ODDS 'N' ENDS: Ringing in 2006

LET ME WISH you a belated Happy New Year. My hands are a bit tied right now, but just a few things ...

-- HANGING OUT at Sibley Hospital over New Year's isn't all that fun, especially when you're taking the D6 bus up to the Palisades to go visit the sick. (A.L. is doing thankfully better, for those who have e-mailed me.)

-- IF YOU'RE EVER LOOKING for an excuse for a good hike, going from the Palisades to Woodley Park on the network of National Park system trails is good excursion, in any season. Start at Battery Kemble's bamboo forest, head down the park's main north-south trail to the Wesley Heights trail, go by this controversial house (see its giant embankment? The neighbors don't like that, nor does D.C.), head across Foxhall Road and down into Glover Archbold Park, south on its main north-south trail to the east-west Whitehaven Trail, go past the community garden (at right) and the tough climb between 39th and 35th streets NW to Wisconsin Avenue, down the Dumbarton Oaks Trail to the Rock Creek Trail to the foot of the Taft Bridge.

Of course, watch out. Just look at an overview of the confusing territory. Says Washington Running Report:

Like most of the trails in the Rock Creek Park system, the Battery Kemble network is poorly marked at best. I won't lie to you, I got lost the last time I went out there and had to get back on track using the street signs. It's embarrassing, but worth passing along: these trails can be confusing and they're not for novices.

Good luck.