I really think the way to keep on track with walking every day is to pick a great hike and work toward being able to do it - and enjoy doing it!
With that in mind, I went to a website about hiking Mt Rainier. Mt Rainier is high on my list because I've never been there, despite the fact that a college friend raved about Mt Rainier constantly. She could see it from her bedroom, growing up in Seattle as she did. So I've always wanted to go.
So I visited the website, and here is a sample of hikes listed. Notice that I have a problem here.
Indian Henrys Hunting Ground (via Kautz Creek - 11.5 miles). The trail begins near the
Kautz Creek Picnic Area and ascends 3000 feet, passing by Kautz Creek and through an
old growth forest before rapidly climbing to the south flank of Mt Ararat. The trail soon enters
a series of meadows before climbing a final ridge and descending to the Ranger Cabin in
the meadows of Indian Henrys. These areas are the home of several bears as well as deer
and other animals.
Golden Lakes Trail (34.5 miles). From the trailhead at the end of Westside Road, the trail
leads to an area of fifteen or more small lakes was so named because of the golden sunset
colors reflected from the lakes' surfaces. The meadows of Sunset Park are abundant with
wildflowers in mid-summer and are host to black bears foraging on the plentiful supply of
huckleberries early in the fall. Gorgeous spot for photos.
Van Trump Park Trail (5.8 miles). Starting from a parking lot four miles east of Longmire
(parking is often full), the trail climbs 2000 feet to Comet Falls, one of the highest waterfalls
in the park, and then onwards to Van Trump Park. For two miles the trail climbs steadily up
hill until it reaches the base of Comet Falls. From there it switchbacks 0.6 mile uphill to the
junction with the Rampart Ridge Trail. Van Trump Park is to the right, where the trail winds
through the meadows until it dead ends in 0.5 mile.
and this one:
Camp Muir Trail (9 miles). This hike begins in Paradise, rises through snowfields, and ends
4600 feet higher on the slopes of the mountain. The hike is long, arduous and potentially
hazardous if the weather turns nasty. Make sure you have waterproof shoes - at 9 miles
with glaciers - its not a day hike for the kids !
Don't they sound lovely? Don't they sound hard? They do to me. I'm not ready for both a 5.8 mile hike and climbing 2000 feet.
Back to work. One week of walking is not going to do it!
Progress
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Some kid hikes with photos
These are a few I gleaned from sites known to have descriptions and photos of wonderful hiking kids:
Thanksgiving Weekend
Skyline to the Sea
Pescadero 2010 backpack with a 4 year old
Montibello 2010 little hikers are just-turned-4 and 2 1/2
Full disclosure: These are my very own hiking grandkids. YAY!
Thanksgiving Weekend
Skyline to the Sea
Pescadero 2010 backpack with a 4 year old
Montibello 2010 little hikers are just-turned-4 and 2 1/2
Full disclosure: These are my very own hiking grandkids. YAY!
Hiking with kids
Maybe it's from years of having children in our lives, but I don't think I would enjoy a hike nearly as much alone as I would having a child along to add some extra sense of wonder. And just plain to share it with.
Creating memories is big to me. I so enjoy the few memories I have of my grandparents, and wish there had been more. This is a great time for me to spend time building memories that my grandkids can carry into their senior years.
Beyond memories, I want my grandkids to develop a sense of natural beauty and delight in the natural world around them. I want them to turn to God's creation at times of confusion instead of to man's substitutes. In short, I want them to value what I value.
I learned about these things at Girl Scout camp starting when I was 10. That was when I took my first hike.
How early can a child learn to hike? I'd like to know. I want to include here the hikes our little tykes have taken.
So far I have not been on significant hikes with grandchildren, just a few tromps through the woods. But I look forward to sharing this passion with them.
Creating memories is big to me. I so enjoy the few memories I have of my grandparents, and wish there had been more. This is a great time for me to spend time building memories that my grandkids can carry into their senior years.
Beyond memories, I want my grandkids to develop a sense of natural beauty and delight in the natural world around them. I want them to turn to God's creation at times of confusion instead of to man's substitutes. In short, I want them to value what I value.
I learned about these things at Girl Scout camp starting when I was 10. That was when I took my first hike.
How early can a child learn to hike? I'd like to know. I want to include here the hikes our little tykes have taken.
So far I have not been on significant hikes with grandchildren, just a few tromps through the woods. But I look forward to sharing this passion with them.
Minor update: elevation gain
First, there's a great workout room here at Trevi. Now that the weather report shows rain or snow or both together for the foreseeable future, I'll be doing some indoor walks.
