Starting in 1995 and ending in 2008, with the exception of 2006, once a year, a friend and I hiked the Pine Mountain Trail–all 23 miles in one day. The trail is located about thirty miles from Columbus. We would get up in the dark, drop a car at the end (with wine), drop water in the places where the trail crossed the road, and be ready to start walking at first light. The fifth year our husbands joined us.
I got my nickname scribe in part because I recorded so many details from this annual hike–how long we stopped, the time for each mile, how many bathroom breaks… In 1995, it took us 9 hours and 45 minutes. In 2008, it took us 11 hours 7 minutes. One year–either the year we forgot the keys to the car at the end and had to go back or the year after the tornado blew down trees with the blue blazes we were following–we finished with flashlights in the dark.
It was a day in the woods, and a challenge I both looked forward to and dreaded. I would like to do it again one of these days.
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365 true things about me
why this daily practice
That sounds wonderful! There’s a 26-ish mile hike hereabouts I’d like to do, from China Camp on the Tassajara Road to Big Sur. It’s called the Pine Ridge Trail, coincidentally. This year maybe, after the river drops, I’ll give it a try….
It is fun–and so hard. We always tried to go in the fall for the cooler weather, but that gave us a limited number of daylight hours. I would think where you live, you can go anytime. Let me know if you go for it!
I’m always in awe of these type accomplishments, especially since I haven’t been able to really walk much in decades (health/fibro). I love that you recorded them so well! Look at what you wouldn’t have remembered.
I know my boyfriend has long longed to hike the Appalachian Trail. Of course, he never will, but it’s a thing 🙂
Yeah, I’ve thought about hiking the Appalachian Trail too, Donna, but I’m not a big camper : )
Cynthia, you ARE the ambitious one! lol 🙂