Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,889 
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Post by Just T on Jun 22, 2024 19:09:56 GMT
I never hiked in my life until the summer of 2020 when I was bored with walking around my neighborhood. LOL On a whim one Sunday morning, I decided to go for a hike. Which really wasn't the best idea because it was hot, I didn't take enough water, the trail was 5.3 miles, and it was hard. My son warned me and said I probably shouldn't start with that trail. At first, I was like, "what is he talking about, this is easy! The first mile or so was pretty much flat. After that, it was hard, lots of steep hills, switchbacks, narrow paths next to big drop offs. LOL But after that hike, I was hooked, and for the next 10 or so weeks, I hiked somewhere every weekend. I started looking for hiking trails when I traveled, and I was hooked. I hiked every chance I had for the next year or so, even in the winter. Then, in the early summer of 2021, after finding out all the shit my stbx husband was up to, I went hiking one morning when I was super angry, wasn't paying a lot of attention to what I was doing, and I tripped and sprained my ankle. I was pretty much out of commission with hiking or even walking much, until fall. Then, in the winter of 2022, I got Covid and it took me months to feel up to hiking again. THEN, I ended up with a stress fracture in my foot, and that whole summer, I didn't hike once. In the spring of 2023, I did something to my knee and could barely walk for months, so no hiking last summer either.  This summer, I am hopeful for no injuries, and I've been hiking a few times. Two weeks ago, I went to Lake of the Ozarks with a friend who owns a lake house, and we found a beautiful trail to hike that followed a few steps from the lake for almost a mile. It was so lovely and peaceful. We saw a few cranes or herons (I'm not sure which, LOL) This morning, I went to my favorite trail near my home--the one I hiked the first time is my happy place. It was hot and I don't have the stamina for the whole trail, but the first 1.5 miles is relatively flat, so I walked that and then turned around. It feels so good to get back out there. There is something about hiking that makes me feel so calm and peaceful. I just wish I would have tried hiking sooner, when I was not old and out of shape. LOL Here are a few pics from my hikes this summer. Share yours too!! And tell me about your hiking adventures.      The first two pics are from my hike at Lake of the Ozarks and the last two are from my favorite trail near where I live. Part of it is high on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. |
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239
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Post by pilcas on Jun 22, 2024 19:12:58 GMT
Sometimes. We are going to the Canadian Rockies in Aug. and will be doing some hiking.
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Post by Zee on Jun 22, 2024 19:17:07 GMT
Yes, often. I love nothing more than to be out in nature in the woods!
Every time we go on vacation we look for nearby parks to explore.
Although when I get on a steep rocky trail I sometimes have regrets. But the good thing about hiking is once you get out there, you have to get yourself back, so no quitting like on a treadmill.
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,889
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Post by Just T on Jun 22, 2024 19:22:02 GMT
Sometimes. We are going to the Canadian Rockies in Aug. and will be doing some hiking. I advise you to get some hilly hiking in now! LOL My kids and I went to Denver over Thanksgiving 2021, and we did some hiking, and OMG. I was absolutely 100% sure I was going to die! LOL We did this one hike that All Trails said was moderate/easy, the whole thing up and back was about 3 miles. It was horrid. LOL I took us close to 5 hours. There was one part that was so rocky I was literally on my hands and knees crawling. LOL The only thing that saved me coming back down was a nice lady who gave me one of her hiking poles. Between the altitude and the quick change in elevation, what might be moderate to easy for someone used to the altitude in the Rockies, was HARD for us midwesterners. Even my young adult children struggled. Just be careful! And drink tons of water before and during your hiking. And enjoy! That hike was also one of the most beautiful I have done. |
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Just T
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,889
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Post by Just T on Jun 22, 2024 19:23:34 GMT