Second, I also didn't walk yesterday. Still afflicted.
Third, I am doing this wrong! I am focusing on how but not what. I am focusing on how to get to 20 miles a week instead of why I would want to do that. I need to get back to thinking about what I'm preparing for, the delicious hikes I will become eligible to do once I can walk X miles in comfort.
I did learn something important this past week: when they say in hiking descriptions that there's so much elevation gain, such as 5.4 miles, 3200 ft elevation gain, it means the total for the trip, not the net.
So that means, you could go up and down a lot and all those ups would contribute to the elevation gain. Or you could walk straight up a mountain 3200 feet.
When I walk around here, I do a lot more elevation gain than I was giving myself credit for! I may go up net 500 feet, but getting there was all ups and downs, and could have doubled the gain.
Bottom line: I am not as far from being able to do real hikes as I'd thought. YAY. Other bottom line: My goal includes loving it, and so far I'm not there.
Second, I also didn't walk yesterday. Still afflicted.
Third, I am doing this wrong! I am focusing on how but not what. I am focusing on how to get to 20 miles a week instead of why I would want to do that. I need to get back to thinking about what I'm preparing for, the delicious hikes I will become eligible to do once I can walk X miles in comfort.
I did learn something important this past week: when they say in hiking descriptions that there's so much elevation gain, such as 5.4 miles, 3200 ft elevation gain, it means the total for the trip, not the net.
So that means, you could go up and down a lot and all those ups would contribute to the elevation gain. Or you could walk straight up a mountain 3200 feet.
When I walk around here, I do a lot more elevation gain than I was giving myself credit for! I may go up net 500 feet, but getting there was all ups and downs, and could have doubled the gain.
Bottom line: I am not as far from being able to do real hikes as I'd thought. YAY. Other bottom line: My goal includes loving it, and so far I'm not there.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Dav 5 - no walk
Probably because of the thing I ate, whatever it was, whenever it was, that imposed a stay-at-home day on me.
OR I was just a lazy bum.
One day is not a trend!
OR I was just a lazy bum.
One day is not a trend!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Day 4 - quick walk, more to come
It's cold out there! About 34 degrees. The sun is setting soon, though it is only 4:32 MT. I walked around our block, which is about .53 miles I discovered. Here are the totals so far (so far because tonight we are going to a concert and will put on close to another mile):
Goal for today: 2.50 miles
Goal for this walk: 1.7 miles
Actual miles walked: 1.64
Speed: 2.6mph*
Time: 38:54 minutes
How I feel: fine. There are some good-sized hills in this neighborhood, and the first one I came to, after walking less than 2 minutes, was tough. But the second and third times it was ok!
*What was different about this walk is that someone called and I needed to talk to him. So I probably walked more slowly than I would have.
And then, after the concert, which was only across the street at the Conference Center:
Actual miles walked: about .55 miles
Speed: 1.7mph (mostly stairs)
Time: 16:30 min
This does not count standing in line, which took quite a while!
Grand totals for the day:
2.19 miles
about 45 minutes
A little short!
Goal for today: 2.50 miles
Goal for this walk: 1.7 miles
Actual miles walked: 1.64
Speed: 2.6mph*
Time: 38:54 minutes
How I feel: fine. There are some good-sized hills in this neighborhood, and the first one I came to, after walking less than 2 minutes, was tough. But the second and third times it was ok!
*What was different about this walk is that someone called and I needed to talk to him. So I probably walked more slowly than I would have.
And then, after the concert, which was only across the street at the Conference Center:
Actual miles walked: about .55 miles
Speed: 1.7mph (mostly stairs)
Time: 16:30 min
This does not count standing in line, which took quite a while!
Grand totals for the day:
2.19 miles
about 45 minutes
A little short!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Where we live
It takes us 6 minutes to walk to the Conference Center, 10 to Temple Square, and 11 to the Family History Library.
We have indoor parking right at our door, plus there's guest parking for when our friends and family visit.
We have a small condo, just one bedroom and one bath. The kitchen is small but fully equipped, fortunately, and we have lovely afternoon sunshine through large slider-windows that go out to 2 separate balconies.
It's nice to be able to be here, close to some of our family and to places we love to visit.
