I assured Holly that the hardest and steepest sections of the trail were behind us and the trail from here to the summit would be somewhat flat for the exception of the last few hundred feet. Elaine led us along on an eastern ridge and past the last vegetation of evergreens and low lying shrubs that would eventually yield to dirt and rock. Pausing momentarily to admire a few plausible tent sites, I shifted to the front of the pack and noticed the trail appeared obviously defined from frequent travel. However, as I led the group north in the direction of our unseen target the trail at times would blend into the rocky terrain and become challenging to follow. Silhouetted against the grayish sky to our immediate left were two lofty and rocky strewn …show more content…
I will definitely lobby to entice Holly back up here on a clear day. With a few switchbacks left to navigate, it would be only minutes back to the trailhead and the truck…and the outhouse! Usually I’m not bashful that I wouldn’t pull up a tree anytime, anywhere, however; with the thick air of fog and rain providing extreme cover, I wouldn’t want a surprised a trekker appearing suddenly from nowhere and seeing that I had a handle on things! A week ago to the date while descending from Wallace Falls, I asked Holly to form a list after the hike of things she didn’t care for regarding that particular journey. I found the list interesting to say the least. However, this time I asked her for a list of things she liked of today’s Sauk Mountain hike. Again, I found the list interesting.
1. Fog and
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Easy switchbacks
3. The summit
4. Heading down
5. The benefit of hiking poles
6. MY RAIN JACKET
7. My rain cover for my pack
8. My cliff bar
9. The climb from end of switchbacks to summit.
10. Finishing As for me, knowing these things can be essential as they may help in developing the right environments for Holly as she works towards a sizable and realistic goal. And I want nothing more than having my picture taken standing next to my daughter on Washington’s second highest peak, Mount
To add to the difficulty of the trails is the extreme elevation changes. The re are ironically enough thirteen climbs which result in more than 10,000 feet of climb per loop. This is obviously accompanied by an equal amount of descent. One runner described it as climbing 100 floors of stairs in your first mile, going back down on second mile and continuing this for twenty miles. The course amasses an average grade of over 20% and between 50 and near 100 percent grade on the abandoned trails and bushwhacking sections. The grade is the reason that the trails have been abandoned or not built in the first pace. Each climb bears a unique name which in many cases gives a good idea of their nature.
It was simply amazing hiking out there, the mountains covered in tall trees that dug into the rocky soil, the beautiful sky, when visible. Even in the midst of strenuous exercise I still en...
By noon they had begun to climb toward the gap in the mountains. Riding up through the lavender or soapweed, under the Animas peaks. The shadow of an eagle that had set forth from the line of riders below and they looked up to mark it where it rode in that brittle blue and faultless void. In the evening they came out to upon a mesa that overlooked all the country to the north... The crumpled butcher paper mountains lay in sharp shadowfold under the long blue dusk and in the middle distance the glazed bed of a dry lake lay shimmering like the mare imbrium. (168)
I tracked over to my favorite spot on the edge of the wood: a clearing encompassed by thick trees. The area had many sweet-smelling balsam trees that reminded me of Christmas back home. A few of the remaining leaves fell from the branches of the maple trees above me.
In a time where the general population is overweight and obsessed with technology, there isn’t much time for the outside world. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson is about two corpulent men on a journey to walk the Appalachian Trail. At first their tale seems unlikely because of their weight and the fact that they have never hiked a day in their lives. However, it quickly turns into an inspiring story that we, as people, should use to spark our own adventure in the great unknown. Bryson writes A Walk in the Woods to encourage people to live a little and experience the great outdoors, to meet interesting people in it, and to encounter the enthralling wildlife that resides on the Appalachian Trail.
And so it was that I found myself standing on a dirt and gravel road, surrounded by equally sleepy classmates at 7:30 am, Monday morning. We all huddled within our baggy jackets, unconsciously mirroring one another in loose jeans, gray or black t-shirts and scuffed, dusty running shoes. In contrast the instructor appeared wide awake and put together, standing before us in a green sweater, pressed khaki slacks and well-worn yet well-maintained hiking boots. He perkily welcomed us to the threshold of Poly Canyon, and with other preliminary descriptions of the upcoming landscape turned and headed down the long, winding service road.
Many Americans love to hike. There are many hiking trails located in the United States. One of the most well known trails is the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail, with its distinct history, requires much conservation for the safety of its many hikers.
The skies were clear and a very bright blue. We unpacked our gear from the car and started hiking on the trail. Walking on the rocky trail was hard and tiring but the views were great. There were areas that were very grassy and green and others that seemed very dry. Our trail wasn’t on the green side.
Where I come from, the vast land stretches on for miles, filled with dancing corn and wheat fields. Turn one direction and look at the clouds of dust rising off the gravel road, then turn the other way, that's about all there is to see here. A town of two stop lights. As you are driving, don’t blink, you may miss this little place. Some people may say there isn’t much to miss anyway, but I’d beg to differ. This is the place where I met and grew up with lifelong friends.
It is not true that the close of a life which ends in a natural fashion-
It had been a decade since I camped last, and I recalled it being a jam packed, smokey, noisy family campground. I had only been camping in the “real woods” once, and that was literally decades ago - four of them. And now, Wendy, who is a self-proclaimed Queen-of-the-wilderness, introduced a weekend in the interior of Algonquin Park as one of our - Canadian Destinations.
Being invited to a friend’s house the other day, I began to get excited about the journey through the woods to their cabin. The cabin, nestled back in the woods overlooking a pond, is something that you would dream about. There is a winding trail that takes you back in the woods were their cabin sits. The cabin sits on top of a mountain raised up above everything, as if it was sitting on the clouds.
A fork in the trail leads you around the lake in each direction, directly across the lake is a small hill, overlooking the whole lake, the perfect campsite. We rounded the lake and climbed the small hill, and claimed our perfect campsite, tent hidden from view behind shrubbery, but with in steps you’d be overlooking the lake and out into the valley. Our camp was on the only shelf of the hill, and directly behind the hill was a large open meadow, lush and green from the spring run off. The meadow was the only thing separating us from the mountain, looming in the background. Grazing in the meadow were two moose, who would reside there throughout our stay. We didn’t go much of anywhere while staying at Parika Lake, usually we go on day hikes while backpacking, but we were perfectly content staying at the lake and walking
In the distance, the trail along which I had been walking wound through a thick velvet fog. Lining the path were tall trees that stoo...
One of the most enjoyable things in life are road trips, particularly to the Colorado mountains. Getting to spend time with your family and friends, while being in a beautiful place, is irreplaceable. The fifteen-hour road trip may feel never-ending, but gazing at the mountains from afar makes life’s problems seem a little smaller and causes worries to become a thing of the past. Coming in contact with nature, untouched, is a surreal experience. My family trip to the Colorado mountains last summer was inspiring.