Yes, often. I love nothing more than to be out in nature in the woods! Every time we go on vacation we look for nearby parks to explore. Although when I get on a steep rocky trail I sometimes have regrets. But the good thing about hiking is once you get out there, you have to get yourself back, so no quitting like on a treadmill. HAHA so true! That is how I ended up finishing that first hard hike. By the time I realized it was harder than what I should be doing, turning around wouldn't have even helped. LOL Thankfully, that trail has a few strategically placed benches that took full advantage of on that day. |
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pilcas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,239
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Post by pilcas on Jun 22, 2024 19:28:43 GMT
Sometimes. We are going to the Canadian Rockies in Aug. and will be doing some hiking. I advise you to get some hilly hiking in now! LOL My kids and I went to Denver over Thanksgiving 2021, and we did some hiking, and OMG. I was absolutely 100% sure I was going to die! LOL We did this one hike that All Trails said was moderate/easy, the whole thing up and back was about 3 miles. It was horrid. LOL I took us close to 5 hours. There was one part that was so rocky I was literally on my hands and knees crawling. LOL The only thing that saved me coming back down was a nice lady who gave me one of her hiking poles. Between the altitude and the quick change in elevation, what might be moderate to easy for someone used to the altitude in the Rockies, was HARD for us midwesterners. Even my young adult children struggled. Just be careful! And drink tons of water before and during your hiking. And enjoy! That hike was also one of the most beautiful I have done. Thank you! I am working on getting my stamina up. I did forget about the altitude. |
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Post by ntsf on Jun 22, 2024 19:49:06 GMT
I started hiking as a toddler. adn still love to hike. but not on cement.. only real trails. I don't go too far or too much elevation any more due to knees.. but there is nothing like it. I used to hike some with my kid, my "sherpa" but she doesn't live near anymore.
I was on usfs fire crew one summer and also spent a couple of summers running a trail crew.. so I got to hike at work.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 22, 2024 20:35:00 GMT
We hike but not huge ones any longer. My two best claims to fame are (1994) Upper Yosemite Falls which is the highest falls in North America. That was hard and took about 7 hours up and back. The very light things you see in the background are pine trees down in the valley. I must say that DS was a champ!  Then in 2019 we hiked to the top of Mt. Vesuvius in Italy. Thankfully the bus took us partway up the mountain!  We also climbed Mission Peak in Fremont, CA, on a warm, humid day with only one bottle of water between us. I learned that day to become more prepared. Sadly no pictures were taken. |
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Post by SallyPA on Jun 22, 2024 20:48:05 GMT
Oh boy do I lol. It is my biggest passion! Although I hike year round, July, aug, Sept are my main season for backpacking. If you had told me 10 years ago that I would willingly haul a 35 pound pack to sleep on the ground in bear country, I would have laughed in your face. But it truly is the thing that feeds my soul.
This years big adventure is a once in a lifetime trip to the Thorofare which is rhe most remote location in the lower 48. It is in the southeastern section of Yellowstone. It will be 6 nights/7 days, 65 miles in absolute paradise with my 69 year old dad and brother. We cannot wait!
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Post by Lexica on Jun 22, 2024 20:51:29 GMT
My ex fiancé and I went on hikes all the time. There was a trail about 10 minutes from my house that started out between houses that were high on the top of the hill, but eventually it led out into the wilderness. When we were preparing for a big hike somewhere, we would go to the local one after work and hit it hard to prepare for the big weekend hikes. It had one very steep long climb in it that kicked my butt.
One evening after work we made it to the top of the steep part and we had a silly habit of smacking the fence post at the top before we turned around to go back down. We hit the post and immediately headed back down the trail because we were losing daylight. We hadn’t gone 20 feet before we came to a big wet spot in the dirt. There was still urine soaking into the dirt and a huge cat paw mark in the damp edge. We had just crossed paths with a huge mountain lion. It obviously was not hungry or I might not be here.
