as winter turned to spring, i began to get the itch to get out and camp and hike, and i booked myself a little weekend retreat at hanging rock. ran the plan past my pt and had a good plan to make sure i wasn’t an idiot. then, a few days before the trip, i had a doc visit for my stupid foot and ended up with a second cortisone shot (regrets). then i got sick. and then the weater forecase took a turn towards cold and rain. i almost didn’t go. but then. i did.
i loaded up on theraflu and kept everything super low maintainence. with rain forecasted for the whole first evening and night, i skipped a campfire and just chilled in the hammock and did some reading and journaling.
the morning was pretty chilly. i actually wasn’t really prepared. i also woke before sunrise, so that doesn’t help with cool temps. but i’m glad i did, because holy moly, peep this sunrise.
i began my leisurely morning with a campfire and so so so much coffee. i wasn’t sure at this point if i was going to attempt a hike or not. even if i did, it was only going to be a few miles, so there was no rush.
as i sat there thinking about the long cold day ahead, i decided that it was time to test out this effing foot.
i packed up and headed up to moore’s knob. this hike was loaded with emotions this time. for so many reasons. but mostly because it had been six months since my last hike. when i got to the top, i may have even shed a tear or two. (for balance, i was also super annoyed with a group of about 25-30 teen boys and leaders of some religious variety, who were all spread out across the entirety of the overlook).
i do have an interesting story about the hike. while i was at the top, i chatted up a fellow hiker and quickly realized he is also a part of the hiking group i’m a part of. it was pleasant conversation and he left a few minutes before me. then when i was hiking back down, i happened upon him, lying down on the side of the trail. as i came closer i saw that he was bleeding profusely all over his face. he wasn’t sure what had happened to cause the fall, but he had cut up his face pretty badly. some other hikers came up and we got him cleaned up and bandaged. then i made him hike out with me and back to my campsite so i could drive him back to the trailhead. he seemed ok to drive so i sent him on his way, and followed up later, through the hiking group app, to confirm that he survived. but anyways. yeah. exciting. i may or may not be telling people i saved his life.
anyhoooooooo. back at camp, i cleaned up a bit and plopped myself in my hammock. it was still warm enough in the sun to not necessitate a campfire so i was happy to save my firewood for the evening and morning.
later, when i deemed it appropriate to start the fire (430pm or so), the ranger pulled up and informed me that the state of nc was issuing a burn ban set to start at 6pm. i was devastated. the thought of another cold evening and night and morning was unbearable. i made a very quick executive decision to pack up and head home.
as soon as i rolled in, i booked another weekend trip as soon as possible as near as possible….