Hiking

[Crankin]

First hike of the weekend is done.
We were really lucky with the weather. However, the area is socked in (we are by the ocean) with fog, and no views from any of the peaks. The foliage is still great, though.
We started out on a carriage road and then quickly ascended, through typical rocky, rooty stuff, but nothing horrible. We got to the top of the climb, about 940 feet. Lots of boulders. We ate a snack, and then shortly after getting off the summit, we had about 100 feet of going down a steep "chute," which was rocky. It would have been a bit scary if it had been dry, but it was wet. In fact the whole hike was wet. I did fine, I just went down on my azz in a couple of spots. After that, we had mostly descending, some up, and very rooty and rocky, but again, usual.
I slipped once, but with a graceful recovery and went down on a knee, without touching, on a stream crossing. I refused help and did it "all by myself." I used my poles on the scary descent and for awhile after, as it started raining for real, but once the rain stopped, I put them away. We ate lunch when we got to a carriage road before the last section of trail. I had bought some veggie brown rice sushi and it was the best! After that, we had about half a mail of trail and another mile of carriage road. It was about 6 miles.
So, we are the youngest in the group . There is a couple who have been married 60 years! There was one other woman who could hike as fast as DH and I was right behind them. The leaders told us to go ahead, but we could hear the group, and waiting at junctions. So my fears were unfounded and my new Mountain Hardware rain jacket is perfect. I wore my cycling rain pants today, after not using them for years.. I felt fine slowing on the scary parts and everyone was helpful. The leader had even been to one of the bike workshops DH and I do every spring.
I will not post pictures until we get back. Getting ready for happy hour and dinner.

[emily_in_nc]

Sounds like a nice hike, Crankin!

We did the waterfall hike today. It was only around 3 miles round trip, and our GPS showed just over 1000' of climbing. Like our long hike two days ago, it was all up to the waterfall and all down on the way back. Very rocky and about four creek crossings (the same creek!) but none difficult, lots of nice stable rocks. It was gorgeous! The leaves were a bit slippery from the rain yesterday, but neither of us fell. I was very glad to have my poles on the way down especially! We passed three younger folks on the way down.

In contrast to two days ago when I was in shorts and t-shirts and sweating, today was multiple layers and chilly. It was in the 40s with a strong breeze and almost no sun, especially deep in the creek crevass where we were hiking. Still, it was more comfortable than being too hot!

[Catrin]

Crankin, I look forward to seeing pictures when you've a chance. It sounds incredible!

Speaking of incredible, Emily I love YOUR pictures, and you look great - and happy - on the trail. Thanks for sharing!

Today is supposed to be the warmest day in a week for Indianapolis, and it will get to 72, they say. I really feel the need to move, to do SOMETHING, and I can't lift, don't know how to swim (shoulders probably couldn't handle that anyway), so I may try a very short walk on dirt and see what happens. When I mean short, I mean 1 mile or less, and the trail doesn't really connect with any other so that will decrease the temptation to go longer. I've also been told my hiking boots might be part of the problem so will try it with my Keenes.

[Crankin]

We had a 20 degree decrease in temperature from yesterday and it was windy today. Cloudy, too.
I can say, this was the hardest hike i've done. I didn't let any of the others hear my complaining, but there was a good deal of rock scrambling in the beginning. I was still the third one up, but I was crawling. So were others, though. At least today we had clear views of Echo Lake and the ocean, along with a variety of flora and fauna. Many of these people are naturalists (amateur and pro), but I am just not that interested in the 20 kinds of moss!
There were some tricky chutes/rocks when we had to get down from the peak (I can't even remember the name of the mountain), but I managed it. The peak had a fire tower, which was closed. Anyway, between my eye hurting, my knee aching, and the wind, it was all I could do from melting down. I am proud I did it, and it started to drizzle just as we were getting back. I had become chilled from stopping for lunch, although I really was dressed correctly. We hiked about 6 miles, with 1K ft. of climbing. I still can't believe some of these people did this, between some being over 80 years old, one with cancer, and 2 extremely overweight. The are motivated.
We are going into town on our own for a bit, before happy hour, and then out to dinner. I hope I can move for tomorrow's short hike.

[Catrin]

Crankin, sounds incredible! Thank you for the description, you are a strong woman indeed. Hopefully tomorrow's hike is more of a recovery hike. Looking forward to any pictures you may have been able to take. I hear you about not caring about 20 kinds of moss

Today I just did an extremely easy 1 mile loop in my hiking SHOES (Keenes), not my lovely Solomons just in case that's part of the problem. It's a few hours later and my left shin is complaining a little, so back to resting it. Well, at least it was a 1-mile FLAT, totally boring test. Not that long ago it would have been a mountain bike trail test, so perhaps I'm finally learning something.

While over-use injuries are never good things to have, I don't think it such a bad thing that I'm having to deal with such things at as I celebrate my 57th

[emily_in_nc]

I missed where you are, Crankin. Somewhere in New England? Congrats on finishing a tough hike -- I completely get how you were feeling! I almost, almost melted down on the long one we took a few days ago because DH took off to the summit without me. This is the hike that was nearly 3000' of climbing in the 4+ miles up (and the same descending on the way back). I thought my pace was decent, given the grade, but he is a much faster hiker than me and gets impatient. He did the same thing on the way back. I was proud of myself as I didn't pitch a fit or start a big fight with him afterwards; just calmly asked him why he took off without me and told him how it made me feel. He had a reasonable explanation having to do with the GPS and photo opportunities at the summit, but I asked him, in the future, to please tell me this ahead of time; don't just take off. He said he would and apologized.

It was one of those Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus moments, I think!

[emily_in_nc]

Sorry you're not able to hike much but glad you at least got in a little walk. Hope you will continue to heal up and be back to the type of hikes you like very soon!

[Pax]

Happy Birthday, Catrin!!