It's been a while

It's been a while -- several months to be exact. Things have changed while others have remained the same. Unfortunately, writing in my blog has been pushed to the side as I try to advance in my relationships and career.

I changed jobs from the hospital setting to a physician office laboratory. It's a nice little place that I like to call the "Unicorn" of Medical Technologist settings. I have every weekend off and I'm not stressed out as much as I used to be. I get to see patients, nurses, and doctors. It's like being back to working at the Urologist laboratory when I was doing the Whole30 two years ago. This means that I get to spend more time with C, go hiking, and actually see the beautiful sunsets. It's been a great change for me.

Hiking is still a major part of my fitness, but I have added personal training and spinning classes to the mix. I truly enjoy my personal trainer, K, who was a rugby player in Europe. He's very supportive of C and I, encouraging us to try harder or go faster. He's a big believer in writing everything down,. I've been doing so off-and-on. I just have issues with the weekends getting in the way.It's been fun, however, to see how much I have advanced in the last three months that I have worked with him.

May was relatively busy for C and I. We did two major hikes -- one in Maryland and on in Virginia  then flew out to Hawai'i to vacation with his family and see his brother.

The Maryland hike C and I went on was a spectacular hike in Patapsco State Park near Baltimore. The foliage was so green and fresh that  it almost hurt our eyes. The Mid-Eastern states had received a lot of rain at that point, making us wish we could pipe some water over to California.

Also, Patapsco state park has a little cascading waterfall that little kids played in while their parents watched from a downed tree that crossed the path. The shouting of the kids, however, disappeared after walking about a mile away from the cascades. C and I got lost when we reached a point in the trial that lead out of the park. I didn't want to leave the park in fear that we wouldn't be able to find a way back in, so we headed to uncharted trails for the mountain bikers that meandered around small ditches and trees. The total mileage was around eight, with a small break after crossing the swinging bridge. The end was a little under a mile of uphill climb that was taxing, but still fun to do.

Ruined house in the middle of Pataspco State Park

Cascade waterfall with kids 

The following weekend, C and I went to Prince William National Park that has been a very fun hike for C and I over the past year. During the winter, we walked in the freezing cold and saw leaf-less trees and ice-covered streams. This time, the trees were glorious and the laurel was blooming. Everything looked so much different than the last time we went that we got a little turned around at one point.

My trip to Hawai'i was my first. We started off in Honolulu with C's family. Our hotel was located in Waikiki so I got to see some of the tourist attractions that Oahu had to offer. We moved to the big island which was one of my favorite places. I loved the deep cerulean blue oceans next to the black sands, the dark lava tubes, the glowing caldera, and the waterfalls.We returned to Oahu to swim with the sea turtles, travel around the island to the North Shore, the Valley of the Temples, and Pali lookout. I was even able to pay my respects to those who lost their lives in Pearl Harbor. It was fantastic!

Black sand beach on Big Island

Lava Tube!!! 

As a girl raised near the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, I had never swam in such crystal clear waters. Being able to see the bottom of the reefs at 15m was amazing, but I am already thinking about another trip to hike all those mountains! The rainforests of Hawai'i need me to explore them! 

I didn't want to leave Hawai'i. I wanted to forever bask in the sun, learn to stand-up paddleboard, and sleep under the stars. Maybe I'll just keep returning back. 

I returned from the beautiful islands with a serious illness and spent the next month not able to hike for long. I was miserable, but by my birthday, I was back to normal. 

That is all for now. I'll be back with more tidbits of my life soon. 

'Twas the Season

The holidays are over, finished, kaput, but I'm not all that happy that it's done and over with. Sure the holidays can be a little hectic with prepping meals for Thanksgiving and Christmas, buying gifts for love ones, decorating the house, baking traditional treats, and still going to see lights somewhere like the National Zoo, but there are things that I quite enjoy about the Holidays. I enjoy spending time with my family, looking at my decorated Christmas tree, watching loved ones' faces as they open presents, watching White Christmas, A Christmas Story, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

Looking back, 2014 was a very interesting year with its ups-and-downs, new discoveries, and excitement.

In January, I started the Whole30 diet because I was tired of looking at myself and hating what I saw. I felt listless. I needed a way out of my current regime.  I found a book called It Starts with Food and the things they said started to click with me in a very deep level. It all corresponded to the training I've had in biochemistry at NSU. I decided to jump headfirst into an elimination diet. You can check out my experiences throughout the blog.

