Thanksgiving

Beside the normal feasting on Thursday, I was able to get out and hike 4 days in a row. For me that is an amazing feat. Not that I don't have the capacity to hike multiple days, but I do have tremendous family obligations and limited time. Hiking is part mental too. Just getting up and out of the house by 5 or 6 am for 4 days in the row is more of a mental thing then a physical thing.

So over the weekend, I was able to hike 24 miles. So that was about 6 miles a day. Considering I get up and hit the trail at 600 or 630 am so I can make it back home by 11. That includes my drive from 30-45 minutes depending on where I decided to hike. So my hikes were 4, 8, 8, and 4 miles.

The beauty of getting out early is that I am out when only campers or trail runners are out. I surprised some campers by showing up at Garvey's Shelter on the AT. They were amazed that I was at the shelter at 700 am and then they did the math and knew I was on the trail before 600 am.

It remains me of the Camino. After the first two days, we always started before the sun was up. It was practical too in that you wanted to be finished hiking by 2 in the afternoon to avoid the heat. There is magic walking in the morning. We didn't have flashlights, but you could see lights ahead and behind you. Just twinkling fairy lights showing which way to go. Very magical.

Morning hiking is my one true Zen experience. Also there is some guilty pleasure in returning to car after a six-mile hike, you get to pass the hikers just starting out. On my Black Roack hike I counted 32 people coming up as I was hiking down. I think 930 is the average start time for day hikers. Campers tend to be packed up and be on the trail by 800 am if not earlier.

During the same hike six trail runners passed me. Back in the day I did do some trail running (not fast) but I was running on the trail. I am always amazed at how quick they are and how effortlessly they move. By the time I am about to reach the top they have turned around and are running back down.

These pictures were from this weekend. Gathland State Park with the war memorial arch. Then the sun sneaking on me near Weaverton Cliffs.

My final hike was up to Black Rock. The views are amazing but for the first mile it is all up hill and to make it worst it is almost all stairs. Going up stairs is tough and even coming down is tricky as well.

Since the temperature was 38, 36, 38, and 34 degrees, I was able to test out my ability to pack and dress for the cold. Getting back into hiking, I got back into layering and remembering the advantage of that.

I think I will need to upgrade my gloves. Right now I am using running gloves. I will need to do a little research on a warmer pair of gloves.

My puffy down jacket was amazing in the cold. Then the other item that I use in so many ways is my neck gaiter. On early morning hikes I use my neck gaiter as a hat over my ears. My knit hat is way too warm for those uphill climbs.

The last picture is from Black Rock. From this spot you can see Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Most day hikers stop at Annapolis Rock, but hike another mile and you can have Black Rock all to yourself. The views are just as stunning.

Again I am thankful for my family allowing me to get out there and hike this weekend.

Pack Lightly My Friends

Justjoe