Grand Canyon Bound 2010

Havasu Canyon VIDEOS

2010-07-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

These are not in any particular order!

Yield Mules

Into Camp

Campground Tour

No Pain No Gain

Into Enchanted

Enchanted

Enchanted 2

Waterfall

Post Waterfall

Mooney Orientation

Village Tour

Village Post Office

Ascent To The Top

Havasu Canyon

2010-07-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

NOTE: This trip could best be captured by visiting yourself. The pictures are good, but if you have the time ~ check out the post labeled "VIDEOS" to view all of the short videos that I took while in the canyon. Keep in mind, I am the WORST narrarator. If you can ignore me and just look at what I video'd, it will give you a mini-virtual tour of one of the most magnificent places on earth. Enjoy!

June 2nd, 2010 Arrival in Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix welcomed us in the late morning of June 2nd and we were escorted to the Hyatt, where we would be staying for Night One of our journey. After settling in with our roommates, our group of 11 (Alan, Roger, Robert, Greg, Lisa, Lizzie, Danielle G, Peggy, Jill, Carra and I) decided to sample the city’s hot spots of shops and restaurants. Sam’s Café was the perfect location to make our first toast to our journey. A few pitchers of “Grand Canyon Margaritas” (special ingredient~ Prickly Pear) and some sweet and spicy homemade Tostitos were enjoyed by all.

Following lunch, Lizzie, Carra and I decided to cool off our Leukemia/Lymphoma-inspired toes (green and purple!) on the sidewalk fountains! So refreshing in the 100+ degree temperatures!
After hitting a shop or two, Carra, Greg and I indulged Carra’s love of volleyball at the Arizona Convention Center where we watched some of the US Volleyball Open. Others went to pick up some last minute items for members of the team, some napped, and others enjoyed the sun at the pool.
In the evening, we met up for dinner at the hotel with Tracy, who is a coordinator for the LLS hike. She shared our morning’s itinerary plan and we got to meet Sandra and Edward~ two additions to the 42 hikers who’d be heading to Havasu in a couple of days.
After dinner, our group decided that we should head into town for some Cold Stone ice cream and Alan decided to call a group meeting. We rallied around a couple of outdoor benches and Alan led the “Awards” ceremony under the light of the moon.
We each got a tent stake as a token of our training session while Alan gave us each a moment in the “spotlight” by saying some kind words about each of us.
We ended our night around 10 p.m., after a night cap in the hotel bar.
A combination of time zone differences, the heat and a full day of new experiences set the stage for a restful evening!
P.S. Why did they arrange for us to stay the night in Phoenix? We were 5 hours from the Canyon in a place that had very little ‘life”. MAYBE, it was so that anyone who was THINKING about turning back could do so? The airport was only 5 miles or so away….

June 3rd Off to the Caverns Inn

We had to be packed and ready to leave for the Caverns Inn by 12:30 today. Over a room-service breakfast of steel-cut oats, yogurt and berries, and an egg and zucchini frittata- Carra and I down-sized our travel gear to a backpack and small duffel bag. A few cups of excellent coffee helped us through all of the challenges that come along with packing!
We had an hour and ½ to spare before we were to meet the group. We taxied to the Heard Museum to do a little tourist shopping and pick up our lunch for our 4 hour van ride. Carra got some Native American earrings and a bolo for our grandfather. I was very caught up in the life-size, pillow-soft sheep!

Our team met up with more LLS teams at 12:30, where after our “hellos”, we boarded the vans.
ALL 42 of us, heading for the same adventure, all for different reasons…very interesting, I must say. The four hour ride offered lots of opportunities for personal gratification (ie a good nap for me). Lizzie decorated her backpack with ribbons honoring and remembering loved ones, we shared stories, and enjoyed the scenery.

Our “Inn” was ummm…. Well, I guess rustic? That’s probably the best way to describe it. We were given a half an hour to get settled in our room prior to meeting for the inspiration dinner. I was surprised to be recognized for being the 3rd highest fund raiser for this LLS event. I was given a hiking journal, hat and LLS pin. Had I known I was going to be in the spotlight, I might have dressed better!

Dinner was located a mile away on the hotel property. If you can picture an $8.95 buffet-special…. You are probably right on the money. Spaghetti, meatballs, iceberg lettuce…get the picture? With 42 of us, it took a ½ hour before there was enough pasta and spice cake to feed the clan (… I opted for dessert first!) Our group was split with some of us eating inside, some outside. We all decided we would walk back to the inn that evening after taking a few group pictures.
A day full of travel and the time change made us all hungry for some fresh air.
Once we arrived back to the caverns, we did our final packing and visited our guides to load up our Camelbacks. I picked up a bottle of high SPF sunscreen, before turning in for the night. Did I mention we showered up in what would be the last “real” opportunity to clean up? I silently groaned, and set the alarm for 5:15 a.m.
P.S. I still can’t believe I am doing this. Like, really? Bio-degradable body wash and shampoo? Limited face care products? “Outdoor” bathrooms? I was feeling a full-blown panic attack come on as I closed my eyes and dreamed about simple pleasures- like showers… in a real shower. And an outlet, for my blackberry.

June 4th, 2010 Havasu Canyon, here I come!

We were ready for breakfast on time Friday morning. Some of us (Robert and Greg!) were still on Jersey time and were ready to hit the Canyon at 2 a.m.! Luckily for them, they were fully showered and packed extra early, but were easily able to lie down and catch a few more hours of sleep (once they figured out that no one else was up!). Breakfast offered many choices for our varied appetites- granola and yogurt, fruit, and hot foods like eggs and pancakes. We were encouraged to add ice into our “bladders” and empty our “natural” bladders in our final restroom! (Am I really doing this?!)
The ride to the Havasu Canyon (located along the south rim of the Grand Canyon) took approximately an hour. Our guides wanted us on the trail nice and early as they anticipated the blistering heat to come. As we pulled our vans into the parking lot, we all finalized our checklists. We had the chance to use the port a potty (I was opting not to~ the odors were deadly), confirm that our duffel bags and sleeping equipment had arrived and was ready to be loaded on the horses.
We packed our lunches, said farewell to those heading into the camp by helicopter,
and began our descent into one of the most breath-taking natural wonders I have ever seen.
(Now there is the mindset that I needed to enjoy this great opportunity!)
The trails were primarily downhill with a mix of varied terrain. There was a mix of loose sand, drive-way like stony paths and dirt trails… It was difficult to keep your eyes on your feet when the sights all around were so tempting! The horses (and in some cases, the mules) dominated the trails quite often, but provided us with a much needed break in our travels. They carried everything from coolers to people and they were on a mission. They often had thirsty dogs following close by, and once, the dog bit a mule’s leg which helped increase the mule’s pace!

Approximately six miles into the hike, we rounded up our teams on a dirt trail along side a crystal clear Havasu Creek. It was the perfect opportunity to remove our boots and socks, throw on some water shoes and jump in! The current was brisk, carrying us over some rocks and dumping us into a wider, more peaceful place in the stream. Many of us went in with the clothes we were hiking in- mostly because we were so hot (I mean, soooo hot), we really didn’t want to wait any longer for relief. We re-fueled with our back pack lunch of salami, cheeses and crackers and dried fruits before preparing to finish out our Day 1 hike. The final 2 hours were during the hottest part of the day. Temperatures escalated to 100+ degrees in the shade. I hadn’t put my boots back on, I figured I would give my Vibram 5s a whirl for the remainder of the hike. They were pretty comfortable, but the sand beneath our feet was so doggone hot- and it was endless! We were thankfaul to reach the Supai village where many of us indulged in ice-cream bars and cold drinks (I didn’t think twice about grabbing a frozen Snickers ice cream bar). The Supai Community was made up of places such as: The General Store, Café’, School and post office.