That month, I also found that I could no longer support myself financially with my two student loans and other bills. I had to go looking for a new job which I interviewed for in late January. I got the job, so I had to move from my hometown to the DC area to start anew. Thankfully, my boyfriend, C, of several years was already living up here and he opened his house to me, allowing me to make it my own. 

In February, I moved to the DC area in time for C's birthday. The move was a grueling task, especially after I had to watch my Maw-maw wave solemnly out her front window as I drove away, my tears streaming down my face, and C grasping my hands tightly to remind me that he was there. I didn't have as much stuff as I had originally thought, but there were a few heavy pieces that almost broke C's foot. My parents helped move me in, their support and love, along with C's, helped boost my spirits more than the excitement of a new adventure ever could. I kept telling myself that I was Frodo, I was an adventurer, but really, I just wanted to hide in a corner and pretend this wasn't happening.

On C's birthday, I baked him chocolate chip cookies. I threw my entire being into trying to be the perfect live-in girlfriend. I cooked dinner every night, ultimately losing my new-found love of the kitchen. I followed him around like a lost puppy those first few months and cried on his shoulder as home-sickness entered into my soul. In hindsight, I was probably the most annoying girlfriend instead of the best. I know that he was grateful when I finally started evening shifts.

March was nothing really to write home about. I was still having huge bouts of homesickness and I still strove to be the best-girlfriend-in-the-world, but I had become depressed. I moved in slow-motion, my brain filled with the muddy waters of insolence. I had no drive. I feared that C would kick me to the curb now that he had to see me every day.

April would bring a turn-around from this stupid behavior. Spring was in the air and my knitting friends back home were going to a fiber festival to sell their wares of hand-dyed yarns and fibers. I wanted to help them so I decided to drive home. That weekend was also the peak of the Cherry Blossoms at the tidal basin so C and I met there. I was waiting for him and started to get a little nervous, freaking out because of the number of people I didn't know. Finally, I started to have a panic attack, fighting with C when he was trying to find me. I know that I shouldn't have, but it just happened that way. I dropped him off at home and drove on to my hometown, thinking that being back with family will cure my ails.

 

The fiber festival was kind of a bust, but it was great to be with my friends again. I got a cheap lambs fleece to spin as well which excited me at the time. I also realized that I was able to spindle spin and walk around at the same time so I reveled at being a center of attention for a while. Later that night, I found myself in the most intense pain I have ever felt. I laid awake, curled in a fetal position, hoping that it'll go away with a few aspirin. I paced the floors until I woke up Maw-maw's dogs. Finally, I woke her up and called my mom who took me to the ED and found I had kidney stones. I spent the next week in various amounts of pain with C worrying over me. I lacked appetite and I was constantly taking a pill for opening up my urethra or pain or antibiotics. Finally, I had the stone surgically removed. 

As painful as they were, this was where my attitude seemed to shift. It wasn't miraculous and overnight, but a gradual shift into the positive. My outlook started to get better. My relationship with C was starting to get stronger again. I started to not need him around every day to just feel happy for a moment. I took a break off from cooking a few times and just enjoyed eating food. My love for the kitchen is still slowly coming back, but I'm still grateful for that wake-up call. 

May was the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. My friend, B, came up and we went together. This was our first times going and we were surprisingly disappointed. We had become fiber snobs and only went for the spinning stuff. We didn't need to spend copious amounts of cash for home-spun treasures when we can do it ourselves. I even tried to find a spinning wheel, but backed out of it at the last minute. It was a handmade wheel whose parts would be hard to replace and as unique as it was, I wanted something to last me throughout my lifetime, something that I could repair easily. We left MS&W disappointed, but we had a wonderful time together. 

May was also when I started to get the hiking/walking bug. Previously, C and I would walk around our neighborhood, but it wasn't enough. I joined a group on Meet-up to go to Great Falls National Park and asked C to come with me. He did. The group leader sucked. He wanted to meet up at the busiest time for the park and showed up late. We sat around for over an hour waiting for him and the rest of his group. A few of us eventually broke off and went our own way. This was my first excursion with hiking around the DC area and my first hike in over 10 years. I was pumped that we did 5 miles in 2 hours with a little bit of rock hopping and getting lost thrown in. I was out-of-shape, but I was happy. 

