Hike distance: 7.13
Total distance hiked: 179.41 miles
Miles remaining: 0!!!
I finished! Just in the nick of time! It was a nice hike, even though it felt quite chilly. The trail looked different than normal... chilly, gloomy, and no leaves. I saw a downed tree from afar that I tried to get around during a recent hike and realized it was actually a huge tree that had split in the middle, and each piece had fallen in opposite directions. I also saw a couple of people riding horses on the multi-use trail - I don't think I've ever seen horses out there! They were pretty. Toward the end of the hike, I was walking down a stretch of trail with nobody around. It was perfectly quiet except for the sound of I-40 in the distance. I heard a strange sound in the woods - like a weird loud quack or caw. I never saw what it was, but after I reached the creek, I came across a great blue heron fishing in the water ... so maybe that's what it was. It was cool to watch him stretch his neck out and poke around in the water.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Christmas Day walk/jog
Hike distance: ~5 miles
Total distance hiked: 172.28 miles
Miles remaining: 6.72
On Christmas Day, I was feeling pretty worn down, lethargic, and anxious. I needed to get out to exercise! So I went on a walk/jog through the neighborhood around my parents' house. Kids were out playing with their toys, families were taking walks, and a couple of neighbors had some lovely chickens hanging out in their yards. I went a little less than 3 miles. I felt a million times better afterwards. Then, I went on a little bit of a walk with my parents to tack on a couple more miles. I then rounded up to 5 miles because the night before, my cat decided to jump out of my car window on Wade Avenue in Raleigh and run off into the woods (long story, ugh!!!)... and I spent half an hour tromping through the woods with my cell phone light, calling his name, and crying. That totally counts as a hike, right??? :) Luckily, my parents came to the rescue and helped me find and grab him. WHEW. Talk about a Christmas miracle!
Total distance hiked: 172.28 miles
Miles remaining: 6.72
On Christmas Day, I was feeling pretty worn down, lethargic, and anxious. I needed to get out to exercise! So I went on a walk/jog through the neighborhood around my parents' house. Kids were out playing with their toys, families were taking walks, and a couple of neighbors had some lovely chickens hanging out in their yards. I went a little less than 3 miles. I felt a million times better afterwards. Then, I went on a little bit of a walk with my parents to tack on a couple more miles. I then rounded up to 5 miles because the night before, my cat decided to jump out of my car window on Wade Avenue in Raleigh and run off into the woods (long story, ugh!!!)... and I spent half an hour tromping through the woods with my cell phone light, calling his name, and crying. That totally counts as a hike, right??? :) Luckily, my parents came to the rescue and helped me find and grab him. WHEW. Talk about a Christmas miracle!
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Suburban "hike"
Hike distance: ~4 miles
Total distance hiked: 167.28 miles
Miles remaining: 11.72
This feels like cheating because it wasn't actually a hike, but I did take the opportunity to walk to the Lowe's down the street and back instead of driving in order to get some exercise and fresh air on a nice warm winter day. I would've driven if it weren't for this challenge, so in a way, it totally counts! Gaining some miles and getting Christmas presents and parts to fix a toilet - win win! :)
Total distance hiked: 167.28 miles
Miles remaining: 11.72
This feels like cheating because it wasn't actually a hike, but I did take the opportunity to walk to the Lowe's down the street and back instead of driving in order to get some exercise and fresh air on a nice warm winter day. I would've driven if it weren't for this challenge, so in a way, it totally counts! Gaining some miles and getting Christmas presents and parts to fix a toilet - win win! :)
Sunday, December 11, 2016
North Cary Park & the Greenway
Hike distance: ~5 miles
Total distance hiked: 163.28 miles
Miles remaining: 15.72
I went on a chilly walk/jog through my neighborhood, through North Cary Park, and on the greenway behind it along a creek. My asthma was being a bit of a killjoy, but it was good to get outside for some exercise. I've gotten sloppy about tracking my miles, so I am having to estimate.
Total distance hiked: 163.28 miles
Miles remaining: 15.72
I went on a chilly walk/jog through my neighborhood, through North Cary Park, and on the greenway behind it along a creek. My asthma was being a bit of a killjoy, but it was good to get outside for some exercise. I've gotten sloppy about tracking my miles, so I am having to estimate.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Duck Walk
Hike distance: ~5 miles
Total distance hiked: 158.28 miles
Miles remaining: 20.72
I took a few walks around the Town of Duck, NC, over Thanksgiving - along the boardwalk, and through town. The boardwalk is always a nice quasi-natural getaway - it goes along the edge of the sound with beautiful views and interesting trees and cool birds. I also discovered a cool little outdoor bar near my uncle's house that had a cider on tap, which was a lovely treat for myself after a walk!