Day 3: Tonight's walk
We walked to the temple tonight. Here are the two segments, downhill (toward the temple) and uphill (back home):
Goal - no walking goal, just get to the temple, mostly downhill
Distance: 0.45 mi (turned it off at the door)
Speed: 2.8mph (includes brief stop at crossing light)
Time: 10:09 minutes
Goal - no walking goal, just get home, mostly uphill
Distance: 0.48 mi (turned it on inside)
Speed: 2.5mph (includes wait at the light)
Time: 11:41 minutes
Total miles: 0.93
Total for today: 3.35 miles
Goal - no walking goal, just get to the temple, mostly downhill
Distance: 0.45 mi (turned it off at the door)
Speed: 2.8mph (includes brief stop at crossing light)
Time: 10:09 minutes
Goal - no walking goal, just get home, mostly uphill
Distance: 0.48 mi (turned it on inside)
Speed: 2.5mph (includes wait at the light)
Time: 11:41 minutes
Total miles: 0.93
Total for today: 3.35 miles
Day 3 - A calm walk
Today I walked around Temple Square 3 times. Temple Square is relatively flat, a little downhill on two legs and a little uphill on the other two, but nothing challenging. That plus the nearly half mile down and again back yielded these results. It is quite a hill to get back to our apartment, so that added some terrain today.
Goal: 2.5 miles or further if possible
Total: 2.42 miles. I didn't check the total until I got inside but I could have gone the other .08 miles easily. Too bad that was the reason to come up short!
Speed: 2.9 mph
Time: 50:35 minutes
Calories burned: 252
How I felt, and feel now: I was a bit achy in my hips, not a usual thing. There were stretches when I was going 4.0 mph so I am surprised it ended up at 2.9. Maybe because I kept it on while unlocking the three doors.... I feel like this was a reasonable third-day-in-a-row walk, plus we plan to go to the temple tonight and that will be almost another mile. If I hadn't had that coming up, I would have dragged myself through another circuit of Temple Square. I'm glad I stopped when I did.
The weather was not a factor. I wore a hat and mittens and my lightish jacket and by the end I took off the mittens. It's right around freezing out there, and the sidewalks are clear though a bit wet in places. No problem!
Goal: 2.5 miles or further if possible
Total: 2.42 miles. I didn't check the total until I got inside but I could have gone the other .08 miles easily. Too bad that was the reason to come up short!
Speed: 2.9 mph
Time: 50:35 minutes
Calories burned: 252
How I felt, and feel now: I was a bit achy in my hips, not a usual thing. There were stretches when I was going 4.0 mph so I am surprised it ended up at 2.9. Maybe because I kept it on while unlocking the three doors.... I feel like this was a reasonable third-day-in-a-row walk, plus we plan to go to the temple tonight and that will be almost another mile. If I hadn't had that coming up, I would have dragged myself through another circuit of Temple Square. I'm glad I stopped when I did.
The weather was not a factor. I wore a hat and mittens and my lightish jacket and by the end I took off the mittens. It's right around freezing out there, and the sidewalks are clear though a bit wet in places. No problem!
Today it's snowy....
Another challenge (besides the big one of willpower) is walking in bad weather.
Right now we have snow on the ground, and it may continue, according to Wonderground, for another hour or two.
But this afternoon it will taper off, and I think that means the walking will be ok. These are well-traveled city streets we live on, and this particular area (Temple Square, Salt Lake City) has exceptionally heavy foot traffic. I think that will mean the sidewalks will be clear.
It's also colder today, with highs in the 30s instead of yesterday's near-60s.
But a goal is a goal. I fully intend to do my 2.5 miles, and if I walk around Temple Square, which is relatively flat, I may be able to do 3 or 4 miles.
We'll see. Family is coming next week, and the week after we are traveling for a family wedding, and right now I am trying to take extra time to get end-of-month things done. But walking is part of each day, so no excuses!
Right now we have snow on the ground, and it may continue, according to Wonderground, for another hour or two.
But this afternoon it will taper off, and I think that means the walking will be ok. These are well-traveled city streets we live on, and this particular area (Temple Square, Salt Lake City) has exceptionally heavy foot traffic. I think that will mean the sidewalks will be clear.
It's also colder today, with highs in the 30s instead of yesterday's near-60s.
But a goal is a goal. I fully intend to do my 2.5 miles, and if I walk around Temple Square, which is relatively flat, I may be able to do 3 or 4 miles.
We'll see. Family is coming next week, and the week after we are traveling for a family wedding, and right now I am trying to take extra time to get end-of-month things done. But walking is part of each day, so no excuses!
A dream remembered
I just realized that as I work on my goals of improved endurance and speed and enjoyment of walking in Washington, I'm also working on another dream, one that I had almost forgotten:
To walk Ireland.
I am mostly Irish. About 3/4 of my ancestors were from Ireland, or lived in Ireland all their lives.
I've never been to Ireland, but it's right at the top of my list of places to visit.