Also in May: Cornhole tournament in the Congressional Cemetary

June and July were a sort of blur. I moved to evening shift at the hospital, but I had to work every Saturday graveyard shift. It was torture. C and I didn't see much of each other and when we did, I wasn't in the mood to bother doing anything fun. My birthday was rather amazing though. We went to Harper's Ferry where we did a 2 hour zip-line experience, combating our fears of falling and heights. We, then, ventured into the old town that was preserved and tried to hike up to Loundon Heights. We were ill-prepared so we never made it up, but we had a great adventure. This only cemented my love of hiking. 

Ah! The pool, how I miss you!

August was just hot. Hot and miserable. C and I would continue to put in a few miles every weekend, walking the Mt. Vernon and Four Mile Run trails. We spent a good chunk of our time floating around the pool and getting reacquainted with each other. I had moved off the dreadful shift and was finally working a better shift. 

September started with a nice cabin trip to Victoria, VA with my parents. My Mom and Dad brought their pitbulls and we sat around the porch, talked, got into some trouble, drank home-made apple pie moonshine, and played Apples-to-Apples. We also found the The Falls which were more like a dried up cascade where C and I climbed over giant rock formations and moved further downstream. A blast was had by all. 

I also went on another hike with a different Meet-up group and did my first 9+ miler. Unfortunately, I didn't have quite as much fun as I probably could have due to the militaristic hike leader, but I am still proud of myself for completing it. I'm working on my endurance so that I'll be able to hike with her again and show her that I'm not your typical "fat" girl like she automatically assumed. Her challenge has led me to find more and more beautiful places in the Old Dominion. 

October was more of a blur than I thought. My parents, C, and I went to the Renaissance Faire the weekend before my Dad's birthday. I dressed up in my bodice and chemise, but the weather was cool and wet so I spent most of my time huddled under my wool cloak. We watched Cu Dubh, a viking/celtic band and Mom and I took a picture with one of the members. We prowled around the "alleys", ate crab-stuffed pretzels, and just had a great time being in each other's company.

Mom and Dad went hiking with us! 

The next weekend I had off in October, C and I went to a Halloween party/beer share with his beer head group. He dressed as a doctor in a pair of my unisex green scrubs and a lab coat while I dressed up as a really crappy French courtesan/geisha. I probably offended several people there, but I really had a great time. Also, that Sunday, we went to Shenandoah National Park and did one of our first rock scrambles and strenuous hikes where I tried to hurt myself crossing the cascades. We treated ourselves to a milkshake and sloppy, greasy burgers afterwards in Front Royal, VA at a place called Spelunkers. It was surprisingly good for a "fast food" joint. 

November started the madness of the holidays. My work wouldn't allow us to take many days off during the holidays and I had only asked for some days around Christmas so that I could enjoy being with my family a little more. C and I started our Christmas shopping and spent more time enjoying each other's company. On Thanksgiving day, C and I drove down to my hometown and had dinner with my parents, sister, her boyfriend, and his family. We had delicious food (I made dirt pudding) and played Apples-to-Apples and joked around most of the time. We drove back up the next day so that I could work that evening. 

December was another whirlwind sort of month, but it was by-far the best month! Early December was mild, so C and I were able to do a hike here and there. We ended up going to Ravens Rock in Bluemont, VA and enjoyed a wonderful picnic after a tough hike on a beautiful rock formation that overlooked a valley in West Virginia. I truly feel that we bond more on the trail than just sitting in the house. 

On the Monday before Christmas, I pulled a double shift, working from 3pm to 6am. I had problems with my gums being swollen due to an infected and shattered wisdom tooth all that night. When I woke up the following afternoon, I went to the dentist, hoping that maybe they will give me some antibiotics that I could start after my dinner date with C, but instead, they decided that the tooth had to go. I still met C after the extraction to have dinner, but I could only have soup and I needed to get my prescriptions. We dropped my scripts at the CVS on King St and decided to go for a walk while waiting. He led me to the harbor where we had our first date four and a half years ago and decided to check out the gazebo. The gazebo has a lot of memories for the two of us. It's where on our first date, after almost twelve hours of talking and walking, we stopped for the last hour in each others arms. It's where we first kissed that night and where we figured out that we really wanted to keep this going. Once at the gazebo, C told me that he had a gift. I figured that it was just a gift he was too excited to wait for and it wasn't wrapped so I closed my eyes at his request. I stood there, in the middle of the gazebo and my eyes closed, clueless as to what was going to happen next. He said, "I have a question" so I opened my eyes and saw him kneeling down on the chilly concrete of the gazebo, bringing a box out of his jacket. He slowly opened the box and asked, "Will you marry me?". 

