I've started "training" this week for my trip to the Grand Canyon. Well, honestly, I'm not sure you can exactly call it training, more like walking with my pack on. I must admit though, a 20 - 25 lb pack on your back takes hiking to a whole new level, one that I admit I was not quite ready for.
I've been starting simple: 3 mile walks in the morning, 3 mile hikes at Thunderbird park on the weekends. The things that I am not enjoying, however, is this bloody heat. I am kicking myself for not starting this two months ago when it was actually enjoyable outside. Last weekend it was 93 degrees at 9:30 in the morning. This has apparently been one of the hottest May's on record. Great timing, Forster. Wait until the hottest month so far, to put a full 25 lb pack on and tromp around in the desert. Genius.
Despite my complaints, I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of this. How do I hike a 1000 foot incline with this thing attached to me? How do I talk myself into actually continuing, instead of curling up under the first Verde tree I see? How do I keep the sweat that is pouring down my face from blinding me, because my head is looking at the ground, not at the massive hill I have to climb? How do I keep from panicking at the sight of this monstrosity that I must conquer? These are all questions I am finally able to answer, after five months of these hiking feats. I am the first one to admit I have an entire desert to cross before I am physically in the shape I want to be, but I feel that I have made some good strides. Long way to go though. . . very long way.
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