The post office is the only one where mail is delivered in and out by mule! Many of us bought post cards to write while at camp. The last mile of the hike was the hardest. It was so uncomfortable to be hiking in the heat and even though we weren’t carrying all of our supplies, we were carrying backpacks with 15 lbs. of gear.
Thank God for the amazing views as we approached camp! We passed the first waterfall and swimming hole and I can still feel the fear as I watched other tourists jump from the waterfall into the turquoise blue and honey-dew colored waters. Our entrance to the campground started with more falls, named Havasu Falls. The falls cascaded into more of a “swimming pool” comprised of blues and greens.
I was certainly feeling delirious at this point, from the heat and exhaustion…but with a simple smile I began wondering ~ could I have died and reached paradise?
Our camp was right around the corner from Havasu Falls. As we arrived, I was happy to see our AOA guides had set up our tents, a full blown kitchen (like something you’d see on “Iron Chef”) and canopy-covered picnic tables. Tears came to my eyes when I saw the stream of green and purple honorary flags with names of those enduring Leukemia/Lymphoma. (Here's to you my little Matthew!)
We had a “camp meeting” with details that didn’t extend beyond the day to come. We were encouraged to live and breathe only “the here and now”. AOA’s philosophy was to meditate on the moment and incorporate all of your senses into those moments, because the trip would be gone before we knew it~ leaving only the memories captured in our heads and hearts. This was hard for me to do, being such a “planner” and all. I embraced the philosophy and vowed to de-tox from the world of watches, e-mail and life’s business.
Our tents were equipped with twin-sized pads where we would lay out our sleeping bags for the next two nights. Our bags had arrived prior to us, so we claimed our items, placed valuables in the lock box…snacks in a sealed box and headed back up hill to Havasu Falls. The composting outhouses were about 300 yards from camp. The heat inside of those and our tents was approximately 135 degrees. I don’t think I would be alone in saying that this was one of those moments I didn’t want to “live and breathe” in!
Havasu Falls pool was approximately 75 degrees, which helped drop our body temperature to normalcy rather quickly. It was necessary to wear your water shoes as the bottom of the pools were covered with sharp rock, stone, and pebbles. We spent time sitting on the rock ledge, soaking in the warmth of the sun as the mists from the waterfalls tickled our warm skin. Very refreshing!
Dinner was at 5:30. It began with appetizers of cheese, crackers, and fruit. Dinner was amazing: steak, chicken, grilled mushrooms and onions, quinoa and roasted asparagus. The meal was topped off with carrot cake. It was at dinner time that some of the LLS hikers shared their stories of personal pain, loss and in some cases triumph. The emotions ran nearly as high as the Canyon’s temperatures at many points. Through those stories the bonds broadened beyond our team of 11 and comfort was shared throughout the camp.
This evening, we bathed along side of our tents in the creek that babbled down from the Falls. With water shoes on and bathing suits, we carried our clothing (that needed rinsing) and our bio-degradable soap for washing. The first night we bathed a bit too far up stream and the current totally pulled Carra from her feet and carried her down stream. With my hair lathered in a full citrus-scented mess, I stood up and screamed “Someone grab my sister!” It was one of those stomach-quaking-from-laughter moments as she assumed her footing in a more peaceful section of the pool. There was a clothesline for us to dry our things and if there wasn’t space, clothing dried just as quickly on top of our tent!
Evening allowed us to change our clothes in our tents, and prepare our packs for the next day. The guides set out a buffet of lunch items for us to choose from and place into our coolers. You could select turkey and ham or you could make pb and j (which is our team’s favorite!). They had nuts and dried fruit packs, peanut m&ms (oh my gosh, I was so craving chocolate!) and apples/oranges. We accessed water from a spring and set up our prepared packs for Day 2.
PS I have a “thing” for the moon and stars and in the Canyon, I developed an obsession for them. You could see the planet Venus right off the tip of the Canyon’s edge and the stars sprinkled the sky like a little boy’s freckled face. Under the night sky on the first evening, our NJ group gathered together and held on to one another tightly. It was one of the most meaningful group hugs that I have ever shared. No picture was needed for that. That memory will forever be preserved in my heart.
PSS Swarovski makes a moon and stars necklace that I bought as a memory of the Canyon. I wear it often, especially on days when I wish I had that group to hug!

June 5th Enchanted Forests and Waterfalls

I was a bit apprehensive for today. I had never hiked 2 days in a row and with the added challenge of the sun, I was fearful that I would miss some amazing opportunities if I didn’t change my thinking. I thought about the advice written in a great book by C.Dweck titled MindSet. I reminded myself that my abilities were governed by my mind. I trained hard for the Canyon, I knew I was physically prepared. So over breakfast of Canyon coffee, blueberry pancakes, sausage links, eggs with green peppers and mushrooms,
I decided to “improvise and overcome (my husband’s final words to me before we parted!) and get my blisters taped up by one of the guides.
Much to my pleasure, the teal-colored tape did wonders for the pain I was feeling. Today, many of us wore water shorts and swim suit tops. Our group had four great guides who took us on hidden trails and through an Enchanted Forest and Cave. For those teachers among us, this day was so differentiated. We had choices to take part in, based upon our ability (or mindset!). Our guides told us up front what to expect with each experience. The Enchanted Forest was reached by descending down dirt steps and across streams. My Vibram 5s came in so handy. Those suckers were so “grippy” on the ascent into the enchanted trail. There was a lot of rock climbing, gazing at ceilings of cave-like creations and “five points of contact” descents out of the forest.
It was challenging but it was shaded and tons of fun. The 2nd part of our venture was to the falls we saw on our way into the cavern the day before.
It took no time to take our packs off and jump into the water. There was a “peace sign” tree trunk that you could climb to access a jumping ledge into the pool. THIS WAS MORE SCARY than jumping into the waterfalls that were to come. The trunk was slippery and had a steep incline. One of the guides stood near the top to offer extra stability. Carra and I jumped together, others dove, did back flips and jumped solely.
We decided to hug the side of the watering hole and progress toward the falls. The pull of the current made this difficult and scary. In fact, later in the day when we took the same path downstream, the current pulled me off the side and into the middle of the pool. I kept my hands in front of me to help break any potential contact with the razor sharp rock structure that were in sections of the pool. I lucked out with no injuries while others left with scrapes and cuts. The waterfalls were strong, white drenching sheets of water that had two jumping off points. Our guides led us to the lower ledges. We had to climb muddy and wet rocks up to the falls. They were slippery and in some parts, steep. I remember screaming when my sister and I felt the mists and initial streams from above. We hadn’t even jumped yet and I was already celebrating! We plunged twice into the falls and rose to the cheers from the rest of the team. Our time at the falls ended with our guides doing back flips and jumps off the top of the falls.
Our midday lunch was held back at camp. I was so glad to pull out my peanut M&Ms which I had (genuisly) tucked against my water bladder in my bag. To my amazement, they were not melted! After some re-taping of mine and Carra’s feet (Carra and I had a blister in the exact same spot on the same foot!) another group of us headed down to Mooney Falls- located approximately a mile out of camp. I stayed on the Margarita Deck where the guides gave an overview of the plan/strategy for climbing down into Mooney.