I know that I probably looked shocked, my complexion was probably paler than normal as I stared for a moment at the shining circle inside the box. Once my brain registered what was going on, I leaped into his arms, crying softly into his shoulders while he awkwardly tried to keep his balance in his knelt position. "Is that a 'Yes'?" he asked and I nodded vigorously. Eventually, I managed to say yes, repeating it until the word became loud and sure. I spent the rest of our walk back to CVS intermittently crying tears of joy. 

We decided to keep the news a secret to share with my family when we returned for Christmas. His parents, brother, and future sister-in-law already knew and his mom really wanted to shout it on Facebook. The next day, Christmas Eve, we drove down the Norfolk where my parents had their church service. I had my ring on, but didn't bring too much attention to it, hoping that someone would notice. Throughout the night, I would say random things that would have made people notice, but still nothing. On Christmas day, after all the presents were open and my mom wondering why I had so little from C, I told them that I had another present for them. My parents and sister stared at me, questioning my sanity perhaps, until I stood up, showed them my hand and said "C asked me to marry him!". My mom jumped out of her chair so quickly that both pitbulls and the cat scattered, sliding on the floor strewn with wrapping paper and boxes. She and my sister bombarded me, crying with tears of joy as my Dad shuffled into the kitchen for a few minutes before coming out and hugging the two of us. Afterwards, my mom ran to her bedroom, grabbed her phone, coerced us into posing and practically shouted it out on Facebook that we were engaged. The rest of my family was surprised and joyful as well when we met up for Christmas dinner, especially my Uncle Joe. 

Love my baby sister! 

The next day, we went to my best-friend's house to hang out with my childhood best friends whom I consider my sisters. It's become a tradition that we get together around the holidays to spend time with each other since we rarely see each other any other time. There was a nice spread of food and plenty to drink and we played a game called "Pimps and Hos" which was sort of like a screwed-up Monopoly game. C won probably due to his quiet attitude and secretively conniving ways (just kidding, but it was fun!). We left there late at night to head back to my Maw-maw's house. We had to wake up early to come back home so I could work that weekend.

It's always hard to leave Maw-maw, especially since I have moved out. I fear for her safety sometimes, afraid that she won't answer the phone because she's fallen and no one knows. I know that these thoughts sometimes add to my anxiety these past few months and I know that she can take care of herself. I just worry, but she's stubborn so she'll be fine. I'll just keep calling her weekly. 

Well, that's all for now. Look out for the first hike of the year (Potomac Heritage Trail) and our triumphant return to Harper's Ferry and the Loudon Heights Trail. Until then, have a beautiful new year! 

Raven Rocks (Appalachian Trail – Northern Virginia)

Tuesday morning started off with low clouds and just a little chill when I woke up. I put the chicken and Cajun sausage stew that I had prepped the night before into the slow-cooker and filled my Camelbak container with water. Then, I went to get breakfast and coffee and head out to Raven Rocks, which was located in Bluemont, Virginia.

I had wanted to do a little segment of the Appalachian Trail since I finished reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. The book outlined the history of the Appalachian Trail, which is relatively recent—within this century. According to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, a former forester by the name of Benton MacKaye, decided that there needed to be a refuge from work, a “super trail” that went from the highest peak in the North to the highest peak in the South.

Although MacKaye promoted the trail, hikers set about creating the first sections and designing that iconic diamond trail marker. MacKaye, in 1925, formed an organization to concentrate on bridging existing trails to create a single long-distance trail. Nothing happened, though, until three years later, when Myron Avery joined the cause and MacKaye became less active.

Avery was able to get activists and hikers to start blazing and identifying routes while also negotiating with bureaucratic administrations to establish routes. His local clubs started to create maps and guidelines. After all was done, the AT went from Mt. Oglethorpe, GA to Baxter Peak on Mt. Katahdin in Maine.

Unfortunately, things were put on hold during the chaotic years between the Great Depression and World War II. Then, when things started to pick back up in the 1950s, the trail was threatened by highways and private lands, which Avery had tried previously to prevent. The ATC’s chairman at the time, Stanley Murray, went to DC to negotiate for protection.

