Oh...my...goodness. I just got home after the hike from hell with my physically fit seventeen year old son who has legs the length of the Florida coast. We walked into the Encampment River Canyon, about 4 miles and 1700 vertical feet down- bushwhacking, of course. I did fine until faced with the final pitch- what he ASSURED ME was much less rugged than the hike we took last year into the same area. The slope was about 30% (I've climbed ladders with a less acute angle), covered in loose rock, dry brome grass, and sagebrush. He was off somewhere picking up some elk sheds he left last season, so good old mom started down on her own. BY the way I was a quarter down, I had called my child everything but sweetheart. He saw me from afar and came bounding up that damned slope to help me get down to the bottom of the canyon, apologizing profusely, saying he'd forgotten how steep it was.
Well, to put it mildly, I came to grips with the reality of having spent eight weeks recovering from serious illness. I knew there was no way I was going back up that slope. Not then, maybe not ever. So we walked along the river a couple of miles in 95 degree heat until we found- TAH DAH! a path to an established trailhead that no one but three fisherman know about. Up the path we went for another two miles, then my son left his ancient mother to sit in the shade while he dashed another couple of miles cross country to get the pickup and transport her tired ass back to camp. I did half again as much as I though I could, and three times as much as I should've attempted. Suffice it to say, I am no smarter about pacing myself now than when I was 17.
And the truth? I had a wonderful time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by A'isha Azar
Dear Shanazel,
I lost 10 pounds in 6 months, but have put 2 back on. I am just having so much trouble. I might take the challenge to take off 1/4th of a pound in a month.... if dehydration can be counted as a weight loss factor!! ( Dear Miss Shimmy, please do not think of this as negative self-talk!!)
Regards,
A'isha
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Oh, babe, I hear you. Anyone but me would've lost five pounds after that hike on Saturday. Me- I'm afraid to get on the scale because I'll bet I gained five. Hugs to you from me. I think at fifty something, our respective metabolisms have gone south, along with body parts that once were considerably north of their present location. Shanazel
PS, I'd better speak for my own descending body parts, A'isha- yours might be just perfect!