The
group hike started from Panorama in icy rain then the weather dry out
and turned sunny on the Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah National Park. I
was exhausted after 10 miles mix of slush and wet snow, which caused
two blisters on the back of my heels from carrying 1lb of wet snow under
the spikes. I requested and got 5 other hikers to turn back at
Elkwallow Wayside. Then I got two more blisters on balls of my feet
walking down Skyline Drive. Total 17.7 miles, 2400 vertical in 7:20
total time today. The other group finished 21 miles as planned, but I am
glad that I turned back earlier to take care of my feet.
I
had a cold (20f -6c) yet fun hike over snow with friends on Appalachian
Trail for 15 mile with 3000 feet elevation gain (manassas gap - whiskey
hollows) on Saturday. I was well prepared with gaiters to keep my socks
dry, spikes to walk on snow/ice, sunglasses to avoid snow blind, and an
alpaca wool hat to cover my ears (got for the Inca trail hike in 2011
in Peru). However, I accidentally smashed my head against a 6” diameter
tree trunk and it really hurt (May knock down my IQ 10 points!!!).
After the hike, four of us went to a close by winery for wine tasting
around an outdoor fire pit. A great day except my head injury. I ran 5
miles on Sunday to meet my 20 hike/run mile weekend goal.
I
just finished running 5 miles before the pavement became icy, after
skipping a hike likely in freezing rain. I ran another 15 miles Sunday
afternoon to meet my weekend 20 workout goal and to burn off lunar new
year eve dinner calories. BTW, happy Valentine’s Day!
I
hiked with a meetup group today mostly on snow for 16 miles with 3400
feet elevation gain in the Shenandoah National Park (AT-Pass Mtn-Rocky
Branch-Neighbor Mtn Trails. It was very tiring to walk on snow so we cut
short the hike than originally planned. My boots and socks were soaked
but I tough it out, and pretty exhausted at the end of the hike. Since
we finished early, four of us went to a winery after the hike.
