We started of with a group of four: one intending to day hike about 10 miles and then move on to family obligations. Shortly after getting settled on the trail (about 5 miles) the trip leader took a nasty fall resulting in a very obviously broken finger. After a quick back country evaluation and a few items from my first aid kit, we decided it was best if we hike out to where the day hiker’s car was and send him to the hospital. It took a little coaxing but he finally agreed that his weekend was over.
Lesson #1: Make sure your first aid kit is packed high in your pack so you can easily access it. The day before I almost shoved it to the bottom to conserve space. In the end something told me to put my water filter there and the first aid kit closer to the top. Thank you inner voice.
We got a mile or so up the trail and the day hiker decided it was best to ask some fishermen for a ride to her car to cut off the nearly 4 miles left. The trip leader momentarily insisted that he finish the section of trail. In the end he was glad she hitched a ride as the pain started to gradually set in after the adrenaline wore off.
Lesson #2: Take the quickest route possible to your car if someone needs to go to the hospital.
So four hikers soon turned into two (plus two dogs). We continued on and made some decent time…all things considered. My hiking partner had hiked most of the trail before and had a GPS so it did help that he was a little familiar with the area. After a couple confusing turns in the trail we made it camp.
I had worn my brand new boots for the hike and my right heel was getting gnawed pretty good. With enough duct tape it was cool but I must admit my feet and legs were pretty happy to arrive at camp. We had a nice little fire and exchanged stories of our dogs, hiking, and skiing experiences.
Sunday morning we set out and I had no idea what I was in store for. Shortly after we broke camp the trail required us to “cross the causeway,” which really means walk a mile down a shoulder-less narrow bridge with traffic flying past you at a hundred (or what seemed like) miles per hour. Poor Kodie (the car chaser) didn't know what to do when the trucks with boats & boat trailers went flying past her. Luckily we both put our dogs on leashes, which proved to be a wise move once we were on the road.
Lesson #3: Keep your leash handy when you’re in unfamiliar territory.
Here's a rather non-descript shot of the lake from the causeway crossing.
After the causeway we got into some gnarly overgrown, cobweb crowded tunnel of wear-you-out for what seemed like miles and miles. Thank goodness I was advised to wear pants on day 2. It was hot and sticky and the cobwebs were unreal. We took turns leading and waving our hiking poles in front of us like crazy people trying to not take them in the face. It was exhausting because you couldn’t just relax and walk.Finally we came to a nice little place for lunch with picnic tables and access to the lake for the dogs. We had a nice long lunch, resulting in a lazy me, and then proceeded down the trail of webs.
Shortly after a couple really confusing turns that seemed to actually take us off the trail, I started to get a crippling pain in my right ankle. Considering the trail looped around a lake, much of it was lower on the lake side. Since I’m not a mountain goat, I suddenly found myself wishing my right leg was shorter than my left. The wishing didn’t help. The pain kept gnawing away at my mind every time the trail was angled. I longed for uphills and switchbacks in hopes of the trail angle changing.
It was all worth it though when the trail went beside the lake and we saw a pair of bald eagles flying around a little cove! I couldn’t believe it! That was the first time I had ever seen bald eagles in the wild. I was SO excited. Not fast enough to snap a picture of them, but excited none-the-less.
It also helped when I was getting discouraged about the uneven trail. My hiking buddy would say, “Remember the bald eagles!” And I would imagine them in my mind instead of the discomfort in my right ankle.
Around 3pm we found a great little cove and campsite. We pondered for a long time on whether we should push on or camp there. Since we had a full day to go and only about 4 miles we decided to camp there. It proved to be worth it.
Labor Day weekend is a very busy time for boaters on a lake. We lounged around and watched the boaters come and go with disappointment that the campsite was already taken. They were very entertaining.
After a yummy dinner, a small fire, and lots of bat watching, I decided to hit the tent early…like about 9:30. I was whooped and actually felt like I would sleep well. I headed to the tent and after about 5 minutes I heard my hiking partner holler, “Are you settled in yet?” I looked around my tent and said, “Not really, why?”
I went back to the beach where he showed me some really cool little bugs on the ground that glowed. I had heard of these bugs but had never seen them first hand. They looked like a cross between a roley-poley and lightning bug (or firefly). They were pretty cool!
Lesson #4: If you’re not pressed for time, and think you’ve got a cool campsite stop there because you probably do.
After a great night’s rest and lots of duct taping and bandaging, we headed on down the trail, which proved to be almost as cobwebby as the day before and was absolutely as uneven.
I started to really experience some pain from my right ankle and lag behind. My hiking partner was great about hollering every now and then to check on me and warn me of confusing turns. I simply couldn’t keep up unless the trail bed was flat. And that wasn’t very often.
Eventually I started to really encounter some problems. As I tried to compensate for the ankle pain my knee was getting extra torque and soon began to ache too. Ugh.
I was really looking forward to the end of the trail. Bald eagles. Think bald eagles.
Within a few hours of starting out for the day, we crossed the dam (thank goodness, it was flat) and blew through the last half-mile or so section of trail leading to the parking lot.
The Crocs and the car were a welcome relief.
Lesson #5: Don’t take new boots on a 25-mile hike. I actually knew this before but went against my better judgment because I was so excited about my new boots.
All in all it was like a good hike should be: strenuous, memorable, and challenging.
Of course now I’m icing my ankle and babying my feet for the next couple of days so I won’t miss next week’s hike. Three days in the Red River Gorge. Hooray! Short drive and great hiking.
Note: The status on the trip leader's finger: casted up and he has an appointment at the hand specialist for possible surgery. Yikes!
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