Choosing a hike, part 1: Wow!

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!