – NEW WORK (World Premiere)
Artists:
Eugene Rogers, conductor
Christie Dashiell, soloist (Dec. 11, 12, 21 & 22)
Howard University Concert Choir (Dec. 11 & 12)
Eric Poole, conductor
National Capital Brass and Percussion Ensemble
Paul Byssainthe Jr., organ & piano (Dec. 18 -22)
Reservoir High School (Dec. 18 & 19)
Gregory Knauf, conductor
South Loudon Youth Chorale (Dec. 21 & 22)
Laura Lazarevich, conductor
_______________________________
A Song Flung Up to Heaven: Honoring 65 Years of TWC
Sunday, February 28, 2027 at 3:00 p.m.
DAR Constitution Hall | 1776 D Street NW | Washington, D.C. 20006
Link: thewashingtonchorus.org/2026-27-season
Program:
Poulenc – Gloria
Nkeiru Okoye – When the Caged Bird Sings
Artists:
Eugene Rogers, conductor
Denyce Graves, narrator
Cyrus Chestnut, piano
Angela Brown, soprano
Christie Dashiell, jazz mezzo
Issachah Savage, tenor
Michael Preacely, baritone
The Washington Chorus
Howard University Chorale
Dr. Eric Poole, director
_______________________________
Requiem and Renewal
Saturday, May 8, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane | North Bethesda, MD 20852
Tickets: Single tickets are on sale beginning Thursday, July 23, 2026
Link: nationalphilharmonic.org/event/what-the-soul-already-knows-requiem-renewal/
Program:
Jocelyn Hagen – What the Soul Already Knows
Mozart – Requiem in D Minor
Artists:
National Philharmonic
The Washington Chorus
Eugene Rogers, conductor
Rabihah Dunn, soprano
Ashley Dixon, mezzo-soprano
Brian Giebler, tenor
Alan Williams, baritone
_______________________________
Heyward Conducts Verdi’s Requiem
Friday, June 11, 2027 at 8:00 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201
Saturday, June 12, 2027 at 6:00 p.m.
Music Center at Strathmore | 5301 Tuckerman Lane | North Bethesda, MD 20852
Sunday, June 13, 2027 at 3:00 p.m.
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral Street | Baltimore, MD 21201
Tickets: Subscriptions are on sale now, with single tickets on sale August 2026
Link: my.bsomusic.org/overview/20358
Program:
Giuseppe Verdi – Requiem
Artists:
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Jonathon Heyward, conductor
The Washington Chorus
Eugene Rogers, artistic director
___________________________
About The Washington Chorus
The Washington Chorus (TWC) is one of the foremost symphonic choruses in the nation and a cultural leader in our nation’s capital—creating joyous and transformative choral music since 1961. TWC is noted for the superb artistry of its performances and recordings of the entire range of the choral repertoire. A three-time nominated and two-time Grammy Award-winner, the 220-voice Chorus presents performances annually across the DMV region. TWC is also a longtime artistic partner and collaborator with many of the nation’s leading organizations and artists, including the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), National Philharmonic (NatPhil), Washington Performing Arts (WPA), and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO). TheWashingtonChorus.org
About Eugene Rogers
Lauded for leading performances of “pure magic” (Washington Post), conductor Eugene Rogers is at the vanguard of American musicians, recognized for his musical and educational leadership around the world. Rogers is a committed conductor, teacher, arranger, and industry thought leader, championing timely new works, bringing historically overlooked music to life, and supporting next-generation talents.
Rogers is a two-time Michigan Emmy Award winner, a 2017 Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2015. Musical America magazine has named him one of the top music industry professionals, and his work has been profiled on CNN, PBS, and on radio stations and in print and online publications across the world.
Since 2020, Rogers has served as Artistic Director of The Washington Chorus. He is also the Founding Director for EXIGENCE, a professional vocal ensemble affiliated with the world-renowned Sphinx Organization, highlighting artistry within Black and Latinx communities. Alongside his own appearances as guest conductor for orchestra, chorus, and opera, he has also proudly acted as chorus master to leading conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Marin Alsop, Jonathan Heyward, Joe Hisaishi, and James Conlon.
Rogers is a Professor of Music and the Director of University Choirs at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. He is a former board member of Chorus America and is the former national chair of the Diversity Initiatives Committee for the American Choral Directors Association. Rogers is also active as an arranger, with publications including the Eugene Rogers Choral Series with ECS Publishing and the EXIGENCE Choral Series for Mark Foster Publishing.
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