I couldn’t find my comfort level to do this challenge. I knew there’d be only rope ladders and chains in some areas to get down half of the falls. A combo of “fear of heights’ and the heat aided my decision to head back to the swimming hole to cool off. More members of our team joined us in swimming, reading, writing postcards and simply relaxing before dinner. I was so excited to see Carra and Greg return from Mooney. They told the rest of us all about the adventure and fear factor of the descent.
Dinner that evening was amazing. The appetizers included cheese quesadilla triangles with guacamole and various salsas, fresh pineapple and watermelon slices. Dinner was fajitas with grilled peppers and onions, and a Spanish rice dish. Before dessert, more people shared their stories, one of which was extremely touching to me. Ed, who had joined us the initial evening in Phoenix had lost his son Kyle to leukemia a year before. A group of us sat with him and listened to the stories of the struggles that are only near and dear to family members who unwillingly accept the “treatment” tolls associated with cancer. My face was aflame from the day’s activities already (and from the lack of quality skin care regimes). But I swear, I “blotched” up ten fold as I sobbed alongside of him and a group of four others. It’s times like this where you feel guilty for what occupies your time in every day life. That night, I really missed dessert (sugar and cinnamon crisps with honey and chocolate sauces) and nearly missed the chance to pack a lunch. Good thing for Carra. She filled up our bladders and began to take apart our tent for our early morning departure.
We decided to sleep on a tarp in our sleeping bags and enjoy our final night under the stars. I turned my boots upside down to keep the scorpions from going in, kept my head lamp nearby in preparation for our 3 a.m. wake up and then rested my head on my fleece jacket (pillow) for the night. I had bittersweet emotions that evening- I don’t think they need to be explained.
PS It wasn’t until I was in the stream this evening that I realized I hadn’t missed my cell phone or reality, for that matter. Talk about a true de-tox for the body and mind.

June 6th Ascending to the Top

“Guys! It’s 3:23!” Carra, Greg and I work up to blaring headlamps from our teammates. There was a gentle evening breeze and only the light of the stars in the sky to help us get ready for the long haul ahead. We all agreed our headlamp etiquette was less than desirable, which resulted in packing them up with our belongings. Our awesome guides had coffee, bagels, and muffins ready for us at 3 so we could get a jumpstart on the trail. It wasn’t until 4:45 that we took off…maybe it was our psychological way of saying we didn’t want to leave?!
The ten mile hike took me approximately 4.5 hours to complete. Through most of the hike I was alone.

All of us had to find our stride and maintain it in order to make it through the heat. We accomplished more than ½ of the hike before the beautiful sunrise.

But those last 2 ½ miles were nearly full sun as we tackled the toughest incline on the hike. The switchbacks during the last mile offered shade and I would use those locations as a motivation to keep moving. I would stop for 30 seconds, drink some Gatorade and have a Pomegranate Passion Honey Stinger to refuel. These soft gels provided the energy boost needed to get to the top quickly.
I can still see Greg at the top of the canyon cheering me on as I took my last few steps. There were tears of happiness for all that we accomplished and for beating the heat, of course.
For the next 2 hours, the rest of our 40 members arrived. The extra 2 flew in by helicopter and the rest of us changed our clothes and wiped down our dusty legs and arms with some water and paper towels. Before we knew it we were arriving back at the Hyatt in Phoenix where we packed up, enjoyed real showers and got dressed up for a celebration dinner in the Compass Restaurant on the 22nd floor of our hotel. Our team was all dressed up, and enjoyed re-capping some favorite events from the trip over a four-star meal.
PS I don’t remember falling asleep this evening. I think part of my body had fallen asleep as early as during dinner.

June 7th Homeward Bound

Departure Day. The day I developed- PHD (post hike depression). The flight home was fine, the good-byes when we parted ways in Newark ~ not so fine. Our team had entered the Canyon as a team and left as a family. We will forever be bonded with one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives.

Things We’ve Learned (Compliments of our Team of 11)
1. The colors and magnitude of the canyon simply cannot be duplicated in a photograph!
2. If you smile at people when you are hiking the steepest part of the canyon, you don't look happy- you look delirious!
3. Dogs in the canyon have to be friendly or they don't get to grow up :(

4. It is amazing how a flood a few years ago can destroy and create new waterfalls.
5. Composting toilets are not as disgusting as they sound! But be careful not to pass out in the 130+ degree temperatures inside of them!
6. You will feel sweaty and tired after a day of hiking in the desert but your guides will look perfectly beautiful!
7. A waterfall in the desert really does look like paradise!
8. Your mind is more powerful than your body!
9. Camping isn’t so bad if you have AOA guides preparing 4 star meals for you!
10. What happens in the Canyon, stays in the Canyon!

Sam's Point, NY

2010-05-10T17:26:00.001-07:00

5/8/10

I was rather excited to wake up for my final training hike on this spring Saturday morning. The day before’s summer-like weather had me day dreaming about blueberry picking and summer time picnics and I knew from past experience that hikes in NY were filled with blossoming blueberry bushes. I was at Carra’s by 5:30 in the morning and from the time she hopped into the car until the time we arrived at the Northern Shawangunks, she continued to talk. Now, I like good conversation but I was caught up in the fact that the sky continued to turn darker and darker and I distinctly saw 2 bolts of lightning lighting up the morning heavens. We took multiple different routes to arrive at our destination; from different parkway exits to turns down neighborhood streets – and I blame all of this on Carra and her gift of gab!

By the time we pulled into Sam’s Point, it was drizzling. The weather forecast called for spotty showers and it was certainly going to clear up by mid day. No one doubted Alan and Roger who determine if a hike will be canceled or not due to unsafe weather conditions, but the weather put a damper on my mood regardless.

In an effort to not ruin my final blog before the canyon, I will just say that if you are going to hike in the rain- be sure you are equipped with the right equipment. The first hour of our hike was a bit um, shall we say tense. Our spotty showers turned into teaming downpours of rain and the cooler NY conditions made it less than enjoyable (for me… others seemed quite content). I was wishing that I had invested in a pair of rain pants (I did have a rain coat!) and a backpack cover.

I was very happy when we reached the Ice Caves. Regardless of the fact that they were freezing cold, I was excited to get some coverage from the rain. At the first site of cover, we took off our packs and Roger gave me a pair of extra rain pants that he had carried along. (He might have been tired of listening to me whine). My sister rang my pants out, I changed, and we all shared 2 chocolate donut sticks from Dunkin Donuts. They were a bit soggy because my back pack was soaked (inside and out), but somehow, each bite was a bit comforting on this dreary wet and cold day.

I was totally psyched to put on my new headlamp for our adventure into the cave. Lizzie had the largest and brightest, but mine was certainly the cutest with its pink band and pink edging.

