A Welcome Distraction

Every weekend since Spring decided to arrive early, I've been getting out into nature every Saturday and Sunday. This past Saturday I did not as it snowed and I had a bunch of things to take care of inside the house, so when Sunday rolled around, I knew I was going to get out. 

My daughter has become my steadfast hiking partner and she comes with me every time. We have some big hiking goals and it's a chance for us to train, spend time together, and, of course, keep in shape for the trails and for ourselves.

With all the craziness going on in the world right now, social isolation is not only recommended but highly encouraged. While it sucks to have to spend so much time indoors and away from others, it's probably one of the smartest things we can do. 

Luckily, as hikers, getting out in nature, especially on colder, snowy days, is a great way to get some fresh air, get outside, and still stay away from people. We hit up one of our favorite spots, Neale Woods, and while we saw the snowy footprints of others, we were the only ones there the whole entire time. It was quiet, it was peaceful, and it was serene.

It was also mentally and physically so wonderful. After an already tense handful of days at home, it was just what we needed.

We mainly stayed away from the valley areas because even before this light snowfall on Saturday, the valleys were still pretty muddy from Winter. It takes a while for the ground to dry up after all the snow melts, so while it has been getting a bit drier each successive weekend, certain areas are still treacherous.

Still, we took a nice variety of higher-ground trails and eeked out a good 5.36 miles. Each time I climb now, I inwardly thank myself for all the stair-training I've been doing. It really has helped immensely.

We ended our afternoon of hiking by stopping at another park, Hummel, on the way home to climb their long set of wooden stairs. It's a quick way to get some exercise while getting some stairs in.

I hope you have a good week and that you stay safe, my friends. Don't panic but try to take some standard precautions. It's always better to be safe than sorry, as my grandma used to say.