Hiking

Yesterday we went hiking with the Cub Scouts. I can't even begin to tell you how strenuous that hike was. This was suppose to be a family hike too.

Here is a description of the hike I found online. "A strenuous, .9 mile (one-way) trail that starts at the Access Area and ends at the summit of the Mountain. Just before reaching the summit, hikers will climb up 336 wooden steps."

.9 miles doesn't sound bad until you realize that it's a steep incline most of the trail. My calfs were hurting so bad most of the way. Mallory was begging me to pick her up and that just was NOT gonna happen. I was struggling myself I can't imagine trying to carry a kid. Michael isn't in as good a shape as I am, so he had to stop about 3/4 of the way to the top. I tried to get Mallory to stay with him but she wanted to keep going with Mitchell and I.

I was so happy to see the stairs. I mistakenly thought that I was almost finished. The stairs. OMG the stairs. They almost killed me. I had to stop at least five times on the stairs. I literally thought I was going to puke. Between not being able to breath, my legs on fire, and trying not to puke, I had to keep an eye (and a hand) on Mallory. The stairs don't have a hand rail and if you fall off of them you will be seriously hurt during the fall.

I can't tell you how excited I was to make it to the top! Woo Hoo! Sweet success! Now I could rest. Yeah right. Think again. There was very little flat open space at the top most of the top was covered in rocks. Sheer drop offs all around us. The view was beautiful but it made me nervous to have to watch Mallory (the girl that never wants to listen to me), who wanted to travel all over the rocks. It was awful.

The walk back down was the nice. My legs enjoyed this part of the hike the best. Thankfully Mallory fell on the trail on the way back down instead of at the top or on the stairs. It was one of the steeper parts of the trail and the rocks slide out from under her feet and she landed on her bottom. She shed a few tears but quickly composed herself so we could continue on.

I can't wait to see what the next hike will be like. Mallory and Michael may be staying home for that one.