Now, the ATC spends most of its time protecting the AT and maintaining the trails, which is difficult with the increase in backpackers, day hikers, and thru-hikers threatening the wilderness that the AT travels through.

There is more to the history, such as the animosity between MacKaye and Avery, which you can find in books, on the ATC website, and throughout the internet. This synopsis is just to show what an amazing feat the AT truly is. Without the US government and these men, there would be no AT and no long-distance hiking.

Anyways, I decided to go on a hike from Route 7 in Bluemont, Virginia on the AT. I knew that the hike would be a little more strenuous than my usual day-hikes on Tuesdays, and the weather was dreary, with a lot of fog, but I was excited to get going.

I drove almost an hour and arrived at the trail head parking lot, which was completely empty, around 10:20 in the morning. As soon as I opened my door, the rain started to come down in earnest. My day pack was already getting soaked before I even grabbed my trekking poles from the trunk. No complaint out of me, because this was the third Tuesday that it had rained. I missed hiking and I wasn’t going to let some chilly water ruin my day.

I grabbed my umbrella, hoping to keep my pack from getting completely drenched, and started up the built-in steps to the first ridge.  I held a trekking pole in my other hand to keep from slipping on the mud and leaves that littered the trail. Soon, my car and the trail head disappeared behind a screen of trees and fog as I slowly picked my way down the other side of the slope.

I realized I was in for a treat when the ground became strewn with rocks and boulders. I also discovered why this was considered the tail end of the famous “roller coaster” of the AT. There were three steep-ish climbs along the route. Two of the descents had a stream crossing at the bottom.

Within a half hour, I was gasping for air as I struggled up an incline. Gigantic boulders loomed off the side of the trail, barely visible through the mist. The trees creaked as they swayed in the wind. I lost the trail a few times through the obscuring fog as it switched back and forth, but thankfully the AT is well blazed, so I was quickly able to find the trail.

At the top of the incline, a large boulder sat off the edge of the trail, slick with wet moss, but inviting for me to climb nonetheless. I walked up its smooth slope to the peak and looked over the top. I could barely see through the mist and trees, but I saw parts of the Shenandoah Valley in the distance. A lone domicile with its farm nested between the two short mountains. I could still hear the traffic from Rt. 7 as it echoed down the valley.

I crested the hill and started to descend, and the rocks were starting to become larger. Soon the entire path was covered in rocks, and I had to balance from one to the next without slipping, using my trekking poles to keep myself from falling. It was a little harrowing, with my muddy boots slipping on rocks occasionally. My whole being, mentally and physically, was focused on where to place my next step and the next.

Near the middle of the descent, I noticed a sign that said “1000.” For a moment, I stopped and stared at the sign, my brain not realizing that this was the 1000-mile marker for the Appalachian Trail. I pondered whether this meant elevation for about a minute until I remembered my geography. It was interesting to see the second sign made from a privacy fence post, also saying “1000,” in bright green. I imagined trudging along for days and finally coming to this sign. It must be heart-breaking to walk for so long and only be 1000 miles along, with more than 1000 more to go.

I carefully descended to the bottom, where a few small switchbacks meandered around the valley floor. I was rather thankful for the respite, but then I heard the water. I swore that I chose a part of the trail without a stream crossing, it being a rainy day, but I had already spent a good while on the trail and I wasn’t going to turn back.

The stream crossing wasn’t too difficult because the stream wasn’t large or deep. Large boulders as well as smaller rocks were perfect for hopping across, while my trekking poles dug into the soft mud. I was terrified of falling in. Being soaked in the chilly air would not have been ideal, especially when I was already getting damp from the mist.

The next incline was killer. It was more strenuous than the first, steeper with more boulders and rocks to hop and balance on. I managed to get halfway up when I stopped, leaned on my poles, and gasped for air like a fish out of water. What was I doing to myself? Was this going to be worth it? I always seem to have these questions at the beginning of a hike, when the exertion becomes more than I thought it would be.

I peaked the hill, twisting around and between trees, only to see that there was another descent. I began the descent, more confident in my stride now that I had started to get used to the poles as a balancing device. I took a step on a large, flat boulder that was sloped downwards and sank into the ground with only the top showing. My boot slipped and I went down. It was quick—I hardly knew what happened until I landed on my tailbone. Thankfully, I had placed my larger fleece in my day pack, so it cushioned my back and kept my head from touching the ground. I stood up, yelled a few profane words, rubbed my behind and took the next step. I was suddenly overly cautious of every step that I took, which made the next few meters take longer than they should have.

