22 miles, 5 mountain summits, 2 nights camping, and gallons of water later...i am alive!!
the 10K was cake compared to this. we hiked the devils path in the catskills, which many believe to be the toughest hike in the east coast. i believe them. the ascents were all extremely and relentlessly steep with parts that felt more like rock climbing. the descents were the same, prompting many to call one particular mountain "suicide mountain". we hiked down it in the dark with headlamps only! (we are all crazy.) 6 mountains in total, you summit 5 of them as part of the hike. my quads and knees feel like jello.
TH's friends, owen and anna invited us on this trip to prep us for our hike next weekend in Washington state. i'm so thankful they did because i feel like i could pretty much do anything now! my body once again totally surprised me as i was able to conquer all those mountains without breaking down to cry. it was really hard, don't get me wrong, but i was capable of hiking it. i just didn't think i could do it. yay me. it also helped to be with friends in the woods, starting a rousing fire, scaring ourselves with bear attacks, having so much fun with the doggy, Ciara (what a trooper she was!), and breathing the fresh mountain air. in the end - a great retreat to the mountains. it was so beautiful.
on the 7 hour drive home, we drove through princeton, nj to visit TH's old stomping grounds to eat pizza and ice cream (reward food, obvs) and we got absolutely poured on in a freak rain storm. my tired legs could barely muster up strength to run to the car. they felt like someone elses legs! even this morning, i'm just waiting for the dull soreness to leave my body please. you know, so in another 8 days i can murder my legs again.
TH and i turned in early, around 10pm. as soon as we pulled back the covers and slipped into the fluffy bed, we were OUT. arrgh so nice! and i felt happy to have used my body so bravely and boldly over the weekend. finally, a good reason to REALLY sleep, rather then "i had a tough day at work". haha. another reason i am in the wrong line of work.
how was your weekend? did you enjoy the welcome of almost summer?
2 comments:
haha, i love that all you have are pictures of the dog. were you actually there?? jk, totally proud of you and in awe of your hiking skills. i don't have the patience for it!!
all we did this weekend was laze around in the oppressive heat. it was really satisfying, but not in a "i just hiked 22 miles" kind of way.
i know! i didn't bring my camera on the trail, but we have pictures from other cameras to upload. plus, that dog was awesome and i love her.
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