Left to right: Gana, me, and Eileen --just starting out on the hike.
Gana, a friend from work, suggested a few months ago that we go hiking to the most popular hike in the Shenandoah National Park. I had been there like nine years ago and wasn't able to go to the top because we had to get back to do something (I don't remember what.) I was also breathing so heavy I was embarrassed that I couldn't breathe because I was out of shape.
This hike was me proving to myself that I was in shape and that I could do this hike. Aala'a was supposed to go with us (another co-worker and very good friend), but she ended up having a family emergency and couldn't make it. We were all so disappointed that she couldn't come. We left early--5:30 from my house. I hadn't fallen asleep until around 1:00 am so I was VERY tired!
Gana is showing us that she's hiking. The hike is a lot of switch backs up and down. I had been the one to decide if we were going or not because it was supposed to rain. It didn't seem like it would so I decided we would go. I am so busy so this was the only weekend that I could go. It had rained there the day before and it was
very humid. The ground was a little wet and so some places it was a little slick, but we didn't really notice going up.
It was so beautiful! There wasn't anyone around as we were hiking up. It was peaceful. You can see the fog in this picture. It sadly stayed with us all day, but really was so beautiful.
Then something happened.
I looked down and my soles literally came apart. You can't see it on the shoe on the right, but it was doing the same thing. We had been hiking for an hour and twenty minutes when they decided to fall apart. I thought they would be ok, but it just kept getting worse.
Gana wrapped them in my bandana and a trash bag.
Here I am sporting my held together soles. However, it didn't work. With each step they would come forward and then eventually slide off. We had to stop every few steps. It was so incredibly frustrating! Finally it was decided that I would take Gana's shoes (we are the same size) and go back down the mountain and get her Keens (they are sandals that can be used for hiking) and hike back up. I refused to not continue the hike. I had done a lot (it seemed) to get there and wanted to prove myself.
So I set off with Gana's boots on my feet and my boots in a bag. It was awkward carrying the bag, but better than carrying my pack both ways. So I attempted to run down the mountain. It was somewhat difficult as it was very slick and there are tons of jagged rocks on the path. I would pass people and ask them to tell my friends without the shoes that they had seen me and give them an update. They later told me that it was fun getting updates and not have to explain why they were sitting there. They would tell them that they could see me running down the trail. It was tough!
I finally got to the trail head and there was a group dropping off boy scouts. I quickly asked if I could have a rid down to the car park. I was so grateful to have a ride which cut out about a mile of what I planned to run. (It took me an hour to get to the trail head.) I changed shoes, got some water, and then ran up the road to the trail head. I passed people along the way trying to hike as fast as I could. I only stopped once at a big rock formation that looked like a toad. Some people I had just passed then passed me as I got some water. I explained my situation and then ended up hiking up with them to my friends. It took me about another hour to get back to my friends.
Erich on the left (yes that's a kilt) and Jason on the right--we ended up hiking with them the rest of the day. Erich had hiked Old Rag 12 times this past year. This was his 12th time. I have to say that it was such a blessing to have them along.
Erich knew exactly where to go on this part called the Rock Scramble. (I kept calling it the wrong thing so that may not be the right name. :)) You have to go up some difficult parts where you need people to help haul you up. You go in between rocks like Gana is doing here.
You go down large crevices like this one. Erich showed us exactly where to step and how to get through everything. You can see in this picture that I am completely wet. It was so humid and I had been hiking for hours with my little two hour detour. I will wear a tech shirt next time to wick away the sweat.
Here is Eileen, Gana, and Jason going through one of the crevices. You had to put your feet on the one side and 'walk' with your hands on the other rock to get through. Some places you would walk with your feet and hands between rocks. It was really fun!
The sad thing was that it was cloudy/foggy when we finally got to the top. We couldn't see any of the vistas that were there. I would say 'wow what a gorgeous view'. This looks like a waterfall, but it's really a leafless tree.
This was a really cook rock entry to part of the trail. Gana has her great camelbak on. I think I need to get one. :)
We are holding up this rock, but Erich definitely has most of it. :) I'm in the middle with the green shirt.
We sat and had lunch on the summit that you can see here. This is looking at it once we left.
The cloud cover moved for seconds. I was a little behind and they said hurry come see the view. I hurried, but I could already see the clouds moving in and barely had the chance to get this shot.
In some places they had rock stairs. I thought that was so cool. They were totally even--no slipping and no wobbling. I am so grateful to those who make the trails so nice for hikers. It was fun to have Erich and Jason along on the trip. We had interesting conversations, laughed a lot and and enjoyed their company.
Erich had said that Rudy's had the best pizza. We thought about the pizza place the entire trip (not me so much, but Eileen.) So of course we had to go after we got down the mountain. I ate it despite the dairy and the gluten. We had ham and pineapple--delicious! Then we went to a burger place and got shakes that were SOOO GOOD! I remember when my mom and I used to ski together that we would go to a place and have burgers afterwards (this is before my red meat allergy) and it tasted so good--better than if we didn't go skiing. I think the pizza place was like that too. It was so good after our all day hike.
It was such a fun hike. I took a long bath in epsom salts when I got home and then was so tired I could hardly brush my teeth. I was so glad to go to bed. I slept eleven hours and honestly needed probably one or two more hours. I only got up because I had to prepare my RS lesson for church. (This is what procrastination does to you.) I was also SOOOO sore!!! I am so sore. My hips and knees are killing me! Basically everything hurts. :) I think running down a mountain does not agree with me. :) I really did have a great time though!
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