The Ice Caves are entered by ladders and stone steps that descend into a cleft between huge conglomerate walls. The trail proceeds through a maze of overhanging and fallen slabs of conglomerate, along the base of the cliff and through tunnel-like passageways. Remnants of winter were evidenced along the pathways, some still snow/ice covered. (Roger, thanks for loaning me the Scenes and Walks in the Northern Shawangunks by Jack Fagan… that’s where I got the details for this paragraph!)

When we ascended from the ice caves, the fog was lifting and the rain had stopped. Alan looked at me with an “I told ya so” look that I tried very hard not to smile about. Our walk to Stony Kill Falls was pretty uneventful. Outside of Lizzie taking a (very graceful!) tumble into the blueberry bushes, we all arrived at the 87 foot-high falls in one piece.

Some of us decided to hang our clothes out to dry, while others of us started up the traveling stove for some miso soup and coffee.
It was a time for drying out, filling up with a hearty lunch, and a time to converse with another Team in Training!
Lizzie ran into a group from NY who was planning to do the one-day trip to the Canyon. We loved being able to say that we were doing the 3- day trip!

After lunch, Roger pointed across the valley to this tiny tower (well, it was tiny from where we were) and told us that was where we were headed. Okay, honestly, this tower looked like it was on another continent. To get to it, it would mean that we would need to go down the mountain and back up to arrive at our destination. The next few hours (7 ½ total) were enjoyed due to the sunshine and breeze, the beautiful and rare flowers, and some unfortunate tumbles (but funny!) .

Alan took a flop and I had to whip out my band-aid and first aid kit. Lizzie was not impressed that I was not following Universal Precautions as I disinfected his cut up arm and palm with a wipe and some water from Roger’s canteen. His skin was sprinkled with dirt that looked like coffee grinds, so when he least expected it- I ripped off the piece of flapping skin and quickly applied pressure to stop the bleeding. I would have used my band aids from my kit, but, they too were soaked from the morning’s teaming down pours. Good thing for Alan, he had “waterproofed” his first aid kit and we were able to apply antibiotic ointment and a clean (and dry!) band aid to his skin before continuing on the hike.

As I mentioned the sun improved our moods all the way around, but one of the last smiles was when I saw the berry pickin sign. I mean, didn’t I say I wanted to berry pick? I will definitely have to come back and hit the berry trail in July!

Once we hit the carriage road, Roger told us we were on the last 2 miles of the hike. Carra and I blazed ahead of the crew, eager to get to this towering structure that supposedly was at the end of our hike. Before we knew it, there was the tower. In all of its “non-natural” glory. And there was the final smile of the day!

Our hike ended with a hello from Angus, the really pretty cinnamon colored dog and his owner that we spoke to as we neared the parking lot. Angus’ owner told us of a great Mexican place for dinner which was excellent for fresh guacamole and Mexican dishes. As if we didn’t have enough of one another, we decided to stop at a shop that featured homemade ice-cream and cheesecake on a stick. I got the latter.  Chocolate dipped.

So now, there is one more training hike at the end of May. It is a day that I am unable to attend. I can’t believe that the next time I will put on my hiking shoes; I will be heading into the canyon with my team of 11.

New Paltz, NY 4-17-10

2010-04-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

Do you have a Bucket List? If so, put New Paltz on it as a “MUST SEE” place to go. (if you don't... wait... really?) Make a note to stay somewhere other than the Blueberry Inn... I would recommend checking into the Minnewaska Lodge! (http://minnewaskalodge.com/)

I have to admit, I wasn’t “into” the hike this week. I felt challenged by committing so much time away from home and work to hike for 9 hours and travel for 5. I was caught up in the little things of life (which I often think are way too important) and lost track of the big picture. I truly think if Carra and I hadn’t stayed over in NY on Friday night, we would have bailed out of the hike on Saturday morning. The weather was not working in our favor – it was cold, foggy and rainy, Carra was still dealing with her broken foot, and really, both of us were feeding one another bad energy.

Attending the hike was the best medicine for all of us. It was a full day, nearly 9 hours of hiking 26,000 steps, (10 miles) and burning 2,900 calories with a cumulative elevation of 6,000 feet. It had been quite some time since we hiked with our team and it was great to catch up on our personal and work lives. We spent quite some time talking about our upcoming event in the Canyon (only about 6 weeks from now)!

This hike was along Minnewaska and Mohonk Trails to a place called Gertrude’s Nose. Some of the surprises along the way were the flowering wild blueberry bushes, the view of the top of a bird as it soared at an elevation just below where we were, and the fact that the fog lifted and opened up some sun-filled trails for us!

This hike included views of a beautiful cave (you would need ropes, at the very least to explore down there!) and crevasses that would challenge anyone who was fearful of heights. There were areas of steep inclines on flat slat-like rocks, and areas of steep inclines on ridged, narrow boulders. There wasn’t any time to cloud your mind with the things that don’t matter during this day… it was way more fun focusing on accomplishing the challenge of not falling!

I did wipe out on this hike, (only once) but I am not really sure how it happened. We were going downhill and the rocks were flat (thank goodness) and covered with some pine needles.
The pine needles were pillow-soft beneath our feet, but they were super slippery too. Like I said, I am not sure what I actually did, but I landed on my rear end with my shoulders braced between two rocks. It took me a minute to check if everything was still functioning, before hopping back up and regaining my spot in line among my hiking buddies.

The views from the top of Gertrude’s Nose were just breath taking. It was so quiet (we only saw 2 other hikers the whole day), almost demanding that we silently appreciate the beauty of the views.

We were ready to relax at The Gilded Otter after the hike. We were all wind blown and our cheeks were pinched-pink. We used this dinner break as a chance to discuss our next hike (NJ and PA side of the Water Gap). Carra and I liked the area so much we decided to stop for a visit at the Minnewaska Lodge where we collected pamphlets on nearby spas (of course), and things to do in the New Paltz area because we are DEFINITELY going back to visit!

4/5/10 Honolulu, O’ahu

2010-04-11T16:43:00.000-07:00

Before beginning this week’s blog, I would like to share a “shout out” that I received in this week’s “Team in Training” newsletter. THANK YOU to all my family, friends and co-workers for your donations! Woo hoo!

TNT Trailhead
Issue Sixteen| April 2, 2010
First, CONGRATULATIONS to Danielle Hamblin for achieving her fundraising minimum of $6,400.00 this week AND for being the second-highest Grand Adventure fundraiser in the COUNTRY as of today! (Note to Danielle - a hiker from the San Francisco chapter is close behind you at $6,245, so keep up the great work and hold on to those well-deserved bragging rights!) AMAZING job, Danielle!

And now the blog~
Having a mother who travels for business every week has its disadvantages. However, it has a REALLY BIG advantage too! Carra and I have traveled with her to great places, this time being - Hawaii. So while Mom worked, Carra and I enjoyed 9 fun days and nights! There was: sailing, snorkeling, cruising (in a convertible Mustang), shopping, sunning, and yes, even a little hiking.

I say a little hiking, for a very important reason. You see, prior to our trip my sister broke her foot in a volleyball game. While she downplayed it, it certainly was not easy for her to walk and we did A LOT of walking on this vacation! Lucky for us, Diamond Head State Monument was not nearly as strenuous as our northeast hikes.

