Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A marathon and rubber bats...





I feel like I have run a marathon, and everyone hit me with rubber bats, instead of offering me nice cold water, and encouragement.

My husband and I, and Lucy of course, hit the trail yesterday for what was supposed to be an "easy" rated four-mile hike. At least that's what the book said. In reality, it was a 5-mile hike, rated "moderate", at about 7,500 - 7,800 ft. But the only reason it was rated "moderate" was because it did have some parts of the trail that was level, otherwise it was "difficult" in my book. Of course my book would be for women who spend entirely too much time blogging.

We were absolutely amazed at the hikers carrying their dogs up that trail! The last one, a little Scottie, was so cute, but come on! If you're going to hike at these altitudes the dog needs to do its own walking:



My husband and I had to laugh at a young, cute couple in the parking lot who were preparing to hike in and spend the night - she had a big pack and a little dog with a pink jacket. If they were married it would be okay, but if this was a date - my husband was thinking it might be the last. She was asking how far, and was relieved when we said only 2.5 miles to the lake, but we were thinking it was going to be hard hanging on to rocks and your dog, too, in some places.



We had attempted this hike a couple of months ago and had to turn back. I had tennis shoes, and the rocks are just not negotiable with soft soles. So we didn't make it to the little alpine lake named Lake Margaret, high in the Sierras. This was the second attempt, and this time I had great boots - Keene - which I love.



But the hike was really hard - big boulders, lots of treacherous terrain. Hard climbing, for sure, especially for me. Lucy ran circles around us the entire time. Took many swims, complaining only when we refused to throw her ball anymore. Munching on bear poop, she had some issues going home!




But back to the hike. I can honestly say I would have gladly hired a helicopter to scoop me up and out, that last mile - which was mostly up, of course. I really don't care how much it would have cost - sell something! How can such a beautiful hike feel so wonderful going in? I was daydreaming about maybe backpacking again, certainly hiking again on Wednesday...

Not!

Well, at least that's how I feel right now. Who knows how I will feel tomorrow. I do know that I won't push that hard again, just yet. Maybe turn around when you've had enough, you know you have to hike back out, and the GPS says at least another mile to the lake. Just turn around for heavens sake -

We did see some amazing country, however. Here's what I was so determined to see:



We decided to go back in the Spring, when the creeks are full. Next time, however, Lucy will have her own pack! I think she will come in handy...

39 comments:

GYPSYWOMAN said...

oh, first, lady, here, sit down and have a bottle of nice cool water!!! i'm panting and thirsty just reading! but gee, what wonderful scenery! be still my heart!!! it's been WAY TOO LONG since i climbed a boulder - fed a chipmunk from my hand - waded in a mountain stream and looked up to see a herd of wild mustangs drinking upstream - geeee.....thanks ever so much for a trip down/up memory lane for me - beautiful!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Now you need to go to a spa for a nice relaxing massage. Hike - massage; hike - massage. You earned it!

ellen abbott said...

I love hiking in the mountains and in fact, will do one when we get to see our friends in Colorado on Thursday. It's been quite some time since I hiked in the mountains. Hope I'm still in adequate shape.

Hilary said...

What a lovely area. You earned your rest.. and those rubber bats will come in handy on October 31. ;)

JC said...

I used to go hiking with Mr. Boatman. It was always longer than he thought it would be .. with me turning my head ... thinking .. how far back to the car.

Now, I'm the drop off & pick up person. I go back to camp & read a book while sipping on wine.

Glad you made it up there ... it's always so pretty

JC said...

Oh, I forgot to mention, I worked a Summer at Yellowstone. Hiking/walking trails was what you did on days off.
See, I used to do things .. really I did.

~JarieLyn~ said...

I like the idea of hiking, but I've never actually been on a real hike before, unless you count the time I was 16 years old....nearly 30 years ago.

One of these days I'll give it a try, but I think I'll start out with baby steps.

Beautiful scenery and by the sound of it, your body should be getting pretty tone after that walk.

Nancy said...

Gypsy - It really is rewarding. I love the sounds of the forest, and the smells. You sound like you know what I'm talking about.

Bonnie - Oh yes!

Ellen - The altitude in Colorado may be an issue. Just take it easy - don't overdo - and drink lots of water. And enjoy!

Hilary - Yes!

JC - I'll bet hiking in Yellowstone was a treat. My husband grew up in Montana and hiked Glacier. I will be the drop off, pick up person when he does Mt. Tallac next week. Yes, I will have a glass of wine and not feel a bit guilty about not going along.

Jarie - You need to visit the other end of the state!

Jen said...

The view was worth it! I would have jumped right into that lake after that hike! I hope you at least soaked your feet!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like my kind of place. My list of places I want to hike keeps getting longer, and I keep getting older.

That just seems so unfair.

Brian Miller said...

i love to hike. the outdoors refresh me so much...until the next morning...i have been hit with those bats numerous times. lovely pics!

Pat said...

I like to hike, too, but it's like walking with an old gray mare, and she ain't what she used to be! I have a walking stick which helps somewhat. But I have issues with my back, hips, and knees. That pretty much covers the majority of my body doesn't it? LOL! I love being out with nature - I just don't have any stamina. I'm LUCKY if I finish a one mile hike! Good for you for finishing that hike!

Elizabeth Bradley said...

My brother and I went on a hike in the lower Sierra's last year, we hiked from about 4000' altitude to over 8000' and I felt the same way! But there was no lake at the top of the mountain, just vertigo!

DJan said...

Well, you know I go on a hike with the Senior Trailblazers once a week, but when I started a year ago, it was really really hard. Now, even though I'm tired at the end of the day, I sleep well and feel good a day or two later, usually. I hope it's the same for you. The pictures are wonderful, and it looked to me like everyone had a good time... eventually!

luksky said...

