Date: 2011-06-01
To: Memorial day weekend
Miles today: 0.0

Memorial Day weekend hikes... well I had a 4 day weekend and did 3 hikes and worked on different parts needed to hike; endurance, miles, speed, crossing creeks, and bouldering. Hike #1- SNP Mile marker 11 (Compton Gap) I worked on speed, endurance and well also learned how to deal with pain afterwards. I did a 7 mile hike in 2.5 hours with a light pack. I climbed up and over the mountain then did semi flat walking (little running.) I also got to talk to a few hikers on this hike and they gave me a few tips (Thank you so much!) Plus I met my first female thru hiker (this season Sherpa?) On this hike I also got to walk through the forest fire area..WOW...the difference within a few yards. Some spots on the trail is nothing but fried trees (I know they say whatever is fried is good but I don't know is that stands for trees.) There were other spots where a lot of green underbrush is coming up while top brush is still trying to pull through and live. I enjoyed this hike to the fullest up until my knee got aggravated and my shins hurt.Hike #2- GW Forest (Elizabeth furnace area up to Buzzard Rock) so this hike was eye opening in a lot of different ways. I decided to best my map and compass skills (I still have them!) wading a creek skills, and ascending and descending boulders skills. Well God decided in the beginning of this hike he was going to inform me that this was NOT my hike, but it was instead his hike and I¢m just hiking it for him. God showed me this the hard way when I tried to cross a raging creek with NO ROCKS to safely step on. From the start I knew I had to take my shoes off so I did and held them in my hand to cross the river, I then went to take my first step (aiming for a rock.) To my surprise I ended up stepping on the rock sliding off and well landing in the water up to my thighs, (also getting cuts and bruises from my toes to my knees.) I finally walk across the creek cling on to anything for dear life (please note water and me and not 2 pea's in a pod) I make it to the other side and start my climb up the mountain(bouldering) to find myself huffing and puffing. I realized right there that there was not way I could do this hike myself, I found myself stronger than ever going straight up this mountain. Then when I hit the top i was speech less, because I made it, and because of the view. I realized right then that this is his hike in which I¢m hiking for him. After getting a few pictures at the top I headed down the mountain, not tried one bit, and made it back to the creek. When I went to cross the creek this time I was given some guidance by the man upstairs. So how do you cross a raging creek well...the boots and socks come off and get draped over your neck, you go up stream to where it is calmer and shallower, you also grab 2 sticks so you can have four legs not two, then you cross always keeping 3 legs down. I made it back over to my car safely (without getting lost!!) and made it back "home"(campsite.)Hike #3...Can I even call this a hike? I did a 6-7 mile trip. I started out running two semi flat miles, then walking two miles, them running to miles. I went to Signal knob by the Massanutten Mountain trail. It was one great hike/ run and worked on my endurance majorly. The whole weekend turned out great in the long run and couldn't have asked for anything better."Put one step in front of the other and soon you will be walking out the door..."