Diamond Head was formed (millions of years ago) with volcanic eruptions from 2 volcanoes. Erosion followed (quite extensive), leaving mountainous ridges as remnants of the volcano. The crater was believed to have been formed about 300,000 years ago during a single, brief eruption. The broad crater actually covers 350 acres, which is where we parked our car!

The weather conditions on our Monday hike were warm, approximately 80 degrees with a gentle breeze. We began the hike with Carra taking a break in a tree – elevating her foot for the anticipated outcome of a swollen foot! She wouldn’t agree to just hang out in the tree while I did the hike alone, so we trotted off together (her often times, hobbling behind)!

The dirt trail consisted of numerous switchbacks up the steep interior slope. Good thing I didn’t try “flip flop hiking”, (O’ahu is known as the “Land of the Flip Flops”) the ground was very uneven, rocky, dusty, and steep.

There was a steep stairway of 74 concrete steps which led into an eery tunnel. I skeebed myself out by imagining bats hanging from the heaven of the tunnel. Even with a lot of others hiking behind and along side of me, it was strangely quiet in the tunnel. A break from the beating sun was welcomed, but I was actually looking forward to relief from the tunnel’s musty smell!

Following the 74 step incline, came a 99 step stairway. I really didn’t like the steps- they seemed so, well- so unnatural. Realizing that Diamond Head is the most recognized landmark in Hawaii, I moved beyond my disappointment and trudged forward to enjoy the panoramic views from the top.

The views of the Pacific Ocean, all of Waikiki’s beaches, the lighthouse, and the massive crater were worth the crowds! It was .8 mile to the top, with an elevation of 560 feet.

Carra and I rested at the top,

listened to a brief Guide’s overview of the landmark,

and then we headed down in anticipation of some shaved ice!

Coming down was even harder for Carra. The pressure on her foot was unbearable at times, but she pulled it off. Doesn't that shaved ice look refreshing?!

Our next hike is at Gertrude's Nose in New Paltz, NY. Will we be able to endure the 11 mile, STRENUOUS hike? ...until next time~!

Sterling Ridge Forest, NY 3/21/10

2010-03-30T12:06:00.001-07:00

Glorious sunrise, isn’t it gorgeous? Something I wouldn’t typically take the time to see- but as I was driving along 78, right before I turned in Lebanon to pick up Carra, there it was… like a spill of orange and pink paint splashed together in a puddle in the center of the sky. I wanted to yell to the quiet world, “Wake up everyone, How can you sleep at a time like this?” (Jason Mraz, Make it Mine) , but thinking better of it- I snapped a photo to share with the “world” later on and helped Carra pack up and settle in for our hour and a half drive.

Sterling Ridge Forest, located in New York State… our destination. A place where we would take time to be “grateful for the precious gifts in life” (Jason Mraz, Anything You Want) and avoid “worrying our lives away” (Jason Mraz, The Remedy). It would be the place where we would each burn 2,444 calories, take 25,000 steps, and hike ten miles over the span of 7 hours. (Believe it or not, among our counterparts- there were devices to track all of these items).

A note about the weather- it was absolutely perfect. It was about 70 degrees, sunny, and bug-free.

Plus, when you are “making new friends along the way” (The Sunshine Song), everyone “sends out their own ray of sunshine”… making for a carefree, happy afternoon. Through our walks and talks, we found out that we had 3 Danielles among us- (from left to right in the photo)… Danielle Anne, Danielle Kathryn, Danielle Marie. Now what are the chances?!

While the last signs of snow were evidenced on the trails, we began looking for signs of wildlife along the way. The only breathing beings were a chipmunk and a butterfly. HOWEVER, can you see the signs of a beaver and a woodpecker in these pictures?

The trails along the ridge were narrow in spots, making it essential to “balance, careful and steady” (Make It Mine) and for those of us who are a little afraid of heights, it was important to NOT look down. We were faced with elevation on this hike, as you can see from the photo- we were face to face with the tops of trees in some cases. The terrain was interesting, a mix of rock and incline, flat shale-like rock slabs and incline, and just woodsy trail AND INCLINE.

Our favorite however, was the incline scrambles. Carra, Greg and I took a pre-scramble photo, a “during” scramble photo, and an after-scramble photo. As you can see from the “during” scramble photo, we would follow a narrow trail where rocks would hug you as you made your way up the trail- using your hands to hold on as you scrambled your way to the top.
The top presented the opportunity for some shout outs of “Good Job” and “Gimme that High Ten!” (The Dynamo of Volition) . At the top, we found a comfortable shady area to take off our packs, share some lunch and good conversation!
Carra had her i-pod so we played some tunes, caught up on the events from the past week, and refueled our bodies.

I’d love to say “there’s no need to hurry” (The Remedy) however, one of us had made afternoon plans that “nothing was gonna stop him from but divine intervention!” (I’m Yours). So, as a team, we pulled together- and trudged on to the visitor’s center to hail a cab for our fellow hike-mate. Lucky for him, he made it to his destination with a minute to spare!

The rest of us, enjoyed the comforts of an actual rest-area, before heading back for yet another five or so miles. Shortly into the hike, I just couldn’t ignore the forming blister that was on my foot. I had heard at a gear training seminar that duct tape was a save-all for many things, blisters included. So, I pulled out my Sharpie pen (in my estimate- these are save-alls as well) which I had carefully wrapped in purple plaid duct tape (so I didn’t have to carry along the whole roll, and for those of us who are fashion-istas, they sell all colors at Target!). Sorry for the photo of my foot, but really, I had to “rid myself of vanities and just go with the seasons”, (I’m Yours) and de-sock, duct-tape-up, and get ready for the remaining inclines to come.

The rest of the hike was a quiet one. I felt like a member of the elephants who migrated in the Planet Earth video- it was like “survival of the fittest” as we literally trudged up hill for miles on end to the parking lot. It sounds simple, but the inclined was laced with running water and muddy paths, making it more difficult to find secure places to step. We were already becoming “sloppy” in our walking, so the mud just really didn’t help!

It was when we would see new faces that we knew we were close to the parking lot. We really didn’t see many people when we were far into the hike, it is always only around the parking lots where people and dogs are smiling, and enjoying a hike. Each step to the parking lot felt just a bit easier as we would hear the sounds of fellow human beings.

We couldn’t wait to get our boots off, change into sweat-free clothing and set our sites on a place for an early dinner. It was 4 p.m. when we all crossed the finish line from trail into parking lot. We quickly packed up, and caravanned to a local hot spot called “Rhodes North Tavern” where we enjoyed food, drink and revelry- especially for the weary traveler. (I got that saying from their business card).

Afterwards, we parted ways, for some strange reason- with anticipation of our next hike together… BUT- Carra and I will not be joining the next couple of hikes due to our own hiking plans. We are off somewhere to prepare for the heat of our Canyon hike.
3 hints as to where:
- there is a lot of fresh fruit,
- it is near the equator
- the show “Lost” is filmed there…

My next blog will reveal! Until then…

Sterling Ridge Forest, NY 3/21/10

2010-03-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

Glorious sunrise, isn’t it gorgeous? Something I wouldn’t typically take the time to see- but as I was driving along 78, right before I turned in Lebanon to pick up Carra, there it was… like a spill of orange and pink paint splashed together in a puddle in the center of the sky. I wanted to yell to the quiet world, “Wake up everyone, How can you sleep at a time like this?” (Jason Mraz, Make it Mine) , but thinking better of it- I snapped a photo to share with the “world” later on and helped Carra pack up and settle in for our hour and a half drive.