Around three quarters of the way down, the trail looked as if it ended. I stared over a ledge, where I could see the white blaze below, and wondered how I was going to get down there. I noticed that the rocks of the ledge made a natural staircase, so I started down, getting stuck rounding the corner. I always get twisted up when I go down crevasses and ledges, my brain forgetting that I need to have room to swing my legs downwards. I ended up pushing my poles as hard as I could into the ground as I squatted down and jumped to the next large rock. Fortunately, there was a small tree to grab on to, its bark well polished by thousands of hands from the people who have traversed this trail over the years. I picked my way down without further incident, proud of myself for not panicking and for thinking my way through the problem.

There is water under here...somewhere...
The trail was gradually downhill at this point, until I could hear more water bubbling from somewhere. I looked ahead and saw what looked like a river of rocks and boulders. I couldn’t see the water, but I could hear it. I carefully picked my way across, making funny noises as I bounced from one stony surface to the next for entertainment and calming purposes.

On the other side, I realized that I was going up again. No wonder they called this the “roller coaster.” Truthfully, all I wanted to do was sit down and take a break. I looked at my topographic map, making sure that I hadn’t accidentally missed Raven Rocks, which I hadn’t, and kept moving. This was the longest of the inclines. At one point it leveled out, dipped a little, and then headed back up again. Finally, I was staring up at the steepest part of the entire trail.

I started to climb up, bracing myself with my poles to help my poor knees, which had started to ache a little. Maybe I had picked a trail that was too challenging for me, but I was determined to go up. The rocks made natural steps in most areas, so I was able to simply walk on top of them. In a few places, I played a little game of the-ground-is-lava for a little entertainment as I continued to gasp for breath. Several times, I stopped and leaned into my poles to catch my breath. It’s rather difficult to breathe in the cold air, especially with asthma, so I had to be careful.

I was at mile two by now, only making a mile every 49 minutes or so. I was beginning to wane as I burned more calories. Finally, I found the West Virginia-Virginia border, marked with a small wooden sign off the side of the trail. A sudden flow of energy flooded me as I realized that I was going to walk across the border to another state. How awesome! Like a little kid, I bounced back and forth over the imaginary line, joyfully singing “I’m in West Virginia, now in Virginia, now in West Virginia” for a few times and took pictures to send to my mom, who worried about me while at work.

After a few minutes of playing, I decided it was time to trudge onwards. The trail up ahead, still on an incline, was surrounded by a small tunnel of bramble. The vines were still green, with a few leaves still on them, but mostly just composed of thorns waiting to scratch the unobservant.

Suddenly, the whole trail opened up and I was there! Two and a quarter miles from the trail-head, almost two hours later, I reached Raven Rocks. The lookout was made of several rock formations that sat on top of a ridge. The wind gusted here, making the few squat pines on the edge squeak as their branches rubbed against one another. I looked out from the lookout, but all I could see were the clouds and fog below me, with a few glimpses of barren treetops as the clouds shifted.

I sat on one of the rock formations where someone had a fire at one point, unpacked my lunch of crackers, hard salami, and cheese, and stared into the mist. The rocks were damp and I shivered as the wind gusted, but I found peace in the moment. I wanted to stay there forever, but I knew that I had to return back before the sun set. I lingered for a moment more, watching as the fog started to gain elevation and started to cover some of the surrounding trail back. Guess it was time to return.

I started my return trip, heading southbound on the Appalachian Trail and back to my car. After warming up again in the first thirty minutes or so, my mind went into a trance-like state. I couldn’t feel the burn in my glutes and quads as I hiked along. My brain didn’t need me to focus on each step.

I walked back across both stream crossings, cursed at the rock that made me fall, and climbed the ledge without incident. I was on auto-pilot until I realized that Bing Crosby’s Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Christmas Song) was stuck in my head. I tried to force it out, but nothing would do so and I gave up, listened to the white noise of the wind, and allowed the quiet meditative state to come back.

At first glance, I imagined it had snowed.