Beautiful scenery...at least you weren't dumb enough to hike in flip flops like I did my last 5 mile hike. I made the mistake of taking my little 5lb dog hiking one time....never again.

Sylvia said...

That's beautiful. A dream place to live or rest. I would love to be there.

Nancy said...

Jen - No, too tired to take them off!

Jeff - I do know what you mean.

Brian - Darn bats.

Pat - I'm an old gray mare, too! LOL!

Elizabeth - Wow, a four-thousand foot climb is really not easy! I bow to you...

DJ - I'm better today, and we'll go again tomorrow. A short one! So, I guess I will recover. Love what it does with my body - uses every muscle. Like an all-over workout at the gym, but with beautiful scenery to look at. Not bad. Love the hiking pictures you've been posting. Just beautiful country.

luksky - I wonder how many people yesterday thought the same thing by the end of the hike! :-)

Sylvia - Maybe on vacation some time?

robert said...

How glad you must be to be able to reach such places.

Rosaria Williams said...

You were hiking in the Sierra, at an altitude of 7000+ for 5 miles? Amazing, and medal worthy. Yes. You are in amazing good shape.

Expat From Hell said...

I think I will enjoy the hike vicariously, thanks to you. Then, I will look at the pictures, crack open a beer, and relish the memory. Be encouraged; my terrain is very flat compared to yours...

EFH

Nancy said...

robert - I am very blessed. I know that. I am also very grateful.

lakeviewer - No I'm not in good shape, that's what made the whole thing so hard! But it has made me want to be fit again. So in that respect, it's worth it.

Expat - Flat is nice.

Trish and Rob MacGregor said...

Gorgeous! I think Lucy should carry saddlebags on the next trip!

The Good Cook said...

Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and kudoos for making the hike!

Last year my family talked me into doing the Beehive in Acadia in Maine... OMG.. climb, hang on, 12 inch ledges with 100 foot drops. But I did it.

I hope you felt as gratified when you finished yours!!

L'Adelaide said...

you know, i hate camping but after that, well, i would have slept up there rather than hike back down..you must be getting in good shape to have achieved this feat...i am very proud of you as i seem to remember you saying recently you wanted to build up some strength and stamina...i would say you have!

wonderful!
X

L'Adelaide said...

oh, I love the photos too :)

Delwyn said...

Hi Nancy
It sounds like a hard but rewarding hike. Sometimes it is good to push ourselves to test our limits, don't you think?
And usually we have much more ooomph than we think...

A lovely picture to end on...and a lovely reward for you.

Happy days

Mary Ellen said...

Lovely country - I'll guess it gets somewhat easier as you do more hiking. (Missing my mountains . . .)

Bogey said...

Congratulations on the great effort Nancy and the awesome pics. Somebody recently said to me, you never know what you have in you until you get it done. And of course, after completing your trek, it wasn't so bad now was it? Did you bring extra socks? You would be surprised at what a chance of socks can do along with a sprinkle of Gold Bond foot powder. You can do it. Don't stop...unless it's to take a snapshot of your surroundings.

Unknown said...

FYI...if anyone ever threw rubber bats at me after a marathon I would just cry. That was such a funny title, where did it come from???

Meeko Fabulous said...

You gotta admit . . . That last shot was worth it, wasn't it? Take some ibuprofen my friend. Hopefully you're not too sore.

Midlife Roadtripper said...

You have much more energy than me. I haven't hiked on purpose for a long time. Might be fun. Yes, utilize the dog with a pack filled for tea time or happy hour.

Lori ann said...

Gosh it's beautiful there. You are making me miss our trails, I really can't wait to be out again. Glad you got some good boots!

Nancy said...

Trish & Rob - I'm thinking the same thing. She has way too much energy.

Good Cook - I was in a couple of precarious positions but never a 100 ft drop! Wow - that's amazing!

linda - I'm working on it but I have a long way to go!

Delwyn - Pushing is good, but I am realizing it's not a 30-year-old body - it's a 55-year-old body, I'm pushing. And it's a bit different. :-)

Mary Ellen - It does, no doubt.

Bogey - Thanks for the encouragement!

Meg - It came from the exhaustion that my husband always talked about when you "hit the wall", which is how I felt - and the bats from how my body felt - hit with rubber bats! No bruises but pain all over! Ghaaa

Meeko - Yeah, it was worth it. I think.

Midlife - That's my thought - she needs to earn her keep :-)

Lori - The boots make all the difference. I can remember our first hike when we were dating, and I had these knee-high "cute" boots that had a rubber heel, but about two inches high. Never again! LOL

Mental P Mama said...

That looks wonderful. Well except for the rubber bats...And I would kill to be a fly on that couple's back;)

Deboshree said...

Hey!
It must have been well worth it!
The scenery is extremely beautiful!

Love
Deboshree

GYPSYWOMAN said...

NANCY - listen, you must go back over and read my sam cooke posts again - i received the most gracious notes from his great nephew, erik greene - i was moved to tears - would love to know what you think after reading! thanks! jenean

Valerie said...

I adored the scenery shots and admire you very much for undertaking such a hike.

Nancy said...

Mental - Me too!

Deboshree - Yes, it really was beautiful. Being in nature is so cleansing.

Gypsy - I went back and was so amazed at the synchronisity of this story! Your psychic abilities are in full swing.

Valerie - thanks!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! Once again I am taken back by how gorgeous the places you visit are. I can imagine calf cramps and shin aches when nature walking. But what an awesome experience! Maybe halfway through the three of you can have a nice picnic for a break. :)