Sterling Ridge Forest, located in New York State… our destination. A place where we would take time to be “grateful for the precious gifts in life” (Jason Mraz, Anything You Want) and avoid “worrying our lives away” (Jason Mraz, The Remedy). It would be the place where we would each burn 2,444 calories, take 25,000 steps and ascend 2,444 feet, and hike ten miles over the span of 7 hours. (Believe it or not, among our counterparts- there were devices to track all of these items).

A note about the weather- it was absolutely perfect. It was about 70 degrees, sunny, and bug-free. Plus, when you are “making new friends along the way” (The Sunshine Song), everyone “sends out their own ray of sunshine”… making for a carefree, happy afternoon. Through our walks and talks, we found out that we had 3 Danielles among us- (from left to right in the photo)… Danielle Anne, Danielle Kathryn, Danielle Marie. Now what are the chances?!

While the last signs of snow were evidenced on the trails, we began looking for signs of wildlife along the way. The only breathing beings were a chipmunk and a butterfly. HOWEVER, can you see the signs of a beaver and a woodpecker in these pictures?

The trails along the ridge were narrow in spots, making it essential to “balance, careful and steady” (Make It Mine) and for those of us who are a little afraid of heights, it was important to NOT look down. We were faced with elevation on this hike, as you can see from the photo- we were face to face with the tops of trees in some cases.
The terrain was interesting, a mix of rock and incline, flat shale-like rock slabs and incline, and just woodsy trail AND INCLINE.

Our favorite however, was the incline scrambles. Carra, Greg and I took a pre-scramble photo, a “during” scramble photo, and an after-scramble photo. As you can see from the “during” scramble photo, we would follow a narrow trail where rocks would hug you as you made your way up the trail- using your hands to hold on as you scrambled your way to the top. The top presented the opportunity for some shout outs of “Good Job” and “Gimme that High Ten!” (The Dynamo of Volition) . At the top, we found a comfortable shady area to take off our packs, share some lunch and good conversation!
Carra had her i-pod so we played some tunes, caught up on the events from the past week, and refueled our bodies.

I’d love to say “there’s no need to hurry” (The Remedy) however, one of us had made afternoon plans that “nothing was gonna stop him from but divine intervention!” (I’m Yours). So, as a team, we pulled together- and trudged on to the visitor’s center to hail a cab for our fellow hike-mate. Lucky for him, he made it to his destination with a minute to spare!

The rest of us, enjoyed the comforts of an actual rest-area, before heading back for yet another five or so miles. Shortly into the hike, I just couldn’t ignore the forming blister that was on my foot. I had heard at a gear training seminar that duct tape was a save-all for many things, blisters included. So, I pulled out my Sharpie pen (in my estimate- these are save-alls as well) which I had carefully wrapped in purple plaid duct tape (so I didn’t have to carry along the whole roll, and for those of us who are fashion-istas, they sell all colors at Target!). Sorry for the photo of my foot, but really, I had to “rid myself of vanities and just go with the seasons”, (I’m Yours) and de-sock, duct-tape-up, and get ready for the remaining inclines to come.

The rest of the hike was a quiet one. I felt like a member of the elephants who migrated in the Planet Earth video- it was like “survival of the fittest” as we literally trudged uphill for miles on end to the parking lot. It sounds simple, but the inclines were laced with running water and muddy paths, making it more difficult to find secure places to step. We were already becoming “sloppy” in our walking, so the mud just really didn’t help!

It was when we would see new faces that we knew we were close to the parking lot. We really didn’t see many people when we were far into the hike, it is always only around the parking lots where people and dogs are smiling, and enjoying a hike. Each step to the parking lot felt just a bit easier as we would hear the sounds of fellow human beings.

We couldn’t wait to get our boots off, change into sweat-free clothing and set our sites on a place for an early dinner. It was 4 p.m. when we all crossed the finish line from trail into parking lot. We quickly packed up, and caravanned to a local hot spot called “Rhodes North Tavern” where we enjoyed food, drink and revelry- especially for the weary traveler. (I got that saying from their business card).

Afterwards, we parted ways, for some strange reason- with anticipation of our next hike together… BUT- Carra and I will not be joining the next couple of hikes due to our own hiking plans. We are off somewhere to prepare for the heat of our Canyon hike.
3 hints as to where:
- there is a lot of fresh fruit,
- it is near the equator
- the show “Lost” is filmed there…

My next blog will reveal! Until then…

Life Is Good @ the Water Gap

2010-03-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

Hopefully I will capture the laughs and the lows of the hike through a "life is good" approach! Enjoy!

1. Arriving at the Gap in the early hours ensures a spot in the lot! (It gets really packed later in the day!) This day brought approximately 60 degree temperatures and sunshine. It was a beautiful day to hike. However, Carra and I never read the "hike details" email that shared with us that this hike would be approximately 6 hours in length... (and we forgot lunch).

2. Early in the hike, grab a group shot- while everyone is still smiling!

3. Earth, wind, and water... they are beautiful as long as you bring your friends. (see #4)

4. Stream-crossing's are refreshing! (and for novices. Or so I thought OUT-LOUD. Good thing Tara had an extra pair of socks for when my left foot slipped off the rock and into the water. - Oh, and then the second sock came in handy at the next stream crossing, only for my right foot this time. :) Thanks Linda for sharing your hiking poles with me; apparently, I need the extra set of legs!

5. Life is Good when you have friends who prepare lunch for you. (Because they know you are going to forget yours!) Thanks Alan for bringing along an extra PB and J for Carra and me! Here we are at Sunfish Pond after 3/4s of the hike through deep slushy snow and in other areas, mud! This hike also increased our experience with elevation, adding to the challenge.

6. Life is Good when another friend knows that we are going to need GORP (Good Ole' Raisins and Peanuts) laced with M&Ms. The chocolate saved us Greg!

March 7th, 2010

7. Those Trio Bars that Roger recommends? Well, they are HARD to find (or so we say!) Thanks Roger for bringing along a plethera of flavors to share!

8. Life is Good when you can wear short sleeves in early March and still enjoy a mix of snow and well, MUD. Wait, I think only Roger and I got down to short sleeves on this hike? I could be wrong...

9. Berries, I mean ANY kind of berries- they just make me smile!

10. Arriving at your destination, LIFE IS GOOD! Seeing Sunfish Pond was a welcomed sight. Not only did we eat lunch there, but we got to see Alan rig up his stove to cook up some soup, I got to dry my socks on the rocks, and we all got to catch a little Vitamin D in the early spring sun! Plus~ we were 3/4s of the way through our 8 mile hike at this point (and the remainder was down-hill! phew!)

