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Monday, May 5, 2014

The Return of Shamu

 
Here it is! The pack's been packed away since 2010, but there are two short sections of the upcoming hike that Marie and I will need to backpack due to lack of road access to spot cars for day hikes.

Marie has some back problems, and had decided she couldn't backpack any more. But, we are going to pack light, and since the stretches are short we won't have to lug a full 5-6 days of food. We think this is do-able. I love to backpack, but that doesn't change the fact that I haven't done any since 2010.

So today, I got Shamu out and loaded it up with 28 pounds of stuff (bags of sugar and flour, large water bottles), and hiked around out back for 30 minutes. Can we say "out of shape?" Made my hips hurt. I'll need to be quite serious about hiking every day and working up to at least 35 pounds.

backpacker

Very, very slowly, spring is trying to crawl back. Down by the creek one marsh marigold is trying to bloom.

marsh marigold

And the tops of the apple trees are decorated with meadow larks, although he was chilly, and not singing.

meadowlark

In other news, I finished the cleanup from the roof job, and worked a little bit on a shed that has to come down. Mostly assessing how on earth I can do that, safely.

Hike Planning Report
Worked some more on the itinerary. Have all maps now, and it's all done except for some possible small tweaks.

Planned the food for the hike.

Got out Shamu and hiked 30 minutes with 28 pounds.

See The Meadowlarks Arrive
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7 comments:

Lin said...

I imagine that weight feels like 100 lbs. after a half hour or so. But look at the payoff.....all that time out in the wilderness! Whooohoooo!

The Furry Gnome said...

Boy, you really are a serious hiker!

Ann said...

I'm pretty sure I would be walking bent over with that much weight on my back. Wait, what am I saying? I wouldn't be able to walk with that much weight

Secondary Roads said...

Spring trail training. Hmmm . . . not for sissies. Have fun.

rose AKA Walk in the Woods - she/her said...

What a wonderful adventure ~ enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Not sure I could hack that.

vanilla said...

I am sure you will persevere. Good luck.
I miss the meadowlark; seems our area is devoid of them.