Go Hiking Because It Is A Pleasure Prescription

Hiking is back! This last weekend they opened the parks up. Hopefully, it will stay that way. My first hike was last weekend and it really was my pleasure prescription.

You really don’t understand how much you miss something until it is taken away. When I found out the trail would be open I was overjoyed. I got so excited. It changed my whole day.

Strange Times

There were two strange things about this hike and both involved people. The first was when I arrived at the trailhead and that was at 3:00 AM. Usually, nobody is there at that time of the morning. Then almost immediately a car pulled in behind me. Then another car and another car. Within five minutes there were six more cars in the lot. Fortunately, I was able to get on the trail before anyone and get a decent head start. Plus I was lucky that none of them were fast.

This sort of thing doesn’t happen, but I think they thought they would beat everyone else to the mountain so they could avoid other people during this Pandemic. I don’t think it was because, like me, they were just so excited to get on the trail.

The second strange thing I saw was when I started my trek back down the mountain. A group of people arrived at the false summit. I think they were a family. The older man who may have been the father was wearing a pistol and ammo. I have been climbing up this mountain for many years week after week and have never seen someone openly display a weapon. Is it fear? I think so.

The Best

Every hike is different and this one was no exception as you can tell fro the above comments. It was also so much fun. I got to see my favorite tree! Yes, I have a favorite tree. And I discovered that my home exercise routine had improved my fitness level dramatically over where I was in March. I made it to all my checkpoints and to the top in record time.

It was also an opportunity to learn something about myself. I left my “meal” in the car so I had to get up to the top and back down with no carbohydrates. I always hike the first half in a fasted state. I was not sure if I would be able to get all the way back down or not. I do think it slowed my pace coming down the mountain, but I made it.

Go hiking! The trails are open!