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Anniversary Hike
Jun. 26th, 2013 05:11 amOMG - a LJ post from me! Jesse's sleeping so I've some time to sit down and write, which I so miss doing. Eventually (hopefully soon) we'll get into a bigger place and I'll have my own space (guest room/office) to go to sit and write more. It's just hard to do it in the living room with a million other things going on.
ANYWAY!
So we just got back today from a trip to George Washington National Forest where we rented a PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) primitive cabin for two nights. The cabin was 3.2 miles uphill from the parking area and it was my first time carrying a loaded pack. (Granted it was probably only 25 pounds or so, but still more than I've ever carried for a long distance.) Couple that with the facts that the pack was brand new, we had some untested gear, we'd no idea what to expect the cabin to be like, are we're both a bit out of shape, the whole trip was probably kind of a crazy idea. I actually didn't realize the hike in was so long when I reserved the cabin; once we found out we figured we were up for the challenge.
Long story short: we survived and actually had a great time.
We spent Saturday loading our packs and making sure we had everything we needed. The one piece of gear we've bought since we've been together, our tent, we tried out in Colorado so know it works fine. Considering we were staying in the cabin, though, we didn't need it and so left it behind to save weight. We packed in brand new sleeping bags, cooking stove, water filter, hammock, hiking poles for Jesse, and dehydrated meals we've never tried. We also loaded up Flannery's saddlebags with her food and water. I shouldered my pack and it didn't seem too bad. I knew there would be a lot of adjusting and getting used to it once we were on the trail, but it felt pretty good.
Sunday we drove out to the park and way back in on the forest road to the parking lot, which we found with no problems thanks to the awesome directions the PATC folk sent us with the cabin key. The lot was right next to a beautiful stream/creek that we knew we'd be following up the mountain. We saw our last human beings there in the lot: three hikers coming off the trail we'd be going up, and one pleasant fellow loading up his fishing gear. After securing the car, we walked across the street and started our ascent.
3.2 miles isn't an insignificant distnace, especially uphill with weight. Jesse loved his trek poles and commented on how much they were helping, so I kept and eye out until I found a couple sticks that I held on to the rest of the trip. I agree - they make a huge difference. (We'll be buying me my own set of poles soon.) The hike was, thankfully, a fairly gradual incline, though there were a lot of sections of loose and/or wet rocks. In several places the stream or another spring literally crosses the path. It was never at all deep, but did require careful foot placement. We made fairly good time, all things considered. By the time we got to the cabin, I was definitely ready to stop. My new pack is comfortable, but I'm not used to it so I was pretty sore and tired after the hike.
The cabin, literally right smack on the trail, was a tiny little thing (10'x12') but amazingly well stocked. It's an old ranger cabin that used to be used in conjuction with nearby (since removed) fire watch towers. PATC has done a bang-up job with it since they took it over; it was really a great spot. Four fold-down bunks with pads and blankets, a tiny little wood stove, four plastic chairs, a folding metal table, all cooking and eating utensils, saws, shovels, matches, candles, even a little mini library of books in the pantry. No power or running water, but a privy up the trail one way and a spring the other way and a very well established fire ring outside. We definitely want to check out some of the other cabins, espcieally the ones available only to PATC members (which we are) and some of which are modern ones with plumbing and electricity.
We cooked dinner, tested the hammock (awesome) and made an early night of it. A wipporwill tried to keep us awake all night (as did the supermoon shining through the front door's window) and it was pretty warm in the cabin, but we both did manage to get some sleep.
We got a later start than I would have liked the following day, but we got to play in a bit of a rain shower before heading out for an afternoon hike. We only went about four miles total, but it was enough to get us out to a gorgeous viewpoint. We also saw tons of well established (and very nice) campsites, which makes a return trip for us fairly likely. We didn't see much in the way of wildlife (guess we were too noisy), but also didn't see another human being, which was awesome. Then it was back to the cabin for another evening around the campfire before calling it a night.
Early start on Tuesday, breakfast, break camp, clean up the cabin, and head down. Much faster going down than up, needless to say. Took a little side trip to a small clearing covered in pink flowers, then made the drive back to civilization.
All-in-all, fabulous. We all wound up with ticks (Flannery needs to go to the vet now to have some of the spots looked at), I got a good scratch on my leg, we're all sore with bump and brusies and tired muscles. But it was definitely a successful trip and we're looking foward to more in the future. Jesse took plenty of pictures (my sturdy little outdoor camera needs to get the shutter button fixed so I didn't have it) and I'll be sure and share some when I can.
