The 2026 Untopic

Back in the earlier days of DCSki, one of the Forum’s longest-running threads was The Untopic — a place where people could post whatever was on their mind, whether or not it had anything to do with skiing.

It became especially useful during the slower months, when there wasn’t always much ski news to talk about but people still wanted to check in, chat, and keep the community going.

So I thought it might be fun to bring it back.

Welcome to The 2026 Untopic.

There really aren’t many rules here beyond the normal Forum guidelines. Post something interesting, amusing, random, useful, or completely ordinary. Tell us what you’re doing today. Share a photo from a hike. Mention a good meal, a weird weather observation, a trip you’re planning, something you’re watching, a project you’re working on, a random thought, or something that happened during your day.

Skiing is certainly welcome too, but it doesn’t have to be about skiing.

The idea is simply to give everyone an easy place to drop in and say something, even when there isn’t an obvious topic worth starting a whole new thread about.

I'll get started.  One of the big projects I've been working on this summer (besides upgrading DCSki) is building a pole barn.  You can learn more about why I decided to do this in this YouTube video that I made.

The project has officially reached the stage where it's "one month from being finished."

It's been in that stage now for several months.

But, it's getting closer.  It got connected to the electric grid a couple of weeks ago, and the garage doors just went up this past week.

It will have plenty of space to store ski gear.  :)

Yesterday I took a bike ride on the W&OD and then joined friends for some super delicious BBQ beef brisket at The Pit Stop in Ashburn, VA, about a mile from the Dulles Town Center.  It's family owned and open Thurs-Sun only - until the meat runs out.

... Also if you happen to find yourself in downtown Cleveland, take a look at Mabel's BBQ.  Pretty good stuff.

AI style overviews lookin' good!  ;-)

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

I'm pretty loyal to Carolina Bros along the W&OD. I pretty much stop there every time I'm in Loudoun and when I make my annual autumn ride, that's usually where I turn around. Of course, that's for pork, not brisket.

JohnL wrote:

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

wfyurasko wrote:

I'm pretty loyal to Carolina Bros along the W&OD. I pretty much stop there every time I'm in Loudoun and when I make my annual autumn ride, that's usually where I turn around. Of course, that's for pork, not brisket.

JohnL wrote:

Scott wrote:

I would not be disappointed if this thread just becomes a discussion of the best BBQ joints.  :)

I’m Jim’s BBQ pusher…

Money shot from the day before I introduced Jim to Pit Stop:

Brisket, ribs, Mac and Cheese, smoked kale, sweet tea. Their chicken and sausage are real good also. I was in NOVA for only 6 days this past week, had lunch there twice, an hours drive. This place is that good. 

Eastern Carolina style? I’m real particular about pulled pork, needs to be doused in a tangy vinegar sauce. Not a catsup fan. Did Chapel Hill, NC for grad school, taste buds for pork formed there. Best pulled pork I’ve had was from my old neighbor in VA.

I should have promoted Tour de VRE on here, though it rained...

35 miles - Backlick station to Manasass Airport/Broad Run. Only about $40 with proceeds for Triple Negative Breast Cancer foundation. A train ride back too!

Tour de VRE recap

wfyurasko wrote:

I should have promoted Tour de VRE on here, though it rained...

35 miles - Backlick station to Manasass Airport/Broad Run. Only about $40 with proceeds for Triple Negative Breast Cancer foundation. A train ride back too!

Very cool.  Too bad the weather was a little rough for your ride.  Back in the 1990s I commuted from Fredericksburg to Crystal City on the VRE for a few years.  Very civilized way to avoid I-95 driving.  In 1995 my son and I did a special VRE promotion and caught a train from Manassas to Baltimore to see an Orioles game.  It was just a few games before Ripken broke Gehrig's consecutive games record.  Camden Yards ballpark was only three years old at the time. Nice memory.