As 2015 closes and a new year of hiking adventures begins, I
like to take the time to review the past year of hiking and lessons learned.
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| Finish of the Massanutten Trail |
Mid-winter saw me on a few days jaunt along the Appalachian
Trail as I endeavor to complete yet another trek of this famed footpath over
the course of many sections. The winter travel proved a bit dicey at times as I
had regretfully left my traction devices at home. A good lesson learned – be prepared
for winter conditions with the right gear. See my blog on Lessons Learned Winter Backpacking. On my return home I also finished the Massanutten Trail in Virginia.
April saw me heading back to my ridgerunning job, first in Maryland
where I had the opportunity to set up the caretaker site at Annapolis Rocks (my
first real job at rigging tarps) as well as help the trail and hikers. In early
May I celebrated with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy its first Flip Flop
Hiker send-off as a panel guest and helping hikers reduce weight in several
shake-downs.
The remainder of the summer I spent as a ridgerunner in
Shenandoah National Park. While I’ve had many encounters with bears over my
work the last three years, this past summer saw my first close up encounter as
a bear decided to take a snack break on my unoccupied tent at Pass Mt Hut.
Thankfully I had no gear in it but the tent needed replacing.
The fall saw my thru hike of West Virginia’s long trail –
the Allegheny Trail, which I hiked from mid Sept and completed in early October
(have any other women done a thru of this trail? I don’t really know). There were
some casualties and tough times, with my leg suffering a major injury from a branch
(the scar remains) and then afterwards when I developed an SI joint separation
from the tough terrain (requiring a several week hiatus from hiking). But I learned
much on the journey on how to cope with difficulties (like poor blazing, unmaintained
trails, long road walks, solitary wandering) and also how much maintainers do
to help the trails when you hike in areas that are unmaintained (like a quarter
mile of thick thorns).
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| The finish at the AT / Allegheny Junction |
I hope 2016 is a great year of adventures in hiking. And don’t
forget our upcoming one day backpacker’s workshop in March – for new as well as
old – where I bring all my many years of hiking to one dull day of learning and
activities. Registration is now open!
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