This hiking trail is where there were two different mountain lion attacks in the recent past. A man was knocked off his mountain bike, dragged by his head into the brush, and killed. Then there were two women cyclists on a different part of the trail when a mountain lion grabbed one woman off her bike and started dragging her down the embankment. Her friend jumped off her bike and grabbed onto the girl’s leg and started screaming for help while trying to stop her friend from being dragged any further. Then a couple of guys heard and they started shouting at the mountain lion and throwing rocks at it. It finally let go and they got the girl back up the to the trail.
She had severe injuries, but she lived, thanks to her friend’s fast action in stopping the lion from dragging her away.
There was a sign at the beginning of that trail that reminds you that you are entering their territory and possible prey to the mountain lions. We stopped hiking for a while, until the cat was located and removed. And we both went out and bought hiking poles and bear spray. I don’t know if there would have been time to deploy the spray or not, but it gave me a little security. And we figured the hiking poles were not only very helpful in the rugged descents, but would be useful to hold up if something was charging at us. They would hopefully be impaled on the pointed ends. We also bought snow baskets to be able to use the same hiking poles when we went snow shoeing the winter.
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 22, 2024 20:58:52 GMT
We're about 15 minutes from trails. We hike. Yesterday we hiked Mt. Blue Sky and spent two hours with these friends.  |
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Post by alsomsknit on Jun 22, 2024 21:21:18 GMT
I love to hike!
My favorite place to hike is the switchbacks at Seneca Rocks, WV. First time I couldn’t make it to the top I cried.
Fibromyalgia stole that from me. Now, I get to “hike” a little on the trail around the lake at Rocky Gap. Used to make 2 loops easy. I wish I could just get a mile in at this point. The Beast and I walk various loops around Dad’s property, as it adjoins our yard.
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Post by Linda on Jun 22, 2024 21:45:40 GMT
I don't HIKE but I do like walking trails - I've spent too many years on and off of crutches to tackle anything too extreme - my body just isn't capable.
My DD just came home from a backpacking/white water rafting trip in Georgia and the Carolinas with her Girl Scout troop - she loves that sort of stuff. Next month she's canoeing in the Boundary Waters for 10 days
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Post by malibou on Jun 22, 2024 22:06:52 GMT
As a family we like to hike and do a lot of it on vacations. I don't like hiking near my house, even though there is lots of it with incredible views, because our terrain is deserty and coming down the trails its slippery and I hate that.
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Post by stormsts on Jun 22, 2024 22:13:20 GMT
DH and I love to hike. My parents live in SC near some great hiking spots.
Last summer we were fortunate enough to get permits to hike both Angel's Landing in Zion and the Wave in AZ. Going back to Utah this summer, not sure where we will hike yet.
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Post by kristi on Jun 22, 2024 23:02:04 GMT
Yes, I love to be outdoors. Last year I did the 52 hike challenge (1 hike a week with no repeats) & it was so good to be outdoors exploring!
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Post by malibou on Jun 22, 2024 23:09:20 GMT
DH and I love to hike. My parents live in SC near some great hiking spots. Last summer we were fortunate enough to get permits to hike both Angel's Landing in Zion and the Wave in AZ. Going back to Utah this summer, not sure where we will hike yet. I recommend the slot canyons in Escalante. |
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Post by leannec on Jun 22, 2024 23:34:36 GMT
I do not hike ... I am an indoor girl!  It's unfortunate because Calgary is an hour away from some of the best hiking trails in the entire world ... Rocky Mountains ... Banff, Canmore, Kananaskis, Jasper, etc. I just don't enjoy it  |
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Post by leannec on Jun 22, 2024 23:37:16 GMT
Sometimes. We are going to the Canadian Rockies in Aug. and will be doing some hiking. Have you got an itinerary set up? Where will you be ... Banff? Jasper? |
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Post by lisae on Jun 22, 2024 23:59:48 GMT
I miss hiking. We used to plan our vacations around hikes at National Parks. Various aches and pains have kept us off the trail for the most part. We still do the occasional short hike. I'm glad you have found it an enjoyable hobby.
