I don’t know about you guys, but I’m getting tired of training and just want to get on with the real hike! After a weekend layoff (had to go into work for a day and also played golf with Dan last weekend) I was back in the mountains today. The weather outlook wasn’t so good as it has been lately, with thunderstorms predicted for early afternoon, so I made it a more sensible hike than the last 20ish miler.
The McDonalds in Catlett got my day off to a great start (is there a smiley for sarcasm?) when they charged me .50 for my coffee. How old do you have to be to qualify for the senior rate? I don’t want to know! It’s been happening at McDonalds since about the time I turned 40. And just 10 years before that I was getting carded for beer. Those must have been 10 tough years! But it’s always happened when I’m wearing a suit, and not dressed for the mountains. And it usually happens with a 19-something cashier. Today the woman definitely had a lot of years on me and it looked like her odometer was on it’s second pass.
First thing going up the hill I met a couple coming the other way with the obligatory cheerful warning that they’d just seen a bear around the previous bend and I should be careful. It’s starting to seem like people just make that up to annoy other hikers who really WANT to see a bear. There’s probably a story going around the Shenandoah forest that if you see a guy who looks like he qualifies for McDonalds senior coffee, tell him you just saw a bear! (do I sound bitter?) :7)
Other than that it was pretty uneventful. Hardly anyone in the mountains today…probably the bad weather forecast. No raspberry cliff shots…instead, 2 apples, a power bar, and lots of water. It rained and thundered some, but the forest canopy kept pretty much everything off the ground. Did about 11 miles. Stopped for a swim in the usual place.
I think I might do one more hike before Africa, but that’s about it. Will do more biking, weights, and try to lose another half dozen pounds. Anything I don’t have to carry up the mountain will be a real savings. I think that past a certain level of fitness, and good boots/feet, it comes down to acclimatization and a little luck that you’re not having a bad air day.
Anybody hear anything from Sara and Patrick (the UK couple)?
Tomorrow is shot day…
Clearly the staff at your local McDonald’s lack tact, a quality otherwise prevalent in the fast food industry. For example, at our nearest Burger King (About 35 miles from home. Kiowa doesn’t do fast food unless you consider a beer and a shot at the Cowboy Saloon a major food group)I’ve been charged the “special” rate. It makes me feel very special indeed.
One advantage of preparing for the Kili climb in Colorado is that the hikes are special in a good way (not that there’s anything wrong with being special in an aged or decrepit way).
Had to cut the Mt. Princeton climb short at 13,000 ft. due to weather which was uncharachteristic for this time of year, when the main mountain weather hazard is afternoon electric storms.
The summit had been covered with thick clouds all morning and they began to descend rapidly towards us as we approached the ridge which would take us up the final 1200 ft. You have to cross some pretty treacherous boulder fields to get to the summit ridge and navigating them without being able to see clearly would be pretty hazardous; so we retreated.
It was still a great day. The view down to the Arkansas River thousands of feet below was glorious and there was the add feature of a long soak at Mt, Princeton Hot Springs before driving home.
Tomorrow I head to Mt. Massive. At 14,421 ft. it’s the second highest peak in the state.
Hope to complete my medical preparation by mid-month. Installation of the post root canal crown began today, and I’ll get whatever shots I still need and assortd prescriptions– diamox, cipro, malaria prophylaxis– next week. The swahili class I’ve been taking winds up on Monday. I’ll get ny visa at JRO.–Rick
Hi Rick – thanks for the post. I hope the Mt Massive climb had better weather than Mt Princeton did. You’re getting some really good altitude training under your belt. Swahili class? Great idea. Good luck finishing off the dental work too. Jon