Marshall, Bluff, and Appalachian Trails for 19.5 miles

 A group hike on Marshall, Bluff, and Appalachian Trails for 19.5 miles and 3600 feet elevation gain in 85+ f, and an after-hike birthday celebration for three hikers. I picked some chicken of the wood mushrooms on the trail, and decided to round up the hiking distance as 20 to complete my weekend 20 hike/run mile goal (to hot to run 0.5 mile after hike)

Double Robertson mt trails

 

I hiked with few friends to tackle Double Robertson mt trails (13.5 miles with 4150 feet elevation gain) again this Saturday and succeeded. It was hotter yet less humid than last Saturday, so I felt stronger to finish the steep hike. I signed up triple Robertson mt hike scheduled in October, in case I am forced to drop my western EU trip due to covid restrictions. 

 

I ran 6.5 miles Sunday morning in 70f, to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.

Robertson Mountain / Corbin Hollow Trail

 

We planned to hike TWICE Robertson Mountain / Corbin Hollow Trail on Saturday but only ONCE (in 70sf) and then switched to lower/easier trails (in 80sf) to avoid thunderstorms. Robertson mt trail has 1700 ft elevation gain in 1.7 miles. Although the forecasted thunderstorms did not occur, the humidity still felt like a natural sauna. We did 12.5 miles with 3000 feet elevation gain. Some of us stopped by a winery after the hike (becoming a tradition now?) and chilled with a glass of wine.

 

It was too hot (in high 80s) to run after the hike, so I ran 7.5 miles Sunday morning to complete my 20 hike/run mile weekend goal.

Little Devil Stairs for 13.2 miles

 

I hiked with a meetup group today on Little Devil Stairs for 13.2 miles with 3000 feet elevation in 70sf. We finished early and stopped by a winery with our own cheese and snacks to pair with wine. It was a a pity that Wanda did not harvest the chicken in the woods mushroom today. I will make sure it will not happen again! BTW, Marco brought a hiking Barbie to the hike for entertainment.

I went grocery shopping, ran 6.8 miles, and cut grass in the yard after the wine tasting. What a day.

17-mile Sams Ridge hike

 I took the 17-mile 4100 feet elevation gain hike along Sams Ridge-Buck Hollow-Buck Ridge- Hazel River in this 70f cool day. The berries were sour now. I felt the hike became easier after hiking one-week at much higher altitude in Colorado. Some of us went to a closeby winery afterward. I went grocery shopping then ran 3 mile to complete my weekend 20 hike/run mile training goal.

Lunch @ Chao Phra YA (Thai restaurant)

 I had lunch with a friend at a Thai restaurant near my house that is decorated with a lot of stuffed animals. We ordered drunken noodles, flounder rice, Thai tea, litchi drink, and mango rice dessert.

Week-long hiking in Rocky Mt. National Park

 https://jtrockymtnp.blogspot.com/

WOC-Hawksbill-Cedar Run

 I usually hiked the opposite direction but today WOC-Hawksbill-Cedar Run for 12 miles with 3660 feet elevation gain was bearable in cool 70f under shades most of the time. Some hikers dipped into the big water hole and Brian even water-slide 5 times into the 55f water. Our hike leader Saran kindly rewarded us cold water, apple juice, and mini cinnamon rolls at the end of hike. It was cool enough for me to run 8 miles after the hike to complete my 20 hike/run miles weekend goal.