Barriers
Seester said I should start a blog about my attempts at bobbling through life. So, here you go!
I had every intention of hiking Grizzly Peak (about 30 minutes east of Ashland) today. And I nearly did. As I approached roughly 6 miles from the trailhead, a light snow began to fall and the road turned white. Not being phased, knowing the car Sarah and Gabe have so graciously let me borrow would brave the snow, I kept going.
The Audi and I squeezed through the several fallen trees which someone had previously cut and moved. At a sharp turn in the road, about three miles from my destination, however, a new obstacle appeared. A freshly fallen tree barred the road ahead. Being without a chainsaw, I sought other options. But, not wanting to get stuck on a remote forest road or miss the trail entirely, I resolved to turn back. No Grizzly Peak today…
So instead I headed to a different trail, one scheduled to meet me on Friday. So off I drove, back through the fallen trees, to Catwalk and Toothpick Trail. However, approaching the trail, the road narrowed and I couldn’t find the trailhead or a place to park. Being as stubborn as I apparently am, I decided to keep driving, seeing that the road continued around the mountain toward Lithia Park and many other trails. But lo and behold, after three miles, the road was blocked by several boulders.
Making a 15-point turn on the one lane mountain road, I despondently returned in the opposite direction. Aha! With the change of perspective, I found the trailhead for C&T! And parking!
So off I set, emboldened! And about ten seconds into the hike I absentmindedly removed my glove (in order to start the navigation on AllTrails+) and blindly threw my right hiking pole down the side of hill. So I started my hike by sliding down a wet, soft hill to retrieve the lost pole. Adversity!
But now I was even more determined to friggin master this accursed hike! Setting off, again, I found the trail very pleasant although wet. Along the way I came to a fork and recognized other trails I’ve slayed. Pushing on, or, rather, up, I found myself on a (probably not very) steep forest road with a distracted sense of paranoia, scanning the landscape for cougars (thanks, Jesper!). Anyhow, no cougars were seen. Only an energetic yellow lab who came careening down the road yards ahead of their human. Minor heart attack. No big deal.
Once the non-cougar was passed, I came across a fallen tree, doing its best to block my path. But I found a way through and onward. Then, huffing and puffing, I reached the snow line. Beauty! It wasn’t long before the trail turned and joined a mountain bike trail. Thankfully, the wet day means I didn’t see a mountain bike until I made it back to the car. But a mtb trail means steep and smooth curves. And steep and smooth curves means I ended my hike with my right knee screaming and failing with every third step, then every single step. But I made it. My foot is still attached and my knee will quiet down. Despite the obstacles, I made it.
Afternoon hike at Catwalk and Toothpick Trail Loop on AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/explore/recording/afternoon-hike-at-catwalk-and-toothpick-trail-loop-4afd521?p=-1
PS – S&G … never fear – the Audi is unscathed.
Power of Craft Compels You 