Surprisingly, the last ascent was the hardest on the return trip. It wasn’t because it was overly steep, but it seemed so long after all the work I had already done. The trail switched back and forth, with rocks that were ready to trip my tired legs. Halfway up, I found a nice boulder on the side of the trail that I could sit on and just rest for a moment. I took the time to drink water and check in with C and my mom. I listened to the wind rustling in the trees overhead and the soft sounds of the few birds still lurking around. I watched as the sun lowered below some of the mist that was heading my way. Finally, I stood up and made it to the end of the trail, where the mist was so thick that I could barely make out my car below.

To be honest, I thought that this was not as challenging as the Billy Goat Trail A and the Little Devils Stair that I had previously hiked, but it was exhausting work. The pay off was amazing and well worth the effort. It would be one of those great spots to have a picnic during the warmer months or read a book away from the world. I was so happy that I had hiked the trail that I couldn’t wait to do it again with C in tow, which is exactly what I did on Sunday, a mere five days later.

On top of Raven Rock on Sunday! Beautiful! 

The second trip was better—no slick rocks and a fun hiking partner. There were more people and dogs on the trail, but we managed to snag the Raven Rocks alone for our picnic of grown-up lunchables (crackers, cheese, and salami) and a piece of dark chocolate. We walked about half a mile longer, trying to find the Blackburn trail cabin owned by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Conservancy (PATC), but turned around when we realized the time and incline.

So far, this is one of those places that I could return to over and over again. I’m so glad I got my 20 seconds of confidence and just did it, rain and all. One of these days, I’m going to try to backpack from Rt. 7 to Harper’s Ferry, spending the night at either Blackburn Trail Cabin or the shelter a mile or so beyond.

Until next time!

Fox Mill Trail and Keyser Fire Road - Little Devils Stair Lariat (Shenandoah National Park)

Shenandoah is the home of the eastern ridges of the Appalachians in Virginia, where the ancient rolling mountains create beautiful vistas for hikers of all abilities. The summits may not be as high as the Rockies, but the history contained within the mountains spans millennia. Shenandoah National Park spans 105 acres of majestic mountains with probably the best scenic driving on the East Coast, especially during the fall.

I had been planning to go to the Shenandoah National Park for quite some time. I was afraid to do some of the hiking trails because the majority of the trails are rather strenuous, especially those like Old Rag Mountain, but my desire to venture into the mountains was stronger than my fear.

On Sunday, October 25th, C and I left the Northern Virginia area around 9:30 am, after packing a cooler with our turkey, colby jack cheese, a few extra seltzer waters, and apples.The directions forced us to drive down I-66 west towards Front Royal, where I spent most of my time fussing at how people drive, which was mainly slow (C swears that all Virginians drive slow). I think that, perhaps, I was too excited and I wanted to get there quickly.

We arrived in Front Royal around an hour later; however, my GPS app on my phone decided to send us in the opposite direction, so we spent a few extra minutes going through the wrong part of town and turning around to head back the way we came. Note to self: read the signs along the street: they tend to not be wrong.

Finally, after the $15 entrance fee was paid, we started to head to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, which was four miles past the entrance along Skyline Drive, the beautiful scenic road that travels through the entire park. Around the first bend, though, I ran face to face with a rather skinny deer with a tracking device around its neck standing in the middle of the road, meandering slowly to the other side. Thankfully, I wasn't going too quickly, so I was able to wait until she finished crossing.

At the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center, we quickly found a beautiful windy vista where a lot of the park visitors hung around. The wind was extremely chilly and I hadn't come prepared with extra layers, even though I did bring a light jacket, so I urged C to go into the visitor center and into the gift shop. In the gift shop, I found an orange long-sleeve t-shirt that was perfect to keep me warmer against the wind.

We left the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center to start on our first short "warm-up" trail. I was the one leading, but I ended up taking us in the wrong direction yet again. C took one look at the map in my book and realized that we were heading away from the trail head, which was across Skyline Drive from the Visitor Center. I, apparently, was too excited to actually remember any navigational skills.

We followed the Fox Hollow trail loop to the left of the information kiosk and down a gradual downgrade. As we descended into the gully, the wind ceased to blow as hard and the temperature rose. The leaves stopped to swirl around our heads and the trees stopped creaking, leaving a peaceful silence. There were a few people milling around, but they seemed to turn back not too far from the trail head.

Near the bottom of the descent, before curving to the right, there were signs of large cairns of rocks on either side of the trail. The trees were changing colors, littering the eerie cairns with their fallen leaves. We also ran into an old cemetery from the mountain people who used to live in the Shenandoah Park before the US Forestry Service took over.

