Hiking 2017 Reloaded

[Crankin]

I didn't get to ride in California this weekend, but I did hike. We went to the Claremont Wilderness Hiking Area, which is right in the city limits. We tried going here in September, but it was closed, due to fire danger. Originally, we were going to go back to Mt. Baldy/Ice House Canyon, with my son and the baby, but my son was tired and was trying to be polite and said, "I know you don't want to go," so DH and I wnt out around 4 pm. It was not too hot at all, sunny, around 75, with a nice breeze. This place gets crowded with trail runners, hikers, and walking groups, but there were not many others here. When we finished, more people were coming, as it was just after 5 pm, on a Friday.
The trail is a 5 mile loop, and since we started late, we decided to do an out an back, knowing it would take us 2 hours to do the loop. It was very different than hiking in the northeast, or even Mt. Baldy, which is about 17 miles up the road, but in a different climate zone. Wide dirt trail, just a few rocks. Lots of trees along the trail, though, as well as wildflowers, and some running water/ streams near the start. However, this trail had elevation. It did feel hard ascending, but I didn't realize how steep it was until we turned around and went down. We did 3.6 miles, with 650 ft. of climbing.
I would have liked to do the loop, but we had promised my son and DIL we wold take care of dinner. It was just as well, as all of the sitting on our travel day, flight delays, etc did a job on my back, and the hike kind of pushed it even more. Thankfully, although we had a day of hell coming home yesterday (got home at 4 AM this morning) as well as a high level of back pain from all of the extra sitting, it is resolving today. I am thinkig I shouldn't hike until after more PT and after I get back from my bike trip. We won't ever be coming back to Claremont but there are similar places in San Diego, where I do go, to visit my brother.

[Catrin]

Sounds like fun Crankin!

I did manage to do a 3-mile MUP trail walk last Saturday with a couple of my hiking friends - the trails were just TOO wet. I thought this weekend might be an option, but no, things are even more muddy. It has to stop sometime though!

[Pax]

Sounds like fun Crankin!

I did manage to do a 3-mile MUP trail walk last Saturday with a couple of my hiking friends - the trails were just TOO wet. I thought this weekend might be an option, but no, things are even more muddy. It has to stop sometime though!

We had three whole rain free days, all the fields are still filled with standing water, and we had another gully washer yesterday. It is a sea of mud out there.

[Catrin]

I FINALLY was able to manage a little 3 mile hike on a couple of trails that were actually boot dry! My neck and shoulder seems to get cranky right now at about 3 miles, so I stopped while I was still feeling well. Major bugs however, obviously this will be a year of bug spray and hats... I suspect I won't be able to hike for the rest of the year once the medical rodeo starts at the end of July - but I will get in as much as weather and body allows!

[emily_in_nc]

Glad you got a little hike in, Catrin! Better than I am managing...just starting back to walks, and those aren't very comfortable yet as my jaw bounces around more than it should, so I have to go slow and steady. I think bugs are gonna be bad everywhere this year!

[Crankin]

We have so many mosquitos outside our house... we back up to a small wetlands area and it is definitely worse than my previous home. Beautiful to look at, though!
Emily, just being outside should make you feel better. The walking will come. Hope the healing is going well.
Catrin, get in as much as you can before your surgery.
I need to not hike until after my trip, as hiking requires a bit more aggressive stretching on my part, afterwards, than riding, to keep my back in shape. I'd love to go today, but...

[emily_in_nc]

What a shame about the MTB trails, Sheila. Mother Nature is a cruel force at times. Hope you can find another place to ride!

[rebeccaC]

Thinking how cool to have a high tech, light, electric, foldable, comfortable, wheeled chair for easy moving through a city and buildings.

A miraculous and quick recovery coming your way pax…….well, hoping anyway.


also thinking confinement to a hotel room sounds yucky ....but then what's the outside humidity like in Chicago now?
but then then room service ftw.....does the hotel have a spa and in room massages???????????????