Hiking Dude Blog

I've posted my trail journal, photos, and map from my short Appalachian Trail excursion. You can review it all at AT Hike page.

I've been out walking 4 to 8 miles on the local trail this past week to keep my knee moving. It's feeling much better and I will be spending days over the next month taking in some local hikes around the Twin Cities. I have a book titled '60 Hikes Within 60 Miles' for Minneapolis and I'll check out a few of those.

I think a good question to ask yourself when you are participating in a recreational activity, such as a long hike, is: 'Is the effort I'm expending worth the enjoyment I'm receiving?'

Most outdoor activities include some strenuous effort that result in rewards. For example, hiking to a mountain top, or paddling across a lake, or climbing up a cliff. Parts of the activity are grueling work, but the rewards of beautiful views, exciting rapids, or new terrain are worth the expected work.

When the answer to the question is 'No, the effort is more than the rewards,' then it's no longer recreational. And, I feel, it's time to stop. That happened to me earlier this week, for the first time on my long hikes.

My left knee became painful the second evening of my hike, most likely because I was pushing too hard on very rough, very steep, downhill portions of the trail. The next day, the discomfort grew until it hurt on every step - up, down, or level. For 3 more days, I continued on with the hope it would eventually work itself out but it maintained a fairly consistent irritation.

So, when I arrived in Duncannon, PA on Sunday night, I had a plan to visit a doctor in the morning and then make a decision. If the knee should feel better in 2 days or less, I would continue. If it would take longer than that, I could not afford to sit in a town for 3 days or more because I would miss my already small window of completing the trail before winter weather.

Monday morning, the doctor checked me out and said it looked solid with no major tearing and I could continue to walk on it - but recommended slower pace and even terrain. She said continuing my hike on the trail would most likely not make it worse, but it would not get a chance to heal and the pain could take a long time to abate.

This is when the question came up. A 2 hour debate with myself and I concluded: 'No, I'm not enjoying this.' The ongoing discomfort from the past 4 days would continue for the near future and I would not have fun.

I arranged a 20-mile shuttle to Hamburg, PA where I caught a 1,106-mile greyhound bus ride home. Late Tuesday night, after 24+ hours touring the country, I was home. I took yesterday to rest and come to grips in my head with my first long distance hiking failure.

Failure is the description that I keep coming back to for this hike. I had a goal to walk a certain distance in a certain time and reach the trail end. I failed to do that, actually didn't even come close. So, my trail record is now 3 wins and 1 lose. I completed the AZT, SHT, and IAT. I didn't complete my first effort with the AT.

It's pretty easy to start coming up with better ways to look at failed goals to make them not seem so bad. I hiked 123 miles in 5 days. I walked in 3 states - WV, MD, and PA. I learned a lot for future hikes. I met some interesting people. But, for now, I'm just sticking with 3-1 and admitting to myself that, however I look at it, I didn't reach my goal.

I'll share tomorrow some of the things I learned on this short trek and my plans for some shorter hikes the rest of this year.

PS: This picture is the last one I took on my hike. I am resting on a mountain before the final 600-foot steep, rocky, drop into Duncannon.

I walked 63558 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 29.5 miles today.
This view from the north across the Cumberland Valley shows the mountains where I started hiking this morning. From this nice view, I still had 12 miles of mountain trail to reach Duncannon, PA which I did a little after 7pm. Dead tired and out of water, I stumbled into town to find a bit more walking required due to a construction detour. Finally reaching the Doyle hotel here just before John locked the door made my extra efforts on the trail pay off. I'm checking in with a doctor tomorrow for my knee to see what can be done about it. As you can see from the miles of today, I can still hike but it's miserable and it would be dumb to force more injury. I met few people today, just a couple SoBos and some day hikers. The rain probably kept folks off the trail.

The 'scattered thunerstorms' have changed to a downpour the past hour. Fortunately, I got to Boiling Springs and hve waited out much of it at a gas station. It's letting up, so I'm back on the trail. A local guy here chatting with his buds gave me a cantalope from his garden - mmmmmm! Hoping for Duncannon and a bed tonight, but we'll see.

I walked 46149 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 19 miles today.
Made it to Alec Kenndy shelter on a bum knee. :-( The folks I met yesterday didn't get here, but two SoBos showed up separately. They are a real testament to the variety of people, styles, and goals out here on the trail. :-) Both seem like good guys and it sounds like they are at the front of the SoBo bubble so I should be seeing more each day, as long as the knee holds out. I'm giving my knee tomorrow and then the next morning into Duncannon to get better, or I see a local doc for advice. And, thanks a ton for the supportive comments. It really helps to get them on a ridgetop with cell coverage. Speaking of ridgetops, this pic is the Rock Maze - a big jumble that the A.T. goes through.

I walked 45602 steps on the trail today.
I traveled about 20 miles today.
Wonderful, but challenging, day of hiking! My left knee throbbed all day, especially on downhills, so I did a shorter day. On the trail, I met 'Toots' and his sister. Ran into them a couple more times and we're staying at the same shelter along with Wildfire and a Sobo guy. Wildfire is a young lady started in Springer and hoping to reach Katahdin. Toots is also doing the whole trail - his sis is with him for a week or so. It was great to reach camp early, wash a little, and get to visit instead of just crashing in bed. This pic is of me on one of the many Washington monuments around the area - taken the first day. I'll let you know how the knee works out tomorrow.