And I really want to experience it, not just visit it, and that means walking.
So years ago I decided that when I go to Ireland, we would walk everywhere. For that I need to be prepared.
What I'm doing now will help me fulfill that old dream, and then think of the other dreams I can add to it!
Have you walked as a way of touring a foreign country? Please share that experience!
Or do you have plans to tour somewhere special on foot? Where is that, and why, and when will you go?
As I think about resurrecting this dream, I realize the best thing I can do is to put it on the calendar. When will we go to Ireland? Soon, I hope!
I'd better talk to Eamonn. He's a 'new' cousin I've discovered, one who still lives in Ireland. Of course he's top o' the list for our visit!
To walk Ireland.
I am mostly Irish. About 3/4 of my ancestors were from Ireland, or lived in Ireland all their lives.
I've never been to Ireland, but it's right at the top of my list of places to visit.
And I really want to experience it, not just visit it, and that means walking.
So years ago I decided that when I go to Ireland, we would walk everywhere. For that I need to be prepared.
What I'm doing now will help me fulfill that old dream, and then think of the other dreams I can add to it!
Have you walked as a way of touring a foreign country? Please share that experience!
Or do you have plans to tour somewhere special on foot? Where is that, and why, and when will you go?
As I think about resurrecting this dream, I realize the best thing I can do is to put it on the calendar. When will we go to Ireland? Soon, I hope!
I'd better talk to Eamonn. He's a 'new' cousin I've discovered, one who still lives in Ireland. Of course he's top o' the list for our visit!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Day 2 - Walk to Smith's
We walked to Smith's, pretty much uphill all the way, and we walked home, pretty much downhill but with maybe 20-25 pounds of groceries between us. (I got the lighter load, definitely.)
Here are the numbers:
Goal: 2.50 miles plus groceries
Length: 2.90 miles
Time: 1:15:57 hours. Call it 1:16.
Pace: 2.3mph counting the time shopping
Calories burned: 299 (but I swear I burned another one just turning off the CardioTracker)
The way I felt about it: virtuous, pretty darn tired for the last half mile.
Here are the numbers:
Goal: 2.50 miles plus groceries
Length: 2.90 miles
Time: 1:15:57 hours. Call it 1:16.
Pace: 2.3mph counting the time shopping
Calories burned: 299 (but I swear I burned another one just turning off the CardioTracker)
The way I felt about it: virtuous, pretty darn tired for the last half mile.
Monday, December 13, 2010
There's certainly not a lack of places to walk and hike in the big and well-endowed State of Washington!
And there's no lack of resources. The internet is great, with the same hike described by several hikers.
And then there are the seasons, places that get snow or have a thaw with serious run-off, depending on the day and the general mood of things.
But I like books. I like pouring over them when it's not possible to go on an actual adventure.
I also like advice from friends. Don't forget that part!
The thing is, I am concerned about crowds. Solitude seems part of the experience. So I am looking for a book of unusual Washington hikes. Can such a thing exist? What do they do, make them sound unappealing? I don't know. But I'm going to find out!
I do know that I like it nice and cool, whatever the season, and not too too challenging, not this year. Beauty is also welcome.
Where to go? What are your suggestions?
We know a lot of hikes right around Anacortes: Cap Sante, the Anacortes Forestlands, Mt Erie, Deception Pass, the Washington Park loop....
But we don't know the rest of Washington. If you have a favorite hike or walk, would you please share what and where it is and your experience with it? Thanks.
But we don't know the rest of Washington. If you have a favorite hike or walk, would you please share what and where it is and your experience with it? Thanks.
Ruminations: Why did I ever stop?
I have walked consistently many times in my adult life, and I have loved it. And other times I have not and I have not felt as good.
Why did I ever stop? Part of it is the habit thing, I guess. When we left here last April we had been walking every day as part of what we did. Then we went on a 6-week road trip. No walking!
And then we moved into our house, and we walked quite a bit, back and forth from the storage unit to the car and from the car to the house and back again. In the two weeks we did that, we probably covered only a mile or two.
And then we took a break from that and did some gardening. And that's when I could have walked more but didn't, I mean getting out on the road and really walking. And now I'm paying for it.
Let it be a lesson to me! Now I'm back at about 4500 feet elevation and it's not as easy as it was last year!
LET THAT BE A LESSON! TO ME!
Why did I ever stop? Part of it is the habit thing, I guess. When we left here last April we had been walking every day as part of what we did. Then we went on a 6-week road trip. No walking!
And then we moved into our house, and we walked quite a bit, back and forth from the storage unit to the car and from the car to the house and back again. In the two weeks we did that, we probably covered only a mile or two.
