backpacking test run

Olympia wants to do more hiking, camping, rafting and any other more adventurous stuff. We tried for an overnight backpacking thing last fall but it didn't work out. This year, we plan on hiking on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia for a weekend. Someone in the ward is a thru hiker and is really excited so has offered us a ride so we can hike thru instead of out and back. That won't be until the fall but we are practicing now to make sure we can make it 8 miles a day with loaded packs on. We didn't do 8 miles today since we went after I got off work but we did 3 miles with loaded bags in 2 hours. I think we'll be fine. We have one more practice run left. We'll be going to stone mountain and hiking up and back down with the packs. It's pretty steep in spots and we've been told that that is what it'll be like.

There's a park nearby that has an equestrian trail, hiking trails and biking trails (all seperate). The trails were very nicely groomed. We had to walk the bike trail until we got to the turnoff for the hiking trail. The turnoff is hard to miss as it's a large arbor with flowering vines covering it. It smelled great.

We went down a lot of stairs and knew it meant trouble later on. At the bottom was a stream where we took a break.

100 years ago, these woods used to be a meadow pasture. You can see how quickly things get overgrown out here. There are a few original trees scattered around. We found one. It was huge! It could have fit at least three of me holding hands around it.

Once we crossed the river, we started back uphill.

It really had our calves burning.

Honeysuckle is one of my favorite flowers. It smells so good! It fills my lungs and makes me smile. I found out Olympia had never tasted it so I corrected that. It's too bad there's not much nectar in each one.

We took a wrong turn and ended up on a different trail which meant we didn't get to see the ravine overlook. I was looking forward to that. We came out on a different part of the bike trail and a guy passing by stopped and took our picture for us.

Instead of heading straight back to the car, we took the long way around, past the meadow they are restoring.

The bike trail was lined with these little trees that were covered in these little purple flowers. The flowers smelled good but it was their deep purple centers that I really liked. Olympia took some home to her horticulturist husband to identify them.

We were expecting a thunder storm tonight so we were hoping we wouldn't be stuck in a downpour. We made it back to the car before any rain fell. It was a nice evening.

Bonneville Shoreline Trail hike with Valerie

On one of the mornings shortly before I left for my bike trip, Valerie came to pick me up for a hike. We got on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Provo Canyon near Bridal Veil Falls. We weren't really sure how far we'd get. The kids had an early out day so Valerie was needed back home later...although Robin did tell her he'd be home so she didn't have to rush. Good thing, because we didn't make back in time for her to be there for the kids.

It was VERY green up there for late summer. I could hardly believe it! There were a few trees and bushes that were changing colors but it was mostly just green.

I asked Valerie to bring a backpack so I could carry water and some food. And I can't believe how heavy I made that thing! Sings of things to come for my bike trip. ;o) I wore it for a while but Valerie ended up taking it somtime before we even got off the connector trail (it was pretty long). She was wheezing so badly, I was scared for her. So once I got the backpack back, I refused to let her have it back. I couldn't have her dying on me up there.

At one point, very early on, we had stopped to take pictures and this mountain biker came hurling down the trail toward us. He never even slowed down. I jumped out of the way and he just flew by so fast that I didn't Valerie had seen him to get out of his way and I almost screamed but there was no crashing sounds so I looked back and everything was ok.

The trail is kind of steep going toward the Shoreline Trail. Then when it hits the trail, it stays kind of flat for a while and it's more like a nature walk and very relaxing. But after a bit, it begins climbing some more. We finally made it out of the canyon and we were heading closer and closer to Squaw Peak. Valerie was very determined to make it there. But at about 6 miles in, we turned around. Even if Robin was there for the kids, she still had dinner to make for the missionaries. Poor Valerie was so disappointed that we didn't make it to Squaw Peak. Maybe we can make it next time!

We had already done the majority of our climbing getting to the point but the ups were feeling more up than they had on the first half of the hike. But we finally made it. We were both feeling fine...except for Valerie's headache. I'm sorry I never offered you some of my water...I thought you just weren't drinking because you weren't thirsty.

We got in the car and drove toward the house and about half way home, Valerie was saying her hands were numb and she was hyperventilating. So I convinced her to pull over and let me drive the rest of the way home.

At the house, she was able to drink some water and eat something since we had burned over 2000 calories! She was feeling a little better when she left. She was going to pick up pizzas on the way home since she didn't feel like cooking but she started feeling so much better that she decided to cook after all.

Back in 2001, I went on a hike with Jared on Mt. Timp. It had just snowed badly and the signs warned of avalanche danger. We saw a few little avalanches across the mountains but nothing big at all. We kept going. We came to a spot where we were debating on whether or not to turn around. I took my backpack off and was taking pictures. Jared continued climbing up a bit. The trail was covered in slick snow. He slipped and started sliding toward a pretty high cliff. I put my hand out so he could grab it as he slid past but he wouldn't take it and I was screaming at him. Somehow, his heel caught the edge of this little rock that was sticking out at the very edge of the cliff. So between that hike and this one, I may never get anyone to go hiking with me again. But everyone lived so that has to count for something!

5 miles to sleep

Today, the dogs and I drove out to Melba and went hiking. I was looking for a park that would have been really cool. It was an old Paiute spring camp area. They have rocks with Indian art all over the place. I only had a hand drawn map, not directions so I never found it. I pulled into a gravel parking lot for a gravel trail that led to the Snake River somewhere beyond where we made it to.

We did find some coyote scat here and there but I wasn't too worried about that. After all, there were tons of cows wandering around, still alive. Plus, there were some people somewhere beyond eyesight, but still within earshot riding dirt bikes...they obviously weren't being bothered by them. What did worry me was the cows. Jasmine, Jack and I were attacked by a cow last year. She charged us many times. The last charge was so scary! If she had had horns, we would all have extra holes in our bodies. As it was, her droll was on the dogs from when she was shaking her head at them. Anyway, I am now really scared of loose cows because of that cow. I started praying for safety but when one stood up and started walking toward us, I turned and walked as fast as I could in the other direction.

We had a few water/snack breaks. We brought along the new collapsible water bowl from Grandma & Grandpa. No one had any problems with using it. At one of those breaks, Jack and Jasmine actually laid down. We ended up going 5 miles. I was going to take one more side trip but the sun was getting low and it looked like rain. So we went back to the car, had more water, another snack and loaded everything back into the car. Within minutes, all 3 dogs were laying down and settled. That never happens. We've been home for a few hours now and aside from the time to eat dinner, they have all been sleeping soundly.

I love hiking. I'm glad I got to go with the dogs.