Flow on Feet

After a mind-blowingly fun season of riding bikes and building trails last year... I decided to mix it up this winter and spend more time off the bike, and start hiking and trail running. My initial idea was to harden up my feet and walking muscles for a mountain bike ride I hope to complete this year - the Massanutten Ring, a 70 mile route with an immense amount of technical riding and elevator shaft style hike a bikes.I definitely got stronger, but more importantly, I discovered a new outdoor experience and way to challenge my body.  Conquering mountains and mileage a different way was so fun, and I got to share the experience with my good friends in a huge mixture of weather conditions (some 60 degree days interlaced with many snowy and rainy ones). Please enjoy these glamorous shots of my hiking buddies:

With a lot of rain this season, we had some high water. 
This hike was 20 miles long, and the last 6 miles had at least 15 huge river crossings. This was cold! We were tough 
cookies and just had to get wet to not get darked on.

Having lived in the same place for a long time, it’s been very rewarding to tackle trails and routes that I may have touched or done via bike, but on foot. You move slower, and technical sections are wayyy different when your brakes are your legs and not hydraulic.. Plus, I’vebeen able to explore and learn a whole new territory of forest near home, the Shenandoah National Park, because bikes are not allowed on those trails.

 

Sam and I at the snowy summit of Black Rock in the Shenandoah National Park.

 

My buddies Jess and Ellen and I recently hiked/ran a loop of The Wild Oak Trail - 

29 miles/7200 feet!!! This was a big deal. We all had this on our bucket list, so we made it a 

goal and worked up to it. We all surprised ourselves immensely with our quick progression, and 

were all incredibly positive and strong during the feat. I went from thinking that I could MAYBE 

work up to do HALF of this loop ONE DAY, to completing a whole loop after just a few months of training.

Snack pile for our trail marathon, a loop of The Wild Oak Trail (TWOT). 
We started at 6am, hence the headlight, and finished that afternoon around 4pm.

Watched the sunrise as we climbed 7 miles to our first summit of the day.

Lunchtime so delicious halfway through, we filled up on mountain water here too with a filter.”

Still smiling at the finish, even though we could barely walk!

My friends and I have gone on some fabulous foot flows, and I will continue to hike year-round. 

Bikes are very special, but the brain and body sometimes crave a break from the same routine!

Trail running has had a big effect this winter.

Plus we have gotten out for a few XC ski trips, snow flow.. 

Looking forward to warmer weather and more bike time, but winter is okay too!!

Whitegrass XC Ski Resort in Canaan Valley, WV has an extensive trail system that will leave 
you smiling as you tour their wild winter wonderland.

Lots of huts along the trails, most with fires burning in wood stoves, 
birdseed to feed the friendly chickadees, and boxes of granola bars and goodies for anyone bonking.