Date: 2018-04-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I took another hike up the Kearsarge auto road today. It was about 45 degrees, partly sunny and breezy making it pretty chilly. Today was different in that there was a car near the gate and a DOT van that pulled up as I was getting ready to head up. I bundled up in my wool hiking top, a lightweight fleece, wool beanie and fleece mittens. I took advantage of the open privy not far from the gate and began on my way. As with some women of a certain age, I can warm up in a flash. but not a quarter mile into the climb I was so overcome by it that I couldn't rip off the hat and gloves fast enough! I think I will find more comfort in starting cold than staring warm on the trail. Lesson learned. Today was different in other ways too. Some days are just harder than others and I felt like it was taking more effort for me to get into the zone and make this 7 mile trip. It doesn't help that I have a time constraint when I am out hiking. I generally have a window of opportunity and need to be at an appointment somewhere else on time, in my work clothes and without a 30 pound pack on my back. Not to mention my phone rings and dings with email, text and calls....because I am still working. It's distracting when I just want to focus on the beauty around me and take joy in the pleasure of hiking. It makes me wonder what it will be like to have nothing but hiking and caring for myself to do when I am on trail and I am looking forward to trying that out!As I mentioned, there were people here today. I'm used to having this mountain to myself and today I was sharing with strangers. Not long after I stripped off the extra layers I felt the "presence" of someone. We've all had that feeling. I turned and looked down the road and saw a man carrying a jacket in one hand headed up. I didn't expect to have any feeling about that, but I suddenly felt vulnerable. I did a mental assessment of where I keep certain things, in case I need them. Such as what side my whistle is on, where is my pocket knife, etc. I stopped to the side for a drink of water and allowed him to pass felling more comfortable that he was in front of me and noted his features, the water bottle on his right hip and of course the leather sheath on his left hip which contained a knife larger than my little pocket knife. I continued up a minute after him and a woman older than me was jogging down, smiling. While I was struggling with it not being my easy day, I though heck....she just ran this 7 miles and if she can do that I sure as heck can walk it even if I don't feel peppy. And so onward I went. The man turned around not long after that and headed back down. I didn't see him again. I stopped for lunch at the half way point, ate my PB&J standing and without a break continued my trek. I was reminded by my stomach how important it is to relax and allow it time to do its work before I ask my body press on. The body doesn't do well digesting and exercise at the same time, or at least mine doesn't. Taking time for these things is how I want to practice my self care on the trail. At home I eat and work at the same time, sometimes all 3 meals of the day. On trail I will make it a point to stop and enjoy each one of them and actually feel the nourishment, physically and emotionally and take note of the beauty around me. I completed my round trip while 2 couples hiking separately were headed up. It was a successful day after all and I felt good. I thought I would be hiking on the bare road, but since the snowstorm last weekend had dumped additional snow upon the mountain there was actually more snow cover than the week before. I won't make another trek up before I leave for WV. But the mountain has been good to me for training, more than just physically.