Final February Hike

Here we are, nearing the end of one month and the beginning of the next. I finished my last hike of the month today, full pack on and me moving for three hours. I was aiming for four, but my excuse is the upper and lower body workouts the previous two days... So sore! I'm thinking it might help if I start wearing my pack at home between hikes, too. 

I almost skipped the hike altogether, but I'm glad I went. There's something reviving to body and soul in just getting out and into nature... Even just a taste of something wild ignites some spark in me. This is one of those things that IS life for me. :)

We've had some astonishingly warm weather here for Minnesota winter...I mean, highs in the 60s for almost a full week. That's craziness. Usually the February warm spell is 35-40 for highs...

The high temps even melted the packed snow on the park paths under the trees. Walking was a breeze. Those yak traks I brought along "just in case" weren't needed today.

I "discovered" this well by a creek in the park. Just...There. Completely random.

I followed a ravine down to the river...

...and then climbed up for a bit of a view. 

I liked the look of the sky cut up by this fallen tree.

The waterfall is always a favorite site:

I'm looking forward to those 7 hour pack hikes in March. That will definitely be a new challenge... And in a new location...! 

My shoulders are sore just thinking about it.

And still, that wild spark says, "let's do this."

🤓😎🤣

Making Traks

That backpacking trip I mentioned before takes place in June, so I'm already gearing up and preparing. I started this last Saturday with my pack about 1/3 full. I walked the local park paths for about 3 hours, feeling toasty in layer on layer of clothes as I picked my way over ice and packed snow. The next time I made sure to wear my yak traks for better traction. Either way, yak traks or no, there were a few spots where the path was so steep and icy, I opted to sit and slide down the path, rather than risking a trip and fall.

What I learned on my first hike:

-after only a few hours, I'm already getting hungry (made sure to bring trail mix the next time!)
-my hip flexors were the most sore after, closely followed by my shoulder muscles
-the snow has barely melted in the park because of all the shade, so the conditions on the roads and lawns are no indication of trail conditions

My second hike lasted 4 hours, and it was so cold when I started (about 4 F) that after only an hour, the straw on my water bottle had frozen solid and the water in the bottle had flakes of ice forming in it..!

I'm excited for the next hike! Aiming for 4 hour hikes in February, 7 in March, 10 in April, and 13 in May... Then gear tests in early June. So far so good.

Here's to the adventure, and this journey leading up to it!