Holy shit! This hike is super hard. I got a new book. It's called 60 Hikes in 60 Miles: Portland, but really, it should be called, hikes to kill yourself on. Now, if you read my last blog you know that I have been sick for a bit. I tend to down play things...I was sweating, feverish, and basically thought I was dying for about 2 months...and after numerous tests and scary possible diagnoses we realized its just mono (yay!). I was doing some relatively low key hikes before, and then my energy returned and I was all like, "I'm totally ready to get back into this," but then this hike...
From the onset it is pretty advanced. If you're like me, you will just lie to yourself and promise that it gets easier. It does get a bit less punishing after the first mile, but then it just goes back to being insane. The worst parts are the very beginning and then the summit. In the middle is unpleasant as well. This hike is really popular during the summer when all of the wild flowers are in bloom. We went a bit early because I was being all optimistic that possibly the flowers would be out in full force due to our unseasonably warm weather.
Here's a pic of Tupes. I am imagine she is thinking something like, "Bitch, are you crazy?!" About half a mile from this outlook I came to the realization that my water bottle was gone. At some point, maybe seconds before I took this pic, that bottle must have rolled down the damn hill. Also of note, I was taking some pics at this spot when a nice gentleman noticed and tried to corral his fellow hikers as they walked into the frame. Not too big of a deal, you just assume this will happen when you hike in lovely places with tons of people. What I was not expecting was one of his friends to tell him, "I don't give a shit" while walking and standing directly in front of me. Ack! The dude was obviously embarrassed by his friend, and I feel bad for that person...your life must be pretty shitty if you have to be a complete dickhead while enjoying nature.
We were only 2 miles in, with at least 4 and a half to go (depends on the trail you take), straight uphill. So, you know, I chanced not having the water. I was thinking that I had done 15 mile hikes with limited water and would be fine. Just to note, about 2 hours later I saw someone faint from heat stroke and a teenager being half carried down the mountain.
We all know how this ends. Tupelo gives up on the downhill leaving me to carry her half of the way. I beg water for the dog off of a really nice lady at Puppy Point. I drink about a gallon of water when I get to the first store after completing the hike. I am laid up in bed all of Sunday. This hike was beautiful. I both can't wait to go back, and want to promise myself that I will never make myself do that again.
We were only 2 miles in, with at least 4 and a half to go (depends on the trail you take), straight uphill. So, you know, I chanced not having the water. I was thinking that I had done 15 mile hikes with limited water and would be fine. Just to note, about 2 hours later I saw someone faint from heat stroke and a teenager being half carried down the mountain.
We all know how this ends. Tupelo gives up on the downhill leaving me to carry her half of the way. I beg water for the dog off of a really nice lady at Puppy Point. I drink about a gallon of water when I get to the first store after completing the hike. I am laid up in bed all of Sunday. This hike was beautiful. I both can't wait to go back, and want to promise myself that I will never make myself do that again.