Hatrack River Forum: First hike in 05 (with pictures)

This is topic First hike in 05 (with pictures) in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=035401

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I took a trip up Falling Waters Trail (this means lots of waterfalls) to the top of Little Haystack. I'd meant to go from Little Haystack across the Franconia Ridge Trail traversing Mt Lincoln and Mt Lafayette and descending on a different trail that links back up with the falling waters trail.

Ha!

A hike that I could cover in four and a half hours (that 8 mile or so traverse) was nothing compared to my six miles that took six hours. Apparently being sick took a whole lot more out of me than I thought. Instead of passing people, I was being passed. A lot. My head hurt, my ear hurt, then I got cramps. Then breathing was troublesome. Then my knees started to go (they usually hurt on descending) but without the rest of my body cooperating and using my arms more, the knees hurt more. I ran out of water. I brought along as much water as I ever had, and I used to never use all of it. Instead, I had two hours left and no water left (I rationed it, too). I was staggering the last couple miles. And descents are the easiest and fastest thing for me, usually taking half the time of the ascent. This time, it took LONGER than the ascent.

I really wonder what happened. None of that has ever happened to be before on a hike. Earache, headache, abdominal pain, body ache, joints hurting, neck hurting, legs shaking, chest hurting, breathing difficulty and having NO energy. A few times, I seriously thought I'd never make it down to the bottom of the trail. But dammit, I'm a responsible hiker, hiking is a self-reliant sport, and I got down off the mountain.

Anyway. I DID take pictures most of the way up and up at the top.

Here ya go.

[ June 06, 2005, 10:16 AM: Message edited by: mackillian ]

Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :

Thanks for the new desktop background. [Smile]

My last three (including this one) backgrounds have been Jamie pictures.

Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :

Lovely pics, as usual, but maybe you should postpone any future hikes until you're 100%.

Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :

Franconia Ridge... I remember that place =) Will took me hiking through there when I visited him back in October of '02. I don't know exactly what trail we were on (can't find the pictures I took of the waystation), but it was the one with Table Rock (I found THAT one! LOL)

and then we drove up to see the Old Man... I'm so glad I got to see that before he fell.

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 8107) on :

I can't go hiking until October. *WAY* too hot in Phoenix this time of year.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

Yay! New wallpaper! [Big Grin]

BOOOOO! At half-killing yourself to get it! [No No]

Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :

Well, mack, I'll let your experience be my guide, and I'll continue to stick to short, flat walks while the lungs and body recover.

Those pictures are gorgeous - you sure have a gift.

Take it easy and let your body heal ~

Page 2, Top/middle - mesmerizing!

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

One of my friends wonders if it was an allergic reaction to all the pollen about. He said that my immune system is already on overdrive because of the infection, I'm already allergic to pollen, and being surrounded by lots of trees and pollen everywhere might have caused part of the problem.

Posted by Theca (Member # 1629) on :

Were you having significant sneezing, itching, congestion, or wheezing out there?

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

mack --

you do such beautiful work. Do you keep your camera set on all manual, so you can specify all the exposure and focusing settings? Or do you use some of the automatic settings? Your photos are so sharp!

I was thinking about using this one as a desktop wallpaper, but then realized it was going to make me have to run to the bathroom frequently.... [Big Grin]

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

Sometimes I go fully manual, other times just shutter priority or aperture priority. Other times, I throw it on auto and just specify the ISO.

Sometimes I do manual focus, sometimes auto.

Jeez. I'm not consistent at all. o_O

Posted by imenimok (Member # 7679) on :

Consistency schmonsistency.

Nice stuff. Check you email in, like, five minutes.

Posted by Ela (Member # 1365) on :

Beautiful! [Cool]

I especially like the flowers. [Smile]

(It's my botany background. [Wink]

)

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I thought of you whenever I saw some cool looking moss. [Smile]

Posted by Wendybird (Member # 84) on :

Gorgeous! You have a gift.