I
did 13.5 mile 3600 feet elevation gain hike in the Shenandoah National
Park near Hazel Mountain this Saturday with a group of friends
(duplicated 1/3 of last Saturday route, yet better weather 70f and fewer
stream crossings). I brought mini blueberry muffins and peanut butter
cookies to share with my friends, including some I haven’t seen since
Covid. We shared Cave Fall as a lunch spot with a Korean hiking group.
They cooked Korean lunch on site that smelled so good and motivated me
to eat Korean instant noodles for dinner Saturday night. Everything was
wonderful except I fell on a rock which cut and bruise my leg.
Nevertheless, I tough it out and continued hiking, even ran 6.5 miles
after the hike to complete my 20 hike/run mile weekend goal. “What does
not kill you makes you stronger.” BTW, cherry trees are blossoming now.
We
started the 13-m 3300 ft elevation gain hike uphill on Sam's Ridge in
20f, and finished on Hazel River Trail in 50f. To my surprise, Hazel
River Trail was mostly dry and pleasant today, and I only used plastic
booties to cross the River once. I used up all my left over energy to
run 7 miles after the hike and finished my weekend 20 hike/run mile
goal.
I
took this exact 12.5 miles with 3300 feet elevation gain hike Cedar
Run/Hawksbill/White Oak Canyon (WOC) in January, but today weather was
perfect. My left knee cap was making noise, so I was slow uphills and
very concerned walked next to icy trail. Nevertheless, I finished the
hike, and even ran 7.5 miles before it got dark to complete my 20
hike/run miles weekend goal.
I
had a big group hike in the Sky Meadows state park and Lost Mountain
for 16.5 miles with 2200 feet elevation gain in a sunny and cool day. I
hiked in this park many times, but 1st walked by the back entrance and
met a giant horse. It was so much easier to hike without snow, so we
finished earlier, shared the banana bread baked by hike leader Wanda,
and some of us visited a winery after the hike. I had time ran 3.5 miles
before dark to finish my weekend 20 hike/run mile goal.
