I finally got out of my rut of sleeping late, and was able to get in a 20 mile hike! It took 8 hours and 15 minutes, plus about 30 minutes of biking to the trailhead and back. When I woke up at 7:20 it was still pitch black outside, as the sun does not rise until 8:20 here, as long as Daylight Savings is in effect.
Starting out at the trailhead.
Got to the trailhead at 9:30, followed the National Recreational Trail up to Blue Mountain (6455′) and returned on the same trail. This trail is designated for hikers and horses, so the incline is very, very shallow. I had a wonderful time going up, but coming down, towards the end, I just wanted to go straight down the mountain rather than taking switch-back after switch-back. That might have had something to do with the fact that my feet hurt, and I was dreaming of dinner and a hot shower!
I had a lovely time overall, it was a beautiful cool day (starting out at 29F and peaking at around 49F), and I had the trail almost entirely to myself. While being alone and 10 miles out of town was certainly a novel experience, it’s not my favorite hiking scenario. I enjoy greeting random people every so-often (although not too often — there is a happy medium somewhere). At one point I entered a dark part of forest where the trees must have been a good 30 feet high, the trail was on a very steep slope, and I have to admit I was a bit creeped out. If it had been Halloween day, I tell you what, I would have started sprinting!
Other than the occasional wooded area, the whole trail goes over nearly bald rolling hills. Some of the baldness is just very sparse but healthy trees, other places there is clear evidence of a recent fire, leaving charred tree trunks stripped of all branches. At the very top of Blue Mtn. there’s a lookout tower, from which one could presumably get a 360 degree view. I got almost all the way up when I discovered it was locked and could go no further, so I got maybe a 350 degree view. Not bad!
This does not inspire confidence. But, up we go.
Why is going down always so much more terrifying than going up?
I’ve never been so happy to see my bike as I was after 20 miles on my feet. Sheer bliss to be sitting again!
To address a frequently asked question: What do you eat on the trail? This is what I ate today:
Good old raisins and peanuts. To which I added a bag of M&Ms.
I almost always bring an apple on hikes. They’re heavy, but so worth it!
Triscuits and peanut butter. I really wished I’d made more!!