Hike #1 -- done and dusted and much harder with a new hike leader. She paced faster and a different route with more elevation. I'm tired and a little sore.
Hike #2 a little over 12 hours later. Eeek. I'm worried I bit off more than I can chew. Turns out this is a self-paced, timed hike. Geez. I have no idea where I'm going and where to turn around. It's hard terrain (lots of big rocks to step up, down and around) and lots of elevation. Good news is it's the same hike leader as last night and 3 of us are doing both. As long as I don't get injured, I can muscle through the tired without a problem and probably stick with someone to find the route. If I get disqualified and don't get credit for the hike, oh well. I can try again.
The hike with friends would've been canceled -- from this perspective, I made a good decision. Maybe, hopefully -- we'll see if my old body holds up.
I'm mentally treating it as though it's one hike with a 12 hours rest in the middle. Neither hike is long -- just fast and hard. The total mileage is 12.5 miles for both. I think it's the recovery from the fall that's causing my concern -- a bit too much, too soon.
Oh -- almost forgot. I saved the group (and especially the hiker in front of me) from a copperhead bite. It was across the trail. The hike leader missed it as she walked by and the snake moved to strike the next hiker. I was behind her, shouted "snake" and yelled for her to keep going forward, fast. Stopped the rest of the group. No exaggeration that I saved her from a strike. She was really grateful and we were all shaken. It took a minute for the snake to move off the trail. Remembering this right now, I can add SNAKE to my list of worries today lol. 'Tiss the snake season. But very happy with how I reacted -- clear, concise and no "panic" until after it was over.
Am I being a little brave or a little stupid?? That is the question I'm asking myself as I push into harder hikes.
Fingers crossed. I'll report back tomorrow ... later gators.
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