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Post by peano on Jun 23, 2024 0:01:32 GMT
Used to, before back problems. Loved setting out with my dog into the state forest. Would spend the entire day, getting lost, finding our way back to the car. I miss it.
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Post by scrapmaven on Jun 23, 2024 0:08:31 GMT
There are so many gorgeous places to hike in my region. Sadly, I cannot hike, but I surely would if it was physically possible.
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Post by Lexica on Jun 23, 2024 0:16:30 GMT
I love to hike! My favorite place to hike is the switchbacks at Seneca Rocks, WV. First time I couldn’t make it to the top I cried. Fibromyalgia stole that from me. Now, I get to “hike” a little on the trail around the lake at Rocky Gap. Used to make 2 loops easy. I wish I could just get a mile in at this point. The Beast and I walk various loops around Dad’s property, as it adjoins our yard. I’m so sorry fibromyalgia stole your ability to hike. I understand. I have it too and I went from hiking and snowshoeing all the time to being exhausted after bringing in the groceries and needing to sit down before putting them away. I just hope they find either a cause or some way to minimize the fatigue and pain we have to live with. |
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snyder
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,350
Location: Colorado
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Post by snyder on Jun 23, 2024 0:24:21 GMT
Lovely photos. So pretty.
I use to hike a lot, then got old and fat and ended up with nerve damage from a surgery I had, so I don't any longer. I love to live vicariously through other's photos of their hikes though.
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pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,648
Location: The Grand Canyon
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Post by pudgygroundhog on Jun 23, 2024 2:16:37 GMT
I'm a hiker! And I understand your pain of injuries - I ruptured my Achilles tendon last spring and had surgery so was out of commission for quite a while. It was difficult! I hope you stay healthy and have a good summer of hiking!
I live at the Grand Canyon so that is where I do most of my hiking these days, except it's been hot this summer. When I hiked this week I got up at 3 am to do a nine mile hike so I could be done before it got too hot and to avoid too much sun exposure (I had a bad reaction to the sun this spring, despite ample sunscreen, so have been careful with covering up).
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,468
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Post by katybee on Jun 23, 2024 2:51:33 GMT
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,468
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Post by katybee on Jun 23, 2024 2:56:27 GMT
As a family we like to hike and do a lot of it on vacations. I don't like hiking near my house, even though there is lots of it with incredible views, because our terrain is deserty and coming down the trails its slippery and I hate that. That is exactly why I got my new Hokas. They’re trail runners (even though I do NOT run!). But the treads are really good and I’m hoping that will cut down on some of the slipping. I fell a couple of weekends ago, and though I was not hurt, I am now the running joke of my family. (It was into a bush of stinging nettles). |
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Post by gillyp on Jun 23, 2024 3:02:02 GMT
Everyone’s photos are great.
I do not hike. My sense of direction is abysmal even though I can read a map. I find rocks and pebbles moving under my feet to be very stressful. Same goes for slippery paths. I know I could use walking poles and I do when walking in town in the snow. I find mountains oppressive and don’t enjoy them. I’m a big wuss and hiking is not for me.
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Post by malibou on Jun 23, 2024 6:41:58 GMT
As a family we like to hike and do a lot of it on vacations. I don't like hiking near my house, even though there is lots of it with incredible views, because our terrain is deserty and coming down the trails its slippery and I hate that. That is exactly why I got my new Hokas. They’re trail runners (even though I do NOT run!). But the treads are really good and I’m hoping that will cut down on some of the slipping. I fell a couple of weekends ago, and though I was not hurt, I am now the running joke of my family. (It was into a bush of stinging nettles). Please let me know if the Hokas help. My hikers don't give me enough nonslip, and it makes me sad. I am definitely at the age where I hate to fall and if I did fall, I would like get hurt. 👿 |
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 23, 2024 13:17:52 GMT
I used to, when I lived closer to a wooded place.
But I walk everyday, just not surrounded by calming nature.
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