Woods Walker
The Wood is cut, The Bacon is cooked, Now it’s tim
I like to keep active to be fit enough to outrun any zombie outbreak herds. They're not generally fast but very very persistent. Hence good cardio helps. This means training every opportunity possible. I drove my sister to a parent/teacher conference at the school. These things take about an hour so remembered the adjacent school has trails out back. Sure it's 7 pm heading into dusk but what can possibly go wrong in an hour? The plan was to hike for 30 minutes then turn back. All the photos were taken with a cell phone as this was done on the fly for a FB every day activity thing. Didn't realize it would become a survival situation!
All stated off just fine, isn't that always how it is? Rarely hike this trail and would be going in a new direction for me.
Then it got darker but was prepared for that. Notice the reflective cordage
My little travel light kit.
1. Fenix HL50.
2. 4/7 1XAA NW twisty.
Both lights take the same battery so really the 1XAA flashlight is a battery holder as would probably just swap out it's battery if the headlamp ran dry. Over a 5 year technology gap between the two. NW XP-E Gen 1 vs NW XM-L2. Still the twisty has been a rock solid gear item packed for 1000's of miles on foot. Sometimes the most modern isn't always the best.
It's dark and despite an unnaturally green Autumn there are still leave on the trail. This would be a problem later.
Faded yellow isn't really all that visible.
Because it's not alone in the woods. Still the neutral white LEDs help a bit IMHO.
Dusk is turning into night. Approaching my return time 30 or so minutes in. I only got an hour total before the conference is over.
full on dark.
Lots of fallen trees etc across the trail. It's not really kept up.
Time to turn around and guess what? The trail was so marginal I lost it. Lots of it looked like this so not really surprising.
The leaves totally taken over the ground. Probably birch as they often get stressed first so turn yellow then fall even if Swamp maple sometimes turns first all things being equal. It has been dry.
Whenever turned around I try to back track to the last known marker/ thing and I found it. Hard to see like many of them.
But even then I couldn't find the next one. The survival situation was on. As if on clue a pack of coyotes started to go crazy off in the distance. So what are the life and death risks?
1. Lyme disease as pushing through tick infested brush off trail. Actually that's the only risk. LOL!
2. Coyotes! They will attack! Or maybe not? But who cares this is fun and sure beats sitting in the van waiting an hour.
3. Shame. Imagine the shame of missing the pickup time. I only got under 30 minutes before the teacher/parent conference is over. Imagine the shame of walking through someone's back yard like a goober looking for a road. Dang! I am in a bit over a mile here!
The moon was behind me when hiking in and it's only been a short time so walked towards that. Finally after 10 minutes just to be sure did the unthinkable.
"Hey Siri" then asked for walking directions to the school. After a little banter and repeated requests reluctantly I got directions. Well not really as it wanted me to find a road but knew I was going in the right general direction.
Almost there!
Benches in the woods are a good sign I am saved!
An ongoing girl's soccer game was a better sign.
The nightmare is almost over.
Yes. I made it back with 2 minutes to spare. Shame averted!
Looks like a little over 2 miles of pure terror! 7:58 PM was cutting darn close. Darn close! LOL!
Back to the original topic of cardio. How did I get a total of just over 10 miles today? Well I took every last opportunity to move. I try to do this everyday no matter how busy unless injured or resting.
1. Went shopping earlier today so parked far away as possible then overly walked around the market. Did a few laps around the parking lot as well. This got me a bit over 1.5 miles. Not much however it all adds up.
2. Did a 5.5 mile trail run for an hour or so after working.
3. Hiked 2 miles during this survival situation.
5. Gained a mile or so doing every day walking.
So with a fairly busy schedule I got in over 10 miles plus an adventure. All squeezed in any chance I got. Don't sit on your backsides doing nothing cuz yea think there is no time. Get lost in the woods for 15 minutes. Walk around the market extra laps. Take the stairs and don't fight like heck for the nearest parking spot. Look for the farthest one instead.
Start tomorrow!
All stated off just fine, isn't that always how it is? Rarely hike this trail and would be going in a new direction for me.
Then it got darker but was prepared for that. Notice the reflective cordage
My little travel light kit.
1. Fenix HL50.
2. 4/7 1XAA NW twisty.
Both lights take the same battery so really the 1XAA flashlight is a battery holder as would probably just swap out it's battery if the headlamp ran dry. Over a 5 year technology gap between the two. NW XP-E Gen 1 vs NW XM-L2. Still the twisty has been a rock solid gear item packed for 1000's of miles on foot. Sometimes the most modern isn't always the best.
It's dark and despite an unnaturally green Autumn there are still leave on the trail. This would be a problem later.
Faded yellow isn't really all that visible.
Because it's not alone in the woods. Still the neutral white LEDs help a bit IMHO.
Dusk is turning into night. Approaching my return time 30 or so minutes in. I only got an hour total before the conference is over.
full on dark.
Lots of fallen trees etc across the trail. It's not really kept up.
Time to turn around and guess what? The trail was so marginal I lost it. Lots of it looked like this so not really surprising.
The leaves totally taken over the ground. Probably birch as they often get stressed first so turn yellow then fall even if Swamp maple sometimes turns first all things being equal. It has been dry.
Whenever turned around I try to back track to the last known marker/ thing and I found it. Hard to see like many of them.
But even then I couldn't find the next one. The survival situation was on. As if on clue a pack of coyotes started to go crazy off in the distance. So what are the life and death risks?
1. Lyme disease as pushing through tick infested brush off trail. Actually that's the only risk. LOL!
2. Coyotes! They will attack! Or maybe not? But who cares this is fun and sure beats sitting in the van waiting an hour.
3. Shame. Imagine the shame of missing the pickup time. I only got under 30 minutes before the teacher/parent conference is over. Imagine the shame of walking through someone's back yard like a goober looking for a road. Dang! I am in a bit over a mile here!
The moon was behind me when hiking in and it's only been a short time so walked towards that. Finally after 10 minutes just to be sure did the unthinkable.
"Hey Siri" then asked for walking directions to the school. After a little banter and repeated requests reluctantly I got directions. Well not really as it wanted me to find a road but knew I was going in the right general direction.
Almost there!
Benches in the woods are a good sign I am saved!
An ongoing girl's soccer game was a better sign.
The nightmare is almost over.
Yes. I made it back with 2 minutes to spare. Shame averted!
Looks like a little over 2 miles of pure terror! 7:58 PM was cutting darn close. Darn close! LOL!
Back to the original topic of cardio. How did I get a total of just over 10 miles today? Well I took every last opportunity to move. I try to do this everyday no matter how busy unless injured or resting.
1. Went shopping earlier today so parked far away as possible then overly walked around the market. Did a few laps around the parking lot as well. This got me a bit over 1.5 miles. Not much however it all adds up.
2. Did a 5.5 mile trail run for an hour or so after working.
3. Hiked 2 miles during this survival situation.
5. Gained a mile or so doing every day walking.
So with a fairly busy schedule I got in over 10 miles plus an adventure. All squeezed in any chance I got. Don't sit on your backsides doing nothing cuz yea think there is no time. Get lost in the woods for 15 minutes. Walk around the market extra laps. Take the stairs and don't fight like heck for the nearest parking spot. Look for the farthest one instead.
Start tomorrow!