Hiking

[Crankin]

So, my hike this morning was timed appropriately, as we are under a poor air quality alert starting in 30 minutes, for the rest of the day. It's got to be 90% humidity, going up to 90 degrees later.
Unfortunately, that meant slippery roots and rocks... I was talking away with my friend when my foot hit a rock and I felt a little "that hurt." Not my ankle, on the metatarsi. It felt sore, but is fine now. Then, like 2 minutes later, I took a flyer on something slippery. Thankfully, wearing my hiking capris, so no damage, except dirt stains! But my friend asked me if my balance is off! Of course, I explained that it's always been off, and is actually better now. I really was not paying attention to the ground like I usually do. We still had a good hike and sat atop a rock/viewpoint for awhile, near the end. I don't have pictures of the chasm, I do have some of the view, but I cannot figure out how to get it from my phone to TE. Let me work on that!
I think it was about 4 miles. We had a great time, and so glad I did this, instead of the sweaty 12 mile ride my DH did. Just a little worried about my ability to do the hiking in Acadia in the fall, when it may be raining, but I can't worry for the next 4 months.

[Catrin]

Decent hike today with a new hiking partner, I keep finding more women who like to head out into the woods. We decided to call it trekking instead of hiking. I was checking out my knee on a trail I've not done since long before my knee injury and it did fine. So well that when I bring my little hiking group back in 2 weeks I will make it a 6-mile route rather than the 4-miles from today. Was actually unsure how far it was until we were done so that was nice.

Saw LOTS of a wide variety of very brightly colored mushrooms of different sizes and shapes. Interestingly enough, they all appeared to be on the uphill side of the trail and never on both sides outside of one location that was on a hill top. Some were bright and fuzzy, like something from a Disney movie, others were bright and hairy, colors ranged from blue to red to yellow to white. I know that bright colored mushrooms are always to be avoided, but I've never seen so many! Will look them up to see if I can find out more about some of them.

edited: many of the mushrooms appear to have been a combination of amanita and fly agaric (another kind of amanita) - both posionious - and their colors were quite bright and vibrant. I may not be able to figure out what the bright red and orange fuzzy/plush ones were - they looked like they would be warm and fuzzy to the touch. We didn't touch them :-) Pity I didn't get any pictures. We saw many different things today that I've never noticed in that park before, interesting!

[Catrin]

Had a quite nice 6 mile hike/trek this morning at 7am. We are under this "heat dome" they keep talking about and it seemed a good idea to go early. By 7:30 am it was so hot and humid that my breath would fog up my glasses - I've not seen that here before outside of the winter. Thankfully as the sun rose higher the humidity appeared to go down a bit, but sweat was certainly rolling down the first hour of our hike, then it became more like normal. I don't normally sweat a lot so it's saying something when I do. I had my Salt Stick capsules and used them! At one point my foot became trapped in roots and I fell - but it was a slow-motion fall and I could choose which knee hit the ground - whew!

More heat tomorrow but I will exercise at home after I get home from church with my kettlebells. Next Saturday is the women's group hike I lead and am looking forward to that.

[Catrin]

Somehow I've become the leader of a small women's hiking group from my church. There are currently 6 of us, and I'm unsure I really want it to get larger as it adds complexity considering we go on road trips for hiking. Today will be the first time that all 6 of us have made it at the same time, and if I get more cool pictures will share them. Hopefully we will see the camels again, hopefully from their front ends this time

I've planned a 6 mile trek today - and I'm coming to like the term 'trekking' over hiking as I think the European term really describes better what we do. More and more I hear the term "hiking" used for much more technical hiking - but I tend to perhaps pay more attention to words than I should. Trekking is a great word though so will stick with it.

The best thing about the group is the range of women who have joined us. The youngest are two young women who were just married in our church a couple months past - the first lesbian couple to have a church wedding in our parish since it became legal to do more than a less official blessing (the first gay male couple were married a couple of weeks later), the oldest is a 70 year old woman who joins us when she and her husband isn't traveling. This group wasn't started intentionally, it was born when I was earlier in my knee injury/surgery recovery when it wasn't wise for me to hike solo no matter how easy the trail and I didn't want to fall into the habit of always asking the same person/people to go with me.

[Crankin]

That is so awesome, Catrin. I like the trekking term, too.
I need to get back to hiking, with that trip looming in the future. I am pretty sure I have (had) a stress fracture in my metatarsal from when I kind of kicked and tripped on a root a couple of weeks ago. It's fine cycling, but walking in certain shoes hurts a little. More of an ache, and I know only time helps, so I am going to wait another week or two.

[Pax]

Catrin, I LOVE that you're doing this, taking the lead and showing other women the ropes. How very cool that it fell into place so well, it was meant to be.

[Catrin]

Youch Crankin, hope that heals quickly! My metatarsal (ball of the foot) joint is where I've so much arthritis so I know what you are going through even if it's a different cause.

VERY nice 6 miles today, and there were only 3 of us - one was ill and the other two got tied up but they had their own hike later so that's all good. IT WAS HUMID, and while I took several Salt Stick capsules during the hike by the time I got home (after lunch and a 90 minute drive), both feet were cramping pretty badly plus one calf. Just took another one to be safe. I drank almost a liter of water during the hike which may not have been quite enough, but I feel fine now. More stretching tonight.

Thanks Pax! I don't know how noticeable it is online but I'm not the most socially comfortable woman around, so it's kind of amazing and comforting at the same time to have this little group come together. Now if my feet will jut continue to cooperate (crossing fingers and toes on this one).