Yay!
ANYWAY!
So we just got back today from a trip to George Washington National Forest where we rented a PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) primitive cabin for two nights. The cabin was 3.2 miles uphill from the parking area and it was my first time carrying a loaded pack. (Granted it was probably only 25 pounds or so, but still more than I've ever carried for a long distance.) Couple that with the facts that the pack was brand new, we had some untested gear, we'd no idea what to expect the cabin to be like, are we're both a bit out of shape, the whole trip was probably kind of a crazy idea. I actually didn't realize the hike in was so long when I reserved the cabin; once we found out we figured we were up for the challenge.
Long story short: we survived and actually had a great time.
We spent Saturday loading our packs and making sure we had everything we needed. The one piece of gear we've bought since we've been together, our tent, we tried out in Colorado so know it works fine. Considering we were staying in the cabin, though, we didn't need it and so left it behind to save weight. We packed in brand new sleeping bags, cooking stove, water filter, hammock, hiking poles for Jesse, and dehydrated meals we've never tried. We also loaded up Flannery's saddlebags with her food and water. I shouldered my pack and it didn't seem too bad. I knew there would be a lot of adjusting and getting used to it once we were on the trail, but it felt pretty good.
Sunday we drove out to the park and way back in on the forest road to the parking lot, which we found with no problems thanks to the awesome directions the PATC folk sent us with the cabin key. The lot was right next to a beautiful stream/creek that we knew we'd be following up the mountain. We saw our last human beings there in the lot: three hikers coming off the trail we'd be going up, and one pleasant fellow loading up his fishing gear. After securing the car, we walked across the street and started our ascent.
3.2 miles isn't an insignificant distnace, especially uphill with weight. Jesse loved his trek poles and commented on how much they were helping, so I kept and eye out until I found a couple sticks that I held on to the rest of the trip. I agree - they make a huge difference. (We'll be buying me my own set of poles soon.) The hike was, thankfully, a fairly gradual incline, though there were a lot of sections of loose and/or wet rocks. In several places the stream or another spring literally crosses the path. It was never at all deep, but did require careful foot placement. We made fairly good time, all things considered. By the time we got to the cabin, I was definitely ready to stop. My new pack is comfortable, but I'm not used to it so I was pretty sore and tired after the hike.
The cabin, literally right smack on the trail, was a tiny little thing (10'x12') but amazingly well stocked. It's an old ranger cabin that used to be used in conjuction with nearby (since removed) fire watch towers. PATC has done a bang-up job with it since they took it over; it was really a great spot. Four fold-down bunks with pads and blankets, a tiny little wood stove, four plastic chairs, a folding metal table, all cooking and eating utensils, saws, shovels, matches, candles, even a little mini library of books in the pantry. No power or running water, but a privy up the trail one way and a spring the other way and a very well established fire ring outside. We definitely want to check out some of the other cabins, espcieally the ones available only to PATC members (which we are) and some of which are modern ones with plumbing and electricity.
We cooked dinner, tested the hammock (awesome) and made an early night of it. A wipporwill tried to keep us awake all night (as did the supermoon shining through the front door's window) and it was pretty warm in the cabin, but we both did manage to get some sleep.
We got a later start than I would have liked the following day, but we got to play in a bit of a rain shower before heading out for an afternoon hike. We only went about four miles total, but it was enough to get us out to a gorgeous viewpoint. We also saw tons of well established (and very nice) campsites, which makes a return trip for us fairly likely. We didn't see much in the way of wildlife (guess we were too noisy), but also didn't see another human being, which was awesome. Then it was back to the cabin for another evening around the campfire before calling it a night.
Early start on Tuesday, breakfast, break camp, clean up the cabin, and head down. Much faster going down than up, needless to say. Took a little side trip to a small clearing covered in pink flowers, then made the drive back to civilization.
All-in-all, fabulous. We all wound up with ticks (Flannery needs to go to the vet now to have some of the spots looked at), I got a good scratch on my leg, we're all sore with bump and brusies and tired muscles. But it was definitely a successful trip and we're looking foward to more in the future. Jesse took plenty of pictures (my sturdy little outdoor camera needs to get the shutter button fixed so I didn't have it) and I'll be sure and share some when I can.
Yay!
