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Sunday, April 6th, 2008
How it all began
As my husband once reported when I was being roasted at a birthday celebration several years ago... "Leslie used to think that a hike was the trip from the parking lot into the mall". One day eight years ago everything changed. I was invited to join a group of women as a guest on a day hike. The hike was about an hour's drive away and it got me thinking about all of the potential hikes that might be available closer to home. I suggested to my girlfriend Cindy (who was a fitness nut) that we start up a hiking group through our local recreation department. We bought a couple of guidebooks, tacked up a couple of flyers around town, and figured it would be fine if nobody showed up and we went by ourselves. It was a shock when eighteen women were waiting for us at the first trailhead. The group continued to expand. Word got out and friends broughts friends and they brought friends. It was a blast! Occasionally a man would show up and they were always welcome, but trail conversation was usually about kids, sex, menopause and men trouble. We didn't have many that came for a second hike. The hikes ran for 8 weeks in the spring and 8 weeks in the fall and only pouring rain would cause a cancellation. The first three years we never repeated a hike. That tells you how many trails we have in our area. We had an eight year run.
Sadly, two years ago my hike leading partner and I both took full time jobs that left no time to continue to lead the group. I am happy to report that we raised happy, healthy, competent hikers who continue to hike without us. I am now a mostly weekend hiker and most of my vacations revolve around the pastime.
How it all began
As my husband once reported when I was being roasted at a birthday celebration several years ago... "Leslie used to think that a hike was the trip from the parking lot into the mall". One day eight years ago everything changed. I was invited to join a group of women as a guest on a day hike. The hike was about an hour's drive away and it got me thinking about all of the potential hikes that might be available closer to home. I suggested to my girlfriend Cindy (who was a fitness nut) that we start up a hiking group through our local recreation department. We bought a couple of guidebooks, tacked up a couple of flyers around town, and figured it would be fine if nobody showed up and we went by ourselves. It was a shock when eighteen women were waiting for us at the first trailhead. The group continued to expand. Word got out and friends broughts friends and they brought friends. It was a blast! Occasionally a man would show up and they were always welcome, but trail conversation was usually about kids, sex, menopause and men trouble. We didn't have many that came for a second hike. The hikes ran for 8 weeks in the spring and 8 weeks in the fall and only pouring rain would cause a cancellation. The first three years we never repeated a hike. That tells you how many trails we have in our area. We had an eight year run.
Sadly, two years ago my hike leading partner and I both took full time jobs that left no time to continue to lead the group. I am happy to report that we raised happy, healthy, competent hikers who continue to hike without us. I am now a mostly weekend hiker and most of my vacations revolve around the pastime.
12 Comments
dannie Sunday, April 6, 2008
Leslie Sunday, April 6, 2008 dannie Sunday, April 6, 2008 Leslie Sunday, April 6, 2008 dannie Sunday, April 6, 2008 Leslie Sunday, April 6, 2008 dannie Sunday, April 6, 2008
Biker Ben Monday, April 7, 2008
Angi Monday, April 7, 2008 Leslie Monday, April 7, 2008
SallyPants Tuesday, April 8, 2008
girlcarew Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1) Wow-that's great. Hopefully, when you retire you can resume your hiking adventures. We had some beautiful trails near us when we lived in Pisgah Forest-the water falls are unbelievable-I'm beginning to miss the mountains more and more.
dannie Sunday, April 6, 20082) I hiked in the Pisgah Forest last year. It is absolutely gorgeous!
Leslie Sunday, April 6, 20083) Glad to know you come our way. Hope we can meet one of these days.
dannie Sunday, April 6, 20084) I had never been to North Carolina. We drove our daughter to Spartenberg (SC) for college. She isn't there anymore which is disappointing because I was looking forward to exploring the south and seeing more of the Smokey and Blue Ridge Mountains.
Leslie Sunday, April 6, 20085) We have plenty of room and love company-the door is always open(that's true for sure here we never lock our doors.)
dannie Sunday, April 6, 20086) We don't lock our doors either. I figure is someone wants in they will find a way. We also have the two killer dogs that would lick any intruder to death.
Leslie Sunday, April 6, 20087) Baby dog just says, "Come on in , I"ll show you where the good stuff is."Although the 3 killer attack cats are another story...
dannie Sunday, April 6, 20088) Maybe you can fly out to Springfield and do some hiking.....i think today I felt an elevation change of about 4-5 feet......after driving for 20 minutes.
Biker Ben Monday, April 7, 20089) In my younger days, I used to hike in the Sierra Nevadas near my place in California. Has anyone ever done the Appalachian Trail? I had a friend who took a year off to do the whole thing, and she's never regretted it, but said it was rough going some weeks. I think she also went from a size 18/20 to a size 6 over that year; now, that's a weight-loss plan!
Angi Monday, April 7, 200810) I have hiked small sections of the AT just in CT and Mass. If you ever want to read a laugh out loud book read A walk in The Woods by Bill Bryson. Two overweight , out of shape, middle age men decide to hike the AT from Georgia to Maine. It is the story of who they met on the trail and the trials and tribulations of the adventure. They too got quite thin.
Leslie Monday, April 7, 200811) Neat story & cool header! Can someone with serious arachnophobia become a hiker?
SallyPants Tuesday, April 8, 200812) What a great story. i'd love to have been part of that hiking group. I love camping, hiking, and, mostly, backpacking. I am counting the days until my boys are old enough to do some good hikes. We do short ones now. I think it's great that you still do it, even if it's as a weekender. It's a great hobby! If you are ever in California, I'd be happy to show you some good hikes (and good redwoods!).
girlcarew Wednesday, April 9, 2008Leave a Comment