The rest of the almost two-mile trail was a gradual incline. We passed an elderly couple, hiking with their trekking poles and enjoying the sunshine on their faces as they slowly ascended the little vale. There was also a rather large family, the children climbing trees while the parents laughed and took pictures, further up. We could hear their screaming laughter before we saw them. We emerged from the trail from the right of the trail head and went straight to the car to head to the second, more strenuous trail.

The second trail was at mile marker 19 on Skyline Drive. We stopped at several different scenic overlooks to glance at the valley below and admire the mountains in their full glory while we headed towards our trail head. Several scenic overlooks were packed with people trying to take pictures or stare. At each stop, there were the lone hikers, the romantic lovers, entire families, and retired couples enjoying the views.

At mile marker 19, we found the trail head for the fire road on the left. I quickly parked so that C and I could have our sandwiches for lunch before we started our seven-mile hike. We ate our sandwiches on the trunk of my car, enjoying the sun on our faces, and watched a gang of motorcyclists come into the small parking lot and park across from us. After rehydrating and feeling full, we started the gradual four-mile descent on the Keyser Fire Road, a nice wide trail with some nice overlooks.

The Keyser Fire Road was nice, with autumn-colored trees on both sides of the trail. It meandered slowly down the side of the mountain and into a little valley. We passed several people ascending as well as a few people descending. I marveled at some of the clothing choices the women were wearing. Did they know they were doing hiking or was it a surprise?

Eventually, the downhill traveling started to strain the quadriceps and knees. We were walking quickly to try to get to the bottom. I never thought that going downhill would take so much out of me. At mile four, we decided to have a quick snack break and found a spot to sit down and give our legs a little bit of rest. I had some springbok biltong from South Africa and a small bag of dried fruit, seeds, and nuts, while C had a more traditional trail mix.

Near where we turned left to head towards the second part of the trail, we found another small cemetery. A father and his small child were investigating the stones. There was a blue plaque in the middle explaining the Blue Ridge Mountains that I thought was well written, albeit morose.

After we turned left, we headed downhill some more before seeing a random parking lot and signs that told us we were in private property. We crossed the parking lot, where I saw a family enter the wooded area. At the next trail head to the Little Devils Stair, I actually found the post sign for the trail as well as a backcountry sign telling hikers what they can and can't do while in the area.

The first thing we saw when we started the trail was a stream crossing with large boulders that we thought would have been the greatest picnic spots. The large boulders were off to the side so no one would be in the way, and you could dangle your feet over the stream without getting wet.

We started our uphill climb shortly thereafter, following a narrow trail through the trees until we could hear the sounds of water cascading. The birds were chirping merrily and the rustling of the wind through the trees died down considerably. I ended up having to start taking off my layers because it was almost hot while climbing upwards.

Caught C in the act of rolling up his shirt sleeves

The noise from the cascading water got louder as we neared and we started to see the bottom of the gorge that is the Little Devils Stair. I was enthralled, but little did I know, I would get very well acquainted with the stair.

The next few pictures will show the actual trail as it turns into a rock scramble. This is one of the more challenging rock scrambles that I have done besides that of Great Falls National Park, but there was no turning back now. We crossed the Little Devils Stair almost each time the rocks leveled out after a cascade, but I lost count after an exhausting five crossings.

C getting ready to do the first crossing

There were points in the trail when we didn't know where the trail actually went. Thankfully, whenever we stopped to catch our bearings, we found a light blue blaze telling us which way to go, and usually it was across the Little Devils Stair again. There were also times when we would look and the trail would go missing, but natural staircases pointed the way up.

After about a mile of rock scramble, around mile 5.5 or so, we finally reached the top of the Little Devils Stair. There was still a gradual incline, so my legs were still screaming from abuse. I was also limping slightly because I had twisted my ankle on a crossing, but we made it make to the Keyser Fire Road. We followed the fire road back to my car right as the sun was starting to set. The colors of the autumnal leaves were brilliant as we drove back up Skyline Drive.

The journey was exhausting, but worth every little effort. I plan on returning back to the Shenandoah, especially for a multi-day hike in the summer. I am so grateful that Virginia is as beautiful and diverse as it is.

** Very late in posting, but I wanted to do the hike justice. I decided to go the picture-heavy route because the pictures were better than my prose. I hope you enjoyed them!