So in my quest to complete more difficult hikes and achieve a more twerkable butt, I have been upping my fitness ante. For the past 17 weeks I have been working out 3-4 times a week consistently and I haven’t done that since I’ve graduated high school and I’m stoked. At first I just wanted to get in better shape for my wedding which we had 3 months to plan, but then I decided to continue my journey of fitness. I mean, I want to have a butt that claps, but I also want to do more with my body and go on harder adventures with bigger payoffs. Desolation Wilderness, Havasu Falls, things like that. Until then, I train my foot on little hikes with increasing difficulty and have my dreams until they become reality.
For a few weeks I was hiking the Oak Canyon trail along with the Grasslands Loop in Mission Trails and doing it a couple days a week. It was nice but not very challenging, it’s relatively flat and wouldn’t get me any closer to my goals. So then I finally decided to listen to Travis’ recommendation and check out the trail that he does his runs on.
I wanted a trail that would have some elevation gain and loss so my legs can get more of a workout. I also wanted to work on my foot with plantar fasciitis so I could continue to strengthen it and it wouldn’t combust again and bring me down to square one.
I hopped out of my car in the park’s parking lot and started down the trail for about 150 yards. Then there was a left turn and I started up a fairly steep hill. From the parking lot over the first steep hump up to 220 ft. in elevation gain is only .15 miles. It sucks but it’s short at least!
At the point I’m writing this, I’ve done this hike several times and every single time I bring my trekking poles. It’s a fairly empty trail but it seems like every time I pass people they’re not carrying water or poles. I try not to judge myself too harshly for being prepared for my abilities but I still feel like Russell from Up!
When I’m huffing and puffing up the hills and see someone whose thighs don’t chafe booking it past me, it’s definitely not the best feeling. In fact, I hate it. I feel like I look dumb with my poles and trudging along. But I try to remind myself of what I heard from some random woman on IG, it may or may not have been from a twerking instructional video, she said, “You never look dumb when you’re working to become healthier.”
The trail is fairly empty and runs behind some homes, high on the hillside that is rollercoastery. The trail is a little rocky and slippery at some points and I have nearly eaten shit a few times but when my non-existent reflexes don’t help me that’s when it’s nice to have the poles to save my ass.
The last time I was on the trail I was crossing a bridge and stopped to talk to a woman around my mother’s age with a dog that was so incredibly cute that my husband would probably try to steal her (he really wants a dog, not to steal an older woman). Shoutout to Debbie and Fergie! We talked for an hour about life and all of its different facets. It was a random conversation that went into many different directions that shed light on this stranger’s life. It was beautiful. Perhaps it was being out in nature that made it even more beautiful. I wasn’t surrounded by scrolling screens and the shrill ringing of notifications was gone and instead I heard trickling water and noticed the dissipation of light reflected on her face from the leaves’ shadows while she talked about her wild ride of a life. How we got to that subject? I have no clue but ADHD does that to you I guess. Everything quieted down and in that moment I just heard everything that she was saying and really took it in. The quiet of nature allowed me to focus and absorb what I needed to hear in that moment. As I walked away after an hour of talking and her calling me “a gem” I contemplated our conversation on my entire hike back to my car. I felt so content.
Maybe that’s something the trail gave me. The ability to slow down and listen to something that I was fortunate enough to hear from a complete stranger. Me and Debbie’s conversation stays between us (and Fergie, the dog) but I felt really lucky to be unplugged and find connection on a trail where I was also finding some time to train and get healthier. What am I saying in all of this? Being able to go outside is a real gift and I enjoy all that being active affords me. The journey to build up My Humps continues. Happy Trails.
Rancho Mission Canyon —> Beauty: 5/10 Difficulty: 6/10 Distance: 3.35 miles Elevation Gain: 551 ft.
Big Tail on the Trail 