The Hike

We met up at 8am.

Two brave ladies carpooled with me and we met up with 4 other brave souls. I've known two of them from the gym at one time or another. We all headed down trail chatting and laughing.

The first leg of the hike was along the paved multi use trail. One of my friends had never hiked before in her life. The other had never gone further than 7 miles with me and only hiked rarely. 

I think Candace's group had been doing hikes and practicing to do the MammothMarch at the end of June which is a 20 mile hike event.

We all hiked in different small groups, sometimes all together, sometimes on our own. There was a lot of laughter and conversation. 

The sights were amazing as usual.

We encountered two sets of horse riders, a few bicyclists and a couple of folks walking on the paved trail.

Otherwise, we were immersed in nature and each others' laughter.

One of the games we played was 'walking' the Balance Beam otherwise known as a log.

Our hike was not about time or speed but all about enjoying nature and friendship along with laughter. We took frequent breaks and as promised, we did not leave the tired folks behind. 

My two friends who are new to hiking did stop at 15 miles. I walked on to where we'd parked and grabbed my car and returned to pick them up.

When asked if they'd do it again, the answer was a definitive yes. I promised to create shorter hikes. After all who does these crazy super long hikes?

We also witnessed some amazing wildlife!

I didn't have a decent camera with me, but we all stopped at one of the ponds to watch swans swimming with their cygnets.

We saw a fawn walk into the trail and lay down. I asked everyone to be quiet and walk around the fawn and not stop.

17.94 mi

Distance

7:21:48

Time

24:38 /mi

5:55:29

Moving Time

Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. ...Friendship is nothing but sharing!

Elie Wiesel

So far

So far, there will be 5 other brave women joining me on my Birthday Hike to celebrate 7 decades on this crazy place we call Earth.

This is a huge surprise for me. I know all of the gals from the gym at one time or another. Two of the ladies are going to do the MammothMarch at the end of June which is a sponsored and paid event in South Central Wisconsin. The hike is 20 miles to be completed in at least 8 hours. Not a race, just a day of hiking with others. MammothMarches are held in most of all the lower 48 states that I know of.

I don't want to pay a big chunk money right now for a trip, the hotel room, the entrance fee for a t-shirt and a badge or goodies they are giving out. I figured to do this on my own and celebrate privately. I'm not a huge fan of fanfare or crowds. 

I feel quite blessed in life to have 5 women to join me on this crazy hike. The two that are doing the MammothMarch next month in Wisconsin. They are experienced hikers for the 4 to 5 mile range so this is a test for them.

One gal has never really hiked before so I'll be making sure she is okay. 
[I showed the newby a hydration pack, she was going to use one of those string back packs and put her water in it. The strings would eat up her shoulders so I sent her to the store to grab a hydration pack.]

Another one who is a new person to hiking asked what she thought was a dumb question. What happens if I have to go pee or ????

Bring TP and a baggy to collect your TP. Leave no trace. Not a dumb question.

Good shoes that are ready for the trail. There are plenty of rocks, roots, and things to trip on for half of the hike. 
A light backpack for water.
Good socks.
Water. Water. Water.
Some energy bars.

Water.
First aid kit.
Water.
Bug spray [though it shouldn't be too bad]

While at the gym, the coach came up and said that she and another CF member were 'going to try to come' too. But they didn't want to do the whole thing and 

how long will it take? 
What time will you be done?
[Me thinking...how the heck does one
judge time on an event like this?]

'Welllllllll,' I said, 'I guess I can tell you more when we complete the hike.'

'This is not a speed hike, I know that one of the folks that is coming along has never hiked. I will hike with her abilities in mind. Her pace will be our pace. I do not leave others behind especially if they have never hiked these trails which can be confusing. 

If you or others don't feel we are going 'fast enough' then by all means make sure you have a map and go ahead.'

Well how fast would you hike it?

Me...thinking for a moment. 
'When I hiked 11.5 miles just over a year ago for speed and endurance, I hiked it in 3 hours and 24 minutes. I was pushing it all the way.'

Coach seemed to think on that.
'I averaged 18 minutes a mile with best paces at 13 minutes a mile,' I replied. Half of the terrain on this hike will be very demanding and the last 4.5 miles will be on a paved trail.'