And then we took a break from that and did some gardening. And that's when I could have walked more but didn't, I mean getting out on the road and really walking. And now I'm paying for it.
Let it be a lesson to me! Now I'm back at about 4500 feet elevation and it's not as easy as it was last year!
LET THAT BE A LESSON! TO ME!
Day 1 - The first walk
First, I don't know the best way to post daily walks in detail. Second, I have been walking, a bit. Sometimes I have walked a lot but more about that later. Right now I want to post my first official Walk Washington preparation walk. Here it is (and btw, the time is a bit short because the CardioTracker turned itself off. I don't know if that means it played catch-up with the distance or not, so that could be short, too. And I turned it off before climbing up our stairs and in our door. Fwiw.)
OK, today, Dec 13 2010
Goal: 2.50 miles with lots of ups and downs
Terrain: city streets with many significant uphills and downhills (mostly uphills imo)
Elevation: about 4500 feet above sea level
Total distance: 2.51 miles
Total time: 1:02 hours
Avg rate: 2.4 mph (if indeed that's what that means, instead of it being an instantaneous rate)
Calories burned (fwiw): 257
Experience: tough going on the steeper hills, really was glad it was over
What I wish it showed was elevation gain (though of course it is net-zero, since I stopped where I started)
OK, today, Dec 13 2010
Goal: 2.50 miles with lots of ups and downs
Terrain: city streets with many significant uphills and downhills (mostly uphills imo)
Elevation: about 4500 feet above sea level
Total distance: 2.51 miles
Total time: 1:02 hours
Avg rate: 2.4 mph (if indeed that's what that means, instead of it being an instantaneous rate)
Calories burned (fwiw): 257
Experience: tough going on the steeper hills, really was glad it was over
What I wish it showed was elevation gain (though of course it is net-zero, since I stopped where I started)
Day 1 - Goals
Get comfy with hiking long and/or steep trails
Get comfy with hiking in the rain
Backpack, and be happy sleeping on the ground and carrying everything I need on my back.
Lose enough weight to make hiking a pleasure - toss away the extra 'pack', not all in the back!
Specifically lose 60 pounds over time, just naturally because of all the extra walking.
Make my body truly believe it wants to lose 60 pounds (and whatever it thinks about the coming famine, it isn't true!)
Take photos! (This is hard for me - I like looking but not shooting.)
Be honest from this moment forward about the tough parts as well as the triumphs.
See neat stuff and understand ever more about this great creation and where it came from.
And boggle the minds of my grandkids who probably think old people can't do stuff like this.
Day 1 - Beginning
I am a 67 year old grandmother, and I have big ambitions.
One is to get fit enough to hike all over Washington.
I want to hike without stress, without hating it, without wishing I could just go home and put my feet up.
Washington has great places to hike. I've heard of some, and I just know there are others, miles and miles of others.
I want to see old growth forest, and I want to take a coast walk, something I have never (knowingly) done. I want to understand the geology of the place, and understand glaciers, and experience alpine meadows. I also want to see wildlife.
So today I begin.
I'm not in Washington today, I'm in Utah. I live on a hillside. So even though the paths are actually sidewalks, the ups and downs will be very much like hiking trails.
Altitude is an issue here in Salt Lake City, and so it is on many of the walks in Washington. So again, these urban walkways will be good preparation.
I can walk about 2.5 miles now, with ups and downs, not with comfort but still I can do it. My immediate goal is to do that with comfort, not hating every step but relishing it.
So today, armed with the GPS in my phone, I will go walk these hills until I have gone 2.5 miles. It's a beginning.
One is to get fit enough to hike all over Washington.
I want to hike without stress, without hating it, without wishing I could just go home and put my feet up.
Washington has great places to hike. I've heard of some, and I just know there are others, miles and miles of others.
I want to see old growth forest, and I want to take a coast walk, something I have never (knowingly) done. I want to understand the geology of the place, and understand glaciers, and experience alpine meadows. I also want to see wildlife.
So today I begin.
I'm not in Washington today, I'm in Utah. I live on a hillside. So even though the paths are actually sidewalks, the ups and downs will be very much like hiking trails.
Altitude is an issue here in Salt Lake City, and so it is on many of the walks in Washington. So again, these urban walkways will be good preparation.
I can walk about 2.5 miles now, with ups and downs, not with comfort but still I can do it. My immediate goal is to do that with comfort, not hating every step but relishing it.
So today, armed with the GPS in my phone, I will go walk these hills until I have gone 2.5 miles. It's a beginning.
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