I challenged myself to burn 7,000 calories and go 50 miles this week. One of the things I wanted to do was hike a 10.5 mile trail in Morgan Monroe State Forest. It is a challenging trail to say the least. I've been exercising since January of 2010 and had dropped 62 lbs, down to 288 from 350.
So this morning I woke up really early, 6 a.m., with just 4 hours of sleep. Fixed breakfast did dishes and then started thinking of all the reasons I shouldn't go hiking, it's cold, there's a great movie on, or I could just go to the gym. Would I listen to me, nope. I found myself, watching myself, walking to the garage and getting into the Jeep.
As I drove to the forest I was sleepy from just having those 4 hours. I said after a little time in the cool air I would wake up. So I get there, grab a map and head to the trailhead. I was walking fast too. I attempted this hike about a year ago and failed. Today seemed different. Not pulling around those 62 extra pounds was a pure joy. I moved so much easier.
There's a monster on this trail. It got me the last time. It ascends and descends steeply down to a hollow and creek. Last year when I attempted this hill it took its toll. I got to here:

Last year at this point my legs were rubber. I'm not sure why but it took me a long time to conclude I should get off the trail. Yet I don't like failure. I started thinking what if they found me dead on the trail and had to carry my large butt out. I could hear them talking, Dumb fat bastard! Let's leave him for the buzzards. Then I even wondered if I could make it back to the Jeep from there. Finally I settled on I wouldn't complete the trail by dark. It seemed like such a tough decision.
Today I conquered the monster. When I arrived at the trail split, go home or continue, it was an easy decision. My legs felt great I even felt like jogging but didn't. Then I wondered why the decision wasn't easy last year. It should have been. That is go home for goodness sake! I was so out of shape for such a test. I continued thinking I got the monster out of the way and the rest was all down hill. Holy cow was I wrong!
It had thunderstormed all day yesterday and the trail was slick in many places. I tweaked my knee from the start. That knee has issues anyway from being stupid in my younger days. I never fell but almost did about 4 times. Then the creek beds were mildly treacherous from having parts washed out. The hiking stick came in real handy.
Once I made it past the monster I looked forward to the back country. I've hiked the trail before and even in the dark. I remember it being flat. I could make good time. That was sooooo wrong. After a few minutes in the back country I saw some steps leading up. I followed them with my eyes until I just didn't want to follow them anymore. It was another monster. How could I have blocked this from my memory. The only way to do it was one step at a time. I had joked with some other hikers earlier and some mushroom hunters too. Well that sense of humor was gone.
I rest a bit on the way up, taking in some deep breaths. Beautiful deep breaths full of clean air. Then I continued. Okay another monster down. I must be getting close to the end of the back country because I was worn out and it felt like I had gone about 8 miles. Oops wrong again. I saw a marking on a tree, 5 M. Now that M can't stand for miles can it. That would mean I have more than 5 miles to go. Well apparently it did. Soon I found myself going down to the creek bed again. Once again I thought oh yeah, I'm on my way out and it is flat from here on out. Nope, Another big hill, then another. Those hills took their toll. Going down hills started being as painful as going up.
Finally I saw the exit from the back country. I openly shouted with glee. This means only 2 more miles. As I was walking toward the pathway sign leading out of the back country I wondered why was it taking me so long to go down hill. I looked down at my feet. They were taking 3 inch steps. I was in some pain. My ankle hurt and felt swollen. The souls of my feet were tender from the creek bed rocks. I wish I had worn some hiking boots.
Then finally the fire trail to home! Only it was long and a long way up. One step at a time.
In my desperation days I have fantasized about being stranded on an island for 4 years like Chuck Noland in Cast Away. Go away for 4 years, come back thin. Then I often thought I should just hike across the nation.
Now I can tell you with certainty it ain't gonna happen!

Doesn't look it but it was treacherous with icy water.

Bridge to back country. Looks tame here. But then up up up!