Date: 2019-03-07
From: West Mombasha Road

To: Elk Park 
Miles today: 5.2
Weather: overcast clouds

We were up and at¢em early this morning. I was ready for a 12 mile day, but Baby Girl was not. She¢s currently taking antibiotics for a sinus infection, and it seems they have upset her tummy. She vomited before we even left the hotel. This will be a Blue Raccoon day. The first quarter mile or so was fairly flat. Flat but snowy. I¢m guessing there was 8 or 9 inches of soft powdery snow. Immediately I wished I had grabbed my snow shoes. After that quarter mile I came to my first big climb of the day. Wowzers! I was bouldering up high over snow covered boulders. It was challenging to say the least. I had to throw my poles up ahead then feel through the snow for handholds and footing to pull myself up. I was hoping that would be my biggest challenge for the day. Hahaha! Wishful thinking on my part! Basically the next 4 miles were UP. Lots of that UP was bouldering, and most of it was covered in deep snow. I remember thinking it might be a good thing that Baby Girl stayed with Papa Big Swig today. This was a lot! That¢s also when it struck me that I would reach the Lemon Squeezer today. NO! I cannot do the Lemon Squeezer without Baby Girl!  Just like that, I decided to hike only 5 miles today. During my UPs and DOWNs(mostly UPs) I had 3 or 4 little water crossings. Then I came to a large water crossing. This was part of Little Dam Lake. From a distance it looked like I was going to have to cross barefoot, but when I got all the way down to the water, I found a way across. Boots on!  For lots of reasons I really enjoyed hiking near the lake today. First, the sun was so bright right there. It seemed like the only job the sun had to do today was to warm that lake. Every now and then I would hear a pop when pieces of ice would melt enough to break away from the rest. Secondly, the greenery around the lake was nice to see. Not just evergreen trees, but bushes and lichen. Proof that Spring is coming!  Lastly, the snow had melted enough that brown leaves from last fall were poking through in spots. I liked listening to them crunch below my boots.  Yes the lake was a great place, but soon I started my trek up Arden Mountain at 1015ft elevation. OH MY GOODNESS! I went UP forever! Talk about feelin¢ the burn! My glutes are still on fire.  My calf muscles are a mess too! Hiking up hill in the snow really stretches those calves. With every step up and forward my back foot gives a little slip backwards. It pulls the heck out of my calves. Somewhere up there I saw my first rock cairn since coming back. I love seeing them. They make think of a strong guardian standing there protecting me. And in there own little way, that¢s what they do. I said goodbye to my guardian friend and began my journey down. It was equally as difficult as going up! Bouldering down in the snow at that decline grade was tedious. A few times I chose to sit on my butt and just slide down large slabs. It took an eternity to do, but I made it to the road unscathed. Before me was a sign for Harriman State Park. Papa Big Swig and Baby Girl we¢re waiting in a parking place just up the road. Today was a challenge, but I finished up just in time to go out for lunch with two of my favorite people.  Until Next Time Blue Raccoon (2018/2019) Where¢s your faith?