Coach then launched into her reason for wanting to cut it short or for not going. It entailed a long explanation about grandkids and parties and whatnot.

I shrugged. 'Look at the route, bring two vehicles one for the start and park one near a trail that you want to end at. Oh. And make sure you have a physical map. Those trail changes can be tricky.'

When I hike for speed, I go solo. I don't want to watch out for someone else. It is just me, the trail, and a clock. I love competing against myself. This may be one of the reasons I loved Cross-Country in College so much.

No one really believes me when I tell them the map and a compass would really make their hike easier.

I have spent 10 years hiking with others who have various skills and most of them were new to my kind of hiking.
I enjoy it, I relish it.
I love it.

I'm excited about this 'group' hike. Hopefully we will get along without any mishaps. In the fall, I will re-hike this same route just to see how fast I can do it solo.

Planning my own celebration.

Each year, I strive for some sort of goal. This hiking 'thing' started out a few years ago when I turned 65. I wanted to do something special for my birthday.

I decided to do the Tromp and Chomp trail that the Kickapoo Valley Reserve put on each year. The half marathon used roads and the 8+ mile route stayed on the trails. My first distance hike was here---> The Hike.

I simply followed the 8 mile route that year since it seemed easy enough to follow on the map. 
I continue to do that route just because it is a nice hike. 

Two years ago, I found out about something called the MammothMarch. It is a long distance hike held as an event in different states. 

I couldn't afford the time off to travel to the March and pay the rather expensive fees to hike with a group of strangers so I tried another distance hike in the Reserve just to see what it was like. I didn't take Charlie, I wanted to see exactly how fast I could hike the hills and rough trails. 

It was a challenge between my mind, my body, and myself. The challenge ended up being 11.45 miles. I will admit. Fall is the best time for a long distance hike. The temperatures are more moderate and so are the insects.

Looking back ---👇

In my 20's and 30's I ran 5k's and 10k's and a Half Marathon. My sister and I did a 140 mile bike ride in two days. In my 40's and 50's I rode my mule in Endurance competitions [only a couple] but we trained together all year long for those events. 

That led to the hikes. I like doing things that just challenge myself. My 60's led to hiking and caring for my husband. I'd hike when I could. I discovered that it eased the stress of Caregiving. 

All I need to complete hiking is good shoes and some common sense. All I need to challenge myself is a route. 

