Photos: Rock Creek after the rain, and a driver’s close call with a falling tree

by Marlene Berlin

I hiked Rock Creek Park on Sunday to see the creek swollen by rain, but my first encounter was with a driver on Ridge Road who had stopped just short of a falling tree.

The driver, whose name was Damon, told me he had also come to see the creek after the rain. Before the tree came crashing down, he saw beech nuts falling and was able to stop in time. Luckily, he was not hurt, and the only damage to his car was a knocked-off mirror cap.

The road, blocked by branches, and littered with beech nuts: the driver’s early warning system. The Park Police were quick to arrive.

The tree’s anchoring root system was probably compromised by the combination of rain, and soggy ground from snowy then melting conditions. More than an inch of rain fell Saturday night into Sunday morning.

Please drive and walk with care and attention as this tree’s roots likely were not the only ones compromised.

With Damon none the worse for wear, and the Park Police arriving on the scene to assist him, I moved on.

Rock Creek was high at Joyce Road Bridge.

And at the aptly named Rapids Bridge.

The creek came close to the trail. This family and their dog were not deterred.