UP THE HILL SENIOR HIKING GROUP

THRU THE TRACKS ORGANIZATION, BESIDES TRAIL MAINTAINANCE WE ALSO JOINED THE WEDNESDAY “UP THE HILL” SENIOR HIKING GROUP. THIS GROUPS HIKES EVERY WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 6:45 AM.

HERE IS THE DAYS GROUP OF 30 HIKERS GETTING ORGANIZED.

 

THE GROUP MEETS IN TOWN, AND FOR $2 EACH WE WERE ABLE TO CAR POOL OUT TO THE FOREST FOR THE DAY’S HIKE. THIS HIKE WAS ON THE CHIPMUNK CONNECTOR TRAIL AND STAYED RELATIVELY FLAT (NO MOUNTAINS). YOU GET AN E-MAIL MID-WEEK EXPLAINING THE ROUTE AND WHO IS LEADING THE HIKE. THIS WEEK THERE WAS AN INVITATION TO A POTLUCK AFTER THE HIKE.

AS YOU CAN SEE THE FOREST IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO HIKE AND MARY AND I REALLY ENJOYED HAVING A LEADER WHO KNEW WHERE THE HELL WE WERE GOING. NO CHANCE OF GETTING LOST, AND PLENTY OF HELP IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

THE HIKES LAST FOR ABOUT THREE HOURS AND COVER 5-7 MILES. THEY TAKE REST STOPS FOR WATER AND TO KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER EVERY 20-30 MINUTES.

WE EVEN SPOTTED SOME WILD LIFE……

I’D SAY THEY WERE HEREFORDS……

IF WE ARE SPENDING ALL THIS TIME OUTDOORS IN THE NATIONAL FOREST, IT’S TIME TO INVEST IN THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT.

 

IN MY WHOLE LIFE, EVEN AS EAGLE SCOUT, I’VE NEVER OWNED HIKING BOOTS. I HAD BOOTS FOR HORSE BACK RIDING IN THOSE DAYS, BUT NOT HIKING.  THEY ARE JUST TOO HEAVY, AND SLOW YOU DOWN.  AFTER WORKING AND HIKING THIS SUMMER I DECIDED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WATCHED US BOTH STUMBLE OVER ROCKS NEARLY SPRAINING AN ANKLE AND WE DECIDED HIKING BOOTS WERE THE ANSWER BEFORE WE FELL AND BROKE A LEG.

BESIDES THE WEDNESDAY HIKING GROUP WE OFTEN VENTURE OUT ON OUR OWN. WE HAVE FOUR URBAN HIKES WE DO REGULARLY, THE RIM TRAIL, WOODLAND LAKE, SHOW LOW PARK, AND THE BLUFF TRAIL. I THINK I’VE BLOGGED ABOUT THESE TRAILS LAST YEAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LOT’S OF NEW TERRITORY THIS SUMMER.

  “SUNNY & 85”