What a wonderful winter day I had for my first official Climb Against the Odds training hike! I headed up to the Shenandoah National Park to trek the trails. I choose a circuit hike 7 miles long with 1,200 ft elevation gain and a 4 mile estimated hike time.
Packing for the hike was a bit different than usual. The hiker mind set is pack as little and light as possible...I had to break that mind set by actually finding extra stuff I could pack to get my pack weight up for the training hike pack weight goal of 10-15 pounds. Hmm...what to bring? After loading down with water, food, and a few extra items (including a 5 lb. hand weight) I hit the trails ready to blaze with 15 pounds in my pack.
I had hiked the shorter version of the trail (5.3mi) before with my old roommate Kelly in the Spring when we were low on water in Virginia. This time the falls were gushing and I had the special treat of a winter waterfall wonderland! The trail I choose went by Jones Run Falls, crossed Jones Run, then went uphill along lower and upper Doyles Falls. Very pretty and majestic scenery with large icicles in the falls and along the rock walls. One of the coolest sites was a fallen log covered with a thick glassy layer of ice from top to bottom.
Although I took 6 batteries with me (6!) I still managed to run out of battery power in my camera (apparently none of them were charged). So I did not get photos of many of the wonderful sites I saw along the hike. I hope to return (camera fully charged) again this winter to capture more of the ice land.
After the falls the hike takes you to Browns Gap Road. This old road was used by Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War. The road allowed the soldiers to trek through the mountainous land and hide in the trees when enemies approached. After 2 miles of steady uphill the old road intersected with the Applachian Trail (AT). Just 2 miles South on the AT brought me back to where I had started.
AT through hikers all pick up a trail name along the way, I'm certain my would be something along the lines of "snot rocket" or "mighty runny nose." Not even 200 feet into the start of the hike my nose was already a running. No time for tissues on the trail, so snot rocket it is, and for me lots of them!
I zoomed through the trails (especially after I found out all me batteries were dead) and completed the hike in just 3 hours.
While I was hiking Mike was at home preparing a lovely post-hike meal for me of roasted turkey breast with a yummy mustard and soy dressing, sweet potato, and cranberry sauce. What a sweetheart, and what a good day of training hiking!
Climb On,
Jess
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