I've decided not to do the MammothMarch. I'd have to pay for the ticket to go, and find a motel room to stay at. Then I'd hike with complete strangers for 20 miles. Nothing against that at all. However, I like Me competing with Me. 

~~~~~~~~

I haven't yet figured out how to make the 13-15 mile hike into a 20 mile hike yet, but I'll keep working on that. One goal at a time.

After all, when the Fall weather comes, I plan on breaking my record for distance hiked so far.

Why?

I don't know. I always fantasized about hiking the Pacific Coast Trail or the Appalachian Trail. But I am a realist. I'll have to hike what I know first.

I may consider Wisconsin's trail system instead and expand beyond the local Reserve and Parks. 

The WI Ice Age Trails offer some straight through hiking near where my cousins live. I could hike and make a visit at the same time. 

Hmmmm.

Gandy Dancer State Trail [47 miles from Danbury to St. Croix Falls]
Tuscobia Trail [ 65 miles from Rice Lake to Birchwood]

The Ice Age Trail offers approximately 1,000 miles of hiking in my own state.

For now? I need to get through the hike at the end of the next month. But I sure do like dreaming!

 

I'm doing it again.

3 years ago to celebrate turning 65, I did this awesome long hike. I took Charlie with me and it was a hot hot day.

I ended up carrying him for half of the hike. That would make it about 4 miles, give or take. Charlie is 6 now and very sensitive to hot days, so this year I am not including him. I just want to walk or hike at a leisurely pace.

Map of that hike at Kickapoo Valley Reserve.

I mentioned that I was going to do this hike again while at CrossFit the other day. The nurse who was hanging on the rig next to me said: "Count me IN! I want details!" I informed her that I intended to do a Joy Hike. 
Not running, not for time, but for the simple joy of being alive.

Yes, the map shows the hike to be about 9 miles, give or take the accuracy of the MapMyHike program I used.

But if you are not in a hurry and are just out for the enjoyments of it--really, it is doable if you are mobile.

So I posted the plan on our private group of gym folks. 

No hurry. Things needed:

Water. Lots of water.
Snacks.
Good shoes.
Bug Spray.
Happy Attitude.

A refresher for those who may not have followed me 3 years ago. The Hike.

I love hiking almost more than anything else. The equipment needed:
feet, backpack of stuff, and a good attitude. 

[Maps and compasses do help]

I know not everyone can do this, but I've had folks ask me a few times to take them along hiking. Most of the trips I've done with other brave souls are 2, 3, and 4 mile hikes. 9 may seem like a lot, but it isn't if you take it at your own pace.

We'll see if I go solo or with some friends.

Recently I offered to go walking with a friend of mine. We've known each other for years. She said that she wasn't up to my speed. I answered "But I can match your speed!" Sometimes the hike is not about how hard it is or long. It is about walking and friendship in nature.

You keep me safe, I'll keep you wild.

Move the body, still the mind.

Hike at Weister Creek

 

I'll be parking at Pott's Corners, I told hubby as I was getting ready to go on my B-day hike with Charlie. I'd wondered about taking him on the sort of new-ish grass trail I'd planned on doing.

Only local folk really know what 'Pott's Corners' is. I never did find out the story behind it, but I assume that it is where a farm used to be and generally I would think the families last name would have been Potts.

Potts Corners 

with a new sign!

The local names for places like Mule Camp, Horse Camp, Ma & Pa's Camp, Pott's Corners Camp, have changed slightly over the years. Some places retained their original names but now are labeled on a map with letters. The letters aren't as charming as the fun names were.

There used to be an old trail along Weister Creek and the Reserve changed it to only foot traffic. It runs along a beautiful trout stream. I had never explored this trail and thought it would be a nice one to try.

It was relatively cool and breezy so walking in the grass and alongside water might be pleasant.

I took my infrared camera because all of the amazing things that are combined for good IR were absolutely perfect. Clouds, green grass, leafed out trees, and water.

I nearly turned back right away. They had just mowed and poor Charlie was struggling to walk through the thick chaff left by the mower. Pretty quickly he started to gag and cough. I scooped him up and decided to go ahead and carry him. 
What is an extra 14 pounds anyway?

The scenery did not disappoint at all. In fact in its natural colors of green and blue, it was amazing also.
I could see a woman walking with her dog on the other side of the creek and knew our paths would eventually cross if she didn't turn around.

Charlie and I stopped on a bridge and found a shady spot to have some water and share an apple. My arms needed a break and sitting in the grass seemed to be just the thing to do.

The woman and her dog came around the bend. She said her dog was friendly, could our dogs meet? I asked her for sure was... her dog friendly? Charlies last dog encounter was a bitey dog.

She assured me so and introduced us to her dog Kona Tree.

He was friendly. He actually paid no attention at all to Charlie other than to check out his parts and then walk over and pee on a weed to show Charlie how a bigger dog marked his territory.

We chatted a bit and then she told me she was just going up to the bridge and then taking this road...she pointed back to where she parked. 

I pointed to the road she was talking about and said it was a dead end and no road would take her back to her car. I explained that the roads in our area were not usually what they seemed to be.

I pulled out my map and showed her the layout. 

Her husband had taken the day off work and come out to Weister Creek to go trout fishing and she thought it would be fun to take a nice long walk with Kona.

Kona Tree

We eventually found her hubby who was enjoying his fishing. Tayanna [her name] introduced Charlie and I. The hubby then went on to tell her how the roads ran and when he pronounced Weister Creek properly I laughed out loud.

I said the locals pronounce the creek as "Wooster" Creek even though it isn't spelled that way." 

We laughed over local name pronunciation and spelling. Looking back, I hope I didn't offend anyone.

Apparently not. Tayanna and I walked to her car with our dogs and she offered Charlie and I a ride back to Pott's Corners. I didn't want to cause more confusion as technically Pott's Corners didn't exist and I couldn't recall the name of the road I did park on.

Besides with the rest of the trail ran along Wolfe Hollow Road Charlie's nose wouldn't be in the chaff and he'd be fine.

We exchanged numbers for texting as she asked if she came out again, could we hike a trail together. I said of course.

What a nice unexpected birthday surprise. 

Chalk it up to serendipity.

Two guys fishing under the bridge over

Wooster [Weister Creek].