Total distance hiked: 158.28 miles
Miles remaining: 20.72
I took a few walks around the Town of Duck, NC, over Thanksgiving - along the boardwalk, and through town. The boardwalk is always a nice quasi-natural getaway - it goes along the edge of the sound with beautiful views and interesting trees and cool birds. I also discovered a cool little outdoor bar near my uncle's house that had a cider on tap, which was a lovely treat for myself after a walk!
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Company Mill with a twist
Hike distance: 4.54 miles
Total distance hiked: 153.28 miles
Miles remaining: 25.72
My recent hikes have taken an interesting turn. I have had the urge to go in directions that the trail doesn't go, so I end up veering off the trails and tromping through the woods. I'm sure there's some life metaphor in there somewhere...
Today, I started on Company Mill, went on the Inspiration Trail, got off the trail, went down a steep hill, and saw a nice little trickling waterfall. (I got the idea from someone's post on Instagram - he told me about the little waterfall.) I came across a guy nearby, and we chatted about the trail and where it went. He had found an extra trail map on the ground and gave it to me. I felt inspired (I guess this trail is appropriately named) to try to tromp through the woods and meet up with another part of Company Mill... Unfortunately, the big creek was in the way. I started following the creek to see if I could make it to the big bridge. I came across some rather large obstacles and decided to go back up the hill through the woods to catch an earlier section Company Mill trail. I went the opposite way on the loop than I usually go since it was the section across the creek from where I had just been. I watched the terrain on the other side to see if I could possibly hike along the creek on that side and make it to the bridge, or if there were any possible natural crossing places with rocks and logs. I definitely saw some big obstacles, but if I tried hard enough, I think I could do it.
Someone used to tell me that you should always stay on the trail. It's safer, and you won't disturb more protected natural areas. The same person also told me that the trail carries you. On a difficult backpacking hike, I remembered this visualization. I felt like I was riding the trail like a wave, and it was carrying me along the way, up and down the hills. It's easy to stay on the trail. The trail carries you. It's unnerving to veer off the trail. You have to stay more aware of direction, landmarks, and surroundings, and you may or may not be able to actually get to where you want to go. There are obstacles, dead ends, unknowns. It's possible to get lost. The terrain is more natural and potentially less stable. There may be more spider webs and other wildlife with fewer humans around. It's easier to misstep or fall into a hole. But there's a bigger sense of accomplishment when you make it out, and you see things you wouldn't normally see. I want to spend more time venturing through woods off the trail.
But then i see signs like this that crush my dreams.
My recent hikes have taken an interesting turn. I have had the urge to go in directions that the trail doesn't go, so I end up veering off the trails and tromping through the woods. I'm sure there's some life metaphor in there somewhere...
Today, I started on Company Mill, went on the Inspiration Trail, got off the trail, went down a steep hill, and saw a nice little trickling waterfall. (I got the idea from someone's post on Instagram - he told me about the little waterfall.) I came across a guy nearby, and we chatted about the trail and where it went. He had found an extra trail map on the ground and gave it to me. I felt inspired (I guess this trail is appropriately named) to try to tromp through the woods and meet up with another part of Company Mill... Unfortunately, the big creek was in the way. I started following the creek to see if I could make it to the big bridge. I came across some rather large obstacles and decided to go back up the hill through the woods to catch an earlier section Company Mill trail. I went the opposite way on the loop than I usually go since it was the section across the creek from where I had just been. I watched the terrain on the other side to see if I could possibly hike along the creek on that side and make it to the bridge, or if there were any possible natural crossing places with rocks and logs. I definitely saw some big obstacles, but if I tried hard enough, I think I could do it.
Someone used to tell me that you should always stay on the trail. It's safer, and you won't disturb more protected natural areas. The same person also told me that the trail carries you. On a difficult backpacking hike, I remembered this visualization. I felt like I was riding the trail like a wave, and it was carrying me along the way, up and down the hills. It's easy to stay on the trail. The trail carries you. It's unnerving to veer off the trail. You have to stay more aware of direction, landmarks, and surroundings, and you may or may not be able to actually get to where you want to go. There are obstacles, dead ends, unknowns. It's possible to get lost. The terrain is more natural and potentially less stable. There may be more spider webs and other wildlife with fewer humans around. It's easier to misstep or fall into a hole. But there's a bigger sense of accomplishment when you make it out, and you see things you wouldn't normally see. I want to spend more time venturing through woods off the trail.
But then i see signs like this that crush my dreams.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Arrowhead hunting With Dad at Jordan Lake
Hike distance: 3.4 miles
Total distance hiked: 148.74 miles
Miles remaining: 30.26
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)