It's amazing how relationships between all of us have grown over the short time we have spent together. Are we really planning an over-nighter before a NY State hike this spring?! :)

Watchung Reservation, February 21, 2010

2010-02-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

First Lady Obama had once shared during a televised interview that at dinner time, her family shares the "roses and thorns" of their day. Today's events lend themselves perfectly to adopting the "roses and thorns" in my blog.
Before our 9 a.m. hike today in Watchung Reservation, NJ I had plans to make one very important stop at ShopRite. I know this sounds odd, but I have been WAITING for the grand opening of the new Washington ShopRite since 2009. The day had finally come and I had my coupons all clipped and ready for the big event. I went in with my itemized list at 7:30 a.m., when the store opened. I immediately felt like I was at a party, as I observed people laughing, talking and smiling, and my nose enjoyed the smell of fresh baked, hot cross buns. I admired the neat, fully stacked shelves and wished I had more time to shop! I was on a time crunch, so I was in the checkout lane by 7:45 (15 minutes of speed shopping was a nice warm-up before my hike!). Just as I was about to pay the cashier, I was handed a canvas ShopRite bag, a free loaf of bread, and a dozen multi-colored roses! I was told, "Thank you for being the first female customer!" -AND THERE would be my first, of many "roses" on this beautiful Sunday!

Carra and I quickly caught up on a week's worth of "happenings" during the 1/2 hour ride to the parking lot where we were to meet out hiking buddies. We were so happy to see many new faces today, and to catch up with some people we hadn't seen since the first hike, back in December. This hike however, presented some "thorns" for me.
First of all, literally, there were a lot of thorny branches, like the one in this picture. You'd have to hold them (gingerly, as to avoid being pricked!) off of the path where you would be walking, and in the event that you didn't - they would say "hello" in quite an unfriendly way! They latched onto my pants and rubbed across my un-gloved hands on various occasions!
I also have to say, this hike did not allow for a lot of spicy conversation (or any conversation for that matter!) The crunch of the snow under your feet, and the narrow trails made it difficult to hear people in front or behind you. We were happy to spend a little time together under a pavilion, equipped with benches and tables. Many of us removed a layer or two of clothing, due to the mild temperatures today (40 degrees), but not Linda!
As the day progressed my right foot's yak trak (coiled foot gear) snapped (THORN!!!!), which required me to be even more cautious in the icy trails to come. Luckily, as the morning went on, we encountered less snow and ice, and more mud and brooks. One of the prettiest things on our hike was seeing the awakening waterfalls housed on the massive rock. While you can't see it in the pictures, the water was dancing off of the rock to the slushy, snow-covered ground.

Today's hike incorporated a little bit of history. Here is a picture of a still, which was used during Prohibition to store whiskey and other types of liquor! We also happened upon some natural bridges that we hiked underneath, and climbed to new heights where we were able to see waterfalls and the beauty of the woods from above!
One of my favorite parts of the hike was finding this tree trunk to climb upon, and hang upside down (opposum-like!). I wonder why no one else wanted to do the same?!
After our jaunt of 7 1/2 miles, a group of us headed to 22West Diner for brunch. This was definitely a rose in the day! We talked about our future trip to the Canyon, started planning out our Celebratory Dinner (that follows the hike), caught up on some of the Olympic events, and had a hard time parting ways after eating. My final rose of the day was finding a Whole Foods store out near Springfield. One of our fellow hikers mentioned the need to get bath salts from there...well let me tell you~ they had a WHOLE BAR of bath salts that you could smell and pack up for home!
After a HOT bath (with my new 'salts'), I started thinking about the week ahead's Soup Cook Off (Friday) and our hike to the Delaware Water Gap on Saturday! The weekend can't come fast enough!

The Super Bowl Hike

2010-02-07T17:39:00.001-08:00

For real, the dog wouldn't even get up with me this morning. It could be because we had a late night celebrating my mom and dad's birthday the night before, or maybe it was because, once again, it was under 20 degrees outdoors! But regardless, I had a team that was waiting for me at the Cooper Mill in Chester, NJ this morning!
Carra and I met up at the Starbucks in Chester prior to our 8:45 arrival at the Mill. There, we sipped on our Skinny Vanilla Lattes, laced up our boots, and waved as the remaining "5" arrived for our hike (Linda, Liz, Danielle2, Alan and Roger). As we began our hike, I kept glancing across the street at the Old Mill Tavern, where we would finish off our day's trot with "lunch" in hand!
We hit various trails today, but primarily focused on the blue and red trails. As you can see in the picture, the trails are labeled with paint blocks which tell you what direction to head. For example, this picture shows that we are following the blue trail, and the top blue box tells us to carry on towards the left.

We saw an icy river where a meeting was being held among the geese. We shared some ideas of what they could be saying to one another, where they could be finding their next meal, and of course, why they remained in New Jersey instead of heading south for the season. We trailed on, enduring many snow covered, rocky paths. We had 3 falls among our members on this trip...mostly due to the uncertainty of what lies beneath the snow. You really can't look around while you are walking. You have to save your sight seeing for times when you stop for granola or a sip of water. If you try to sight see or take photos while you are hiking, there's a good chance you may end up face to face in a blanket of snow. We were lucky to "bounce" back from the falls, and continue to enjoy the trails.. We saw signs of wildlife, although other than the geese, we were pretty much the only visible living creatures among the trees on this cold Sunday morning. (Text to Real-Life Connection: Footprints in the Snow, The Mitten, Hansel and Gretel) In some instances, the only marks in the snow were footprints such as these. I felt like "Hansel and Gretel"...only we weren't laying bread crumbs to find our way home, we were following what appeared to be coyote tracks. Based on the size of the print, and the fact that there wasn't any "tail brushings" we eliminated the possibility of a fox. We also saw true deer prints. Do you think these are coyote prints, or something else?
At one point, we really needed to pull together as a team. Thank goodness for Linda, who had brought poles- we needed to use a pole, and the help of (our guide) Alan's hand and wisdom, to help us each across an icy creek. The rocks were icy, the water was semi-frozen, and today - we were crossing the creek (I just had to say that again, in case you didn't hear me the first time). I was second to go, and my ears couldn't have been working better. I was tuned in to Alan's directions, and my eyes were piercing into the icy rocks that I was depending upon to get me from one side of the creek, to the other. I stepped carefully, then sunk my pole into the mirky bottom of the running creek- establishing a point of stability. Before reaching my right foot to the large rock in the middle of the creek, I took a deep breath, grabbed Alan's hand with my left hand, and took off. The next part was a blur. Somehow, I took some swift steps across the remaining rocks and jumped onto the safety of solid ground. Luckily, we all made it across without any falls.
Considering the length of this hike and the increase in elevation, the hydration and snack breaks were very much needed. We noticed that there was more than icicles on the rocks, there was also icicles filling our water bottles today as well.
By mile 6, my mind was set on a juicy burger for lunch. I'm pretty sure that is what got me through the additional uphill climbs, snowy slippery rock trails, and snow-drifted paths.

Well, and of course the support of our newly found friends!

After 8 miles and 3 1/2 hours of hiking, I was so happy to see this sign. It meant that we were back at the parking lot, and it would be a matter of minutes before I would have a burger in hand, and iced-tea in the other! Cheers to another successful hike!

P.S. We selected Veggie Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries for lunch. There'd be enough fun foods later on in the evening! My husband Loren was home making home-made boneless hot wings to enjoy during the Super Bowl!

