What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to try a 7.5 mile training hike for the Rachael Carson Challenge.
Rachel Carson was one of the first "nature writers" whose
book, Silent Spring (1962),
is credited with fueling the environmental movement. The Rachel Carson Challenge
is a 35 mile one day hike on rugged terrain on June 23, 2018 (the
longest day of the year which makes sense because you need all the daylight that you
can get to finish it). Since this blog is all about trying new things and
obtaining your personal best, I thought admitting with some trepidation, that I would at least attempt the first 7.5 mile training to see if I had what
it takes to endure.
Reflection
My initial reaction to this daunting Challenge was that attempting it
would be crazy because 1) I am really
not in superwoman shape and 2) walking
from sun up to sun down seems a little too "Forest Gump like" to me,
not to mention feet aching, muscle
burning, literally never ending. The
weekly training hikes progressively
increase in length to prepare you for the mother-lode hike. The training hikes seem to be a better choice
for me.
The Racheal Carson trail is known for its "tortuous hill climbing
through primitive rugged terrain” and
there are no grading of the surfaces on the trail. The 35 mile Challenge is meant to be a test of endurance and an accomplishment to be able to
finish it in one day without getting lost in the woods.
For me finishing the 7.5 mile training hike would be just as momentous as the Challenge because I rarely hiked much until this past year. Like some other activities, I began to really enjoy walking in the woods by osmosis since this was a repeated event with a friend but I rarely hiked farther than a few miles. This was my own personal challenge!
For me finishing the 7.5 mile training hike would be just as momentous as the Challenge because I rarely hiked much until this past year. Like some other activities, I began to really enjoy walking in the woods by osmosis since this was a repeated event with a friend but I rarely hiked farther than a few miles. This was my own personal challenge!
I was fearful that I would not be able to complete
the training hike. I asked everyone I knew that remotely walked or hiked to come
along but I had no takers. I was going
it alone. I felt just like Reese
Witherspoon in the movie Wild who had no outdoor experience before she
set off to conquer the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail.
I arrived at the meeting point to find over
50 others, some in pairs and some solo like me, ready to hike. My nerves fueled my motor mouth which was revved up in high gear while I meet a bunch of hikers. A lot of hikers were in the same boat as me, just trying
the training to see what they could
accomplish but many had finished the Challenge several times. I also learned
that today I was going to hike one of
the steepest hills in the Challenge.
Goes straight down to steep valley |
During the hike people walked with me for periods of time and then some went ahead
or hung back. Fortunately, a spunky young woman, also going it alone,
accompanied me for most of the day and
helped pace my hike. This year would be her third Challenge so I lucked
out because I am sure that I would have
gotten lost without her.
My spunky hiking partner that kept me moving |
As we came down the last hill, my spunky friend and I started to jump and
high five as we had finished! She said that I "crushed it" but I
think she just was trying to be nice. We finished the training in 2 hours and
55 min and I don't know if I "crushed it" but I sure endured it. Now all I have to do is endure a few aches and pains.
If you want to try to endure it with me, the next training
hike (8.5 miles) is on April 29th.
Who knows maybe I will tackle the Challenge next year!
Spiritual Reflection
More than that, we rejoice in our suffering, knowing that suffering produced endurance.
(Romans 5:3)
Other Sources
Rachael Carson http://www.rachelcarson.org/
Rachael Carson Challange https://www.rachelcarsontrails.org/
Training hikes https://www.rachelcarsontrails.org/news/2018/training-hikes