It’s amazing how unmotivated one can get when it’s cold and cloudy and there’s no one to hike with. I honestly just wanted to stay home and make cookies or something. But after accomplishing some schoolwork, I ramped myself up and eventually got out the door. All I had left for the September Grid was Whiteface. I needed to wrap this up while I had the chance!
So... yeah... hiking an equally long hike the day after doing Mack Ridge might not have been the smartest idea. 😅 Though in fairness I didn't really think about it being as many miles, and definitely thought it'd be less elevation. I guess three mountains combined adds up, huh? Turned out we actually totaled a hair MORE today than yesterday!
We only hiked this trail once before while redlining, and that was in late winter/early spring. But I remembered rather liking it. Surely it would only be better in late summer...
Well, look at that, I'm writing about the inner peaks yet again. For one of our least favorite hikes, it sure seems to get the most blog attention! 😂 (In reality, I mainly just want to have easily accessible trail notes for myself.)
Belknap Grid 111/144
Mts. Mack-Klem-Rand-Quarry via Wood-Reed Rds, 7.3 mi, 1640 ft, 3:37 hrs
Making progress! 👍🏻
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| Mack overlook |
Long overdue blog… but it's hard to find the time to write (between business, college, life, and of course hiking). Plus not every hike is worthy of a full story, so a few pics and #hashtags is all it takes. 😉 I do keep up on instagram/facebook, which honestly is enough of a time suck too. 😂 But it is comparatively quick & easy. You can always stay up to date on my hiking adventures there. Meanwhile I keep the blog for bigger stories.
Hummingbird and I have continued to go hard at the Belknap Grid. We currently have 5 months completed (not all consecutive), with several more half done, and are intending to grid out June! If things go as planned (take notice weatherman!) we should be able to finish this month very efficiently AND include a girls' hike with my sister! 😊
2024 is off to a decent start, hiking-wise. Barely a week in, and I already have 3 hikes and just under 10.5 total miles.
This weekend Hawk is off backpacking, so of course Hummingbird and I went out for our own hike. With a full day available, obviously that meant gridding. We chose the Wood Rd. approach to the Round Pond area while the trailhead was still accessible. It’s a nice gradual route to Mts. Mack, Klem, and Rand, but unfortunately the parking lot is not plowed in winter. So we figured we’d best get it while we can. Good timing since a storm is blowing in tonight that may dump a foot of snow on us.
What is a hike?
A hike is what you make of it. When you set out with intention of getting some exercise and distance in nature, miles are miles. It doesn't matter if it takes you all day, or just a half hour. It can be a mountain, or a rolling hill, or a level trail. It can be over ten miles long, or a fraction of a mile. It can be a path along private land, bushwhacking through a town forest, a rail trail bike route, or even a public sidewalk. (Obviously an actual nature trail is preferable, but if you're stuck in a concrete jungle, then you work with what you have.) Whether rural or urban, "hiking" with intention is the key.
It's not about how many steps you rack up in a day, it's about mindfully going outside, soaking in the nature therapy, and kicking up some endorphins. That's the distance that counts.
By this definition, here are my stats for 2023:
Challenges finished:
While I didn't have as much opportunity to hike as I had hoped, between it basically raining all year, and my schedule being extra nuts, it appears that I did better than I thought! I even broke my record for elevation gain. Proof that all those little hikes add up. Once again, I didn't quite hit 365 miles in one year (a challenge I've had my eye on), but I got closer. Perhaps 2024 is the year I make it!
I have several hiking goals for the new year, including just getting out more. Hummingbird and I will also be continuing to pick away at the Belknap Grid. There are a few random hikes I want to do too, and a couple other challenges I'm considering.
As always, I will post most of my hikes on socials @trailchaserofficial, and blog about the noteworthy stories here. Follow along for more adventures!
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| Sunset on Pine Mt. This and other photos available for sale! Contact me for more info. |
It’s been a while since we did an overambitious hike, so I suppose it was overdue. Me and my big ideas!