The Jockey Hollow Hike without Danielle :(

2010-02-06T10:42:00.000-08:00

Because.....we all love the blog - we wanted to keep it going.
Here's my journal and pictures to add.... (Love, Carra)

I drudged myself out of bed at 7:30am on Sun, Jan 31st to bundle up for the hike in 15 degree weather. Danielle was going to pick me up. After last week's late arrival, we made a pact to start even earlier in the day. But, my poor sister was knocked out with a bad cold. After seeing me go through my horrible cold in December, she did not want to chance it. Off I headed to Jockey Hollow to hike 6 miles with the other dedicated members. Everyone was sad to see that it was just me and not the sister team!

We had a real surprise along our hike. We heard this crazy loud sound that alerted us to quickly find a pileated woodpecker. He was a male revealed by the red on the front of his crown (females are black). He had holes in all the trees around us. Clearly we were in his home. We were able to see him boring holes in the trees. It was incredibly cool. If you didn't know, the pileated woodpecker was the model for the cartoon character of Woody Woodpecker. We really pushed along, many of us because we wanted to get out of the cold. It took 2.5 hrs. Afterwards, we went for hot breakfast. For my sister, I drank a really good hot chocolate. :) Thanks to Roger for taking the photos and I'm not one to blog so, get well Danielle!
Everyone was sad to see that it was just me and not the sister team!

We had a real surprise along our hike. We heard this crazy loud sound that alerted us to quickly find a pileated woodpecker. He was a male since he had red on the front of his crown (females are black). He had holes in all the trees around us. Clearly we were in his home. We were able to see him boring holes in the trees. It was incredibly cool. If you didn't know, the pileated woodpecker was the model for the cartoon character of Woody Woodpecker.

We really pushed along, many of us because we wanted to get out of the cold. It took 2.5 hrs. Afterwards, we went for hot breakfast. For my sister, I drank a really good,hot chocolate. :) Thanks to Roger for taking the photos and I'm not one to blog so, get well Danielle!

Pyramid Mountain Natural Historic Area

2010-01-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

Beep~beep~beep! Slam! The sound of my alarm clock wrestled me out of my warm bed and into my hiking clothes for today's training. My sister had slept over the night before, so I knew a pot of coffee would be necessary to get us both up and moving. We dressed, packed our bags, and hustled into the car for our drive to Pyramid Mountain.
Relief set in as the dashboard displayed a 20 degree increase in temperature from that of our last hike. We knew that today's challenge would be a mix of thawing earth (mud!) and frozen areas along the terrain. It was a day for sunglasses, as the sun was wide awake in the January sky.
Our training team was ready to go when Carra and I arrived, so as Alan (our hike leader) updated us on our plans for the morning, we put on our boots and our packs and locked up the car. We were eager to get moving, because even though the temperature was warmer than the hike to South Mountain Reservation, it was still winter.
The early part of the hike offered snow-covered trails and in some instances, areas of hidden ice. You had to keep your eyes on the trail below to help you zig-zag to trail paths that were safe for walking. We passed numerous families with leashed dogs...every kind from Jack Russel Terriers to Golden Doodles. I would sometimes stop to pet them, knowing that my team would move ahead. But it was worth it! (Is it just me? Or do dogs just always bring a smile to our faces?!)

This hike began our uphill hiking training. We had two mountains to climb (some would call them small, but not me!) today and we were lucky that the rocky inclines were not laced with ice or snow. I liked the rocky inclines. It was kind of like a game, which rock should I trust to hold my weight? Some were very strong and didn't budge when you stepped on them and others, well, I'm glad I didn't step on many of them!

My favorite part of the scenery was when we reached Pyramid Point. Located near the top of Pyramid Mountain, there is a puzzling glacial structure. When you look at the pictures, can you figure out why it is so puzzling?

Carra and I were happy to take a break here, considering we just finished our first major uphill jaunt. We shared some granola and craisins, and even took a moment to pose for a picture or two!
After the team re-fueled and re-hydrated, we headed back toward the parking lot. We noticed that at this point in the day, the sun had warmed the earth enough to thaw the earth and create slippery sections of mud. At one point, I took the coil tracks off of my boots, and my hands were covered in mud. I quickly learned that in the absence of a sink or running water, a quick wipe across my pants would have to do! :)

On this hike, we had the chance to tackle one or two hikes. Our Pyramid Mountain hike was approximately 4 miles. We decided to take on the additional hike up the 100 Steps Trail of Turkey Mountain. A few of us tackled the challenge, and enjoyed the success of reaching the top! The 100 Steps Trail was beautiful. The trail was blanketed in full sun, making the challenge just a bit more pleasurable. I could hear my heartbeat echoing in my ears I could feel the burn in my thighs, and I used the hope of spectacular scenery as my motivation to continue.

Once we reached the top of Turkey Mountain, we shared the beautiful view and offered up some words of praise for enduring the extra challenge. We saddled up our packs, and with what seemed to be a second wind, we headed back down Turkey Mountain to the end of our hike.
While this hike was slightly shorter in length than the last, it took us longer to finish, due to the sketchy inclines.

So what did we do after the hike? We went to the spa of course! :)

South Mountain Reservation

2010-01-18T09:51:00.000-08:00

It is challenging enough to wake up EARLY on a Sunday morning, but to prepare for a 6 mile hike in single digit weather? That really put the icing on the cake. Yes, it was 9 degrees on January 10th, when I ventured out at 7:30 a.m. to meet my team of hiking buddies in South Mountain Reservation. I have a motto to do something that scares me everyday, and for today, this was it.

I arrived on time, prepared to fight the wind and cold with two layers of pants, three layers of tops, and a full face mask. My backpack was equipped with survival equipment: tissues, snacks and mini-handwarmers. I also had my "spikes" attached to my pack...more about those later.

The smell of the ice-covered trails and the sounds of the crunch from our hiking boots took my mind off of the frigid temperature. My sister Carra and I caught up on a week's worth of stories, which in part were muffled due to the full face masks that we were wearing.

The scenery was breath-taking. I was in awe of the "sleeping water fall". It was so still, waiting to be awakened by the warmth of spring. We stopped for a moment to get a drink and any other materials from our packs. Many people noticed that their hydration pack's mouth piece was frozen. They had to blow into the mouth piece to release the ice, and take a drink. Lucky for me, I had large water bottles that did not freeze.

I opened up the portable hand-warmers and slipped them into my gloves. I hadn't used them before, but it was like having the warmth of a living room fireplace in the palms of my hands. I was ready to explore some more!

Our hike continued for 3 1/2 hours. The challenge of the frozen-glazed earth, made for slippery downhill trots and uncertain footing on snow covered trails. It was necessary for us to put on our micro-spikes or our coiled footwear. As you can see from the picture of Carra's and my boots, there are different types. Carra's have some serious spikes, making it easier to dig into the ice. Carra (on many occasions) had to stop to unhook her spike from the ice and to remove branches from her gear. My footwear was a coiled attachment, and seemed to provide the right amount of traction.

We circled behind Turtle Back Zoo, where we saw a beautiful mountain lion in his cage. He seemed to be moving slowly on this cold January day. We stopped on different occasions to capture the scenery and to enjoy the bond that we as a group were starting to develop.

Our day ended with a chance to hang from tree vines (literally, just like Tarzan would do!), and to watch in awe of water-fall climbers. It was a day of rejuvenation, challenge and appreciation for Mother Nature. And surprisingly enough, what started out to be "scary", ended up being really exciting and worth the challenge!