Date: 2007-04-06
To: last conditioning hike
Miles today: 0.0

Yesterday I went for my last conditioning hike - another climb up Miller Peak. It has turned hot here in AZ so I got up at 4:30 to try and bet the heat. I got started on the trail at 6:00. I was not cold even then. And a mile up the trail I stripped to sports bra and shorts. Many thanks to God that it was at least a cloudy day with a layer of overcast that only let a little direct sun in late in the morning as I was going back. My time up the mountain was about the same as the previous hike. My time down was 20 minutes better because I took tylenol along with a very early lunch at about 10:00. The views were again superb although the haze made for less clear pictures. The picture I will enclose was from the first hike, this time looking north toward Sierra Vista. There was still a very small patch or two of snow near the top but I suspect that in another couple days all will be gone. My feet did not hurt as bad as I took the tylenol in a timely fashion before they started to hurt. The count down to begin the AT is getting serious now. Only 4 more days and I will be hiking on the AT. It is rather strange to be here with my family whom I love dearly and also to be mentally preparing for the trail. I don't want to miss out on being here with my family but it is hard not to focus on the trail. I spend a lot of time reading the new trail journals posted each day of those preparing to be on the trail or those already on the trail. I pick up some helpful information here and there. But mostly it is just interesting seeing each person's personality and hiking style unfold. The AT draws people from all walks and stages of life to the trail. From teens to 70s or beyond, those who are fast hikers and slow, those with experience hiking and neophytes, those with professional careers and degrees and those just out of college or high school, those who quit their jobs to hike and those who are retired and those who have the flexibility to hike and then return to work, those who are mature in thought and life and those who are hiking the trail to find themselves. The hiking community has a saying: "Hike your own hike." With so many different personalities and lifestyles and hiking styles, there are many ways to hike the trail. No one way is better. All are glorious expressions of people in their meeting of the beauty and challenge of the trail. All are to be respected and supported. It is a good metaphore for life.This morning William was up too early (5:30). Grandma was able to snuggle with him a little and convince him to lie back down and sleep for another hour and a half, something for which his parents were very grateful. Grandma too. William is often so focused on Daddy that he is glued to him but there are times Grandma gets her innings too. William and I also take long walks in the neighborhood inspecting all the tires and trailer hitches on parked cars and trucks. He is branching out now to inspecting exhaust pipes too. Most days we are out walking for an hour or two. Pretty good for a toddler of 18 months with very short legs. Maybe some day he will go hiking with me.And there is plenty of baby holding time. Last night I was so tired from my hike I could only hold baby for an hour or so. But today I will have more chances to hold him.So I continue with the double joys of family and hike planning