Hiking: Start 'em Young!

Sure I am into all the outdoorsy stuff, but when it comes to kids activities, I honestly believe that hiking is one of the best.  Besides being something to get them outside doing something that isn't dependent on wifi, there are lots of other great attributes:

1) Ages 2 Plus.  If they are steady on their feet, they can hike.  First it might be some short nature trails and then you can work your way up slowly.  In the toddler years it was walking around on farmland.  When Brody was four years old he could do 2 to 3 solid miles at Ijam's Nature Center in Knoxville with not much elevation gain.  When he was five years old he could walk about every trail in Pinson Mounds State Park over the course of an afternoon.   On his first hike in the Smokies (six years old) along the Appalachian Trail, he did around 6 miles with about 1,200 feet in elevation. 

 

AT White Blaze!!!

2) Super Safe. There are no vehicles, which means you can pretty much let them loose.  Even when you walk on greenways, you have to worry about bicycles.  On trails, they can run wide open and you don't have to worry about collisions.

Just Keep 'em in Between the Adults

3) Low Barrier to Entry. It you possess shoes, you are already well outfitted.  Throw a small day pack on to carry some snacks and water and you can stay out as long as you could possibly want to.

4) Super Cheap.  Every parent has had the experience of spending some ridiculous amount of money to go somewhere or do something that has been a total bust.  Because hiking essentially is free, it is all upside.  Even if the outing is a total disaster, at worst you took a short road trip to a park or trail.  

So remember, pack something warm to wear and plenty of snacks and drinks to eliminate potential for whining.  Actually, you probably won't encounter much whining.  I have been in the woods with three and four years olds that whined significantly less than most adults I have taken on trips.  It is always embarrassing when you see a 30 year old ask to be carried after they run out of chocolate chip cookies.  

Back in the Woods and the Three Syllable Months

I know I am not alone in deeming Fall as my favorite season.  It is hard to pin down a specific reason why. The relief from the horrible humidity is a big part.  It is nice to go for a 30 minute run and not sweat for two hours afterward.  I am not into pumpkin spice, but I do enjoy Sam Adam’s Oktoberfest.  Sure there is football.  Even if your team has a bad season, it makes you feel better about paying for cable.  Sure there is Halloween.  Which, in my opinion, is so enjoyable because it is a holiday about actually having fun.  There is no deep religious or political meaning to fight over.  It is just stupid fun, which is something this world needs more of.  And of course there is Thanksgiving, another great holiday built around the great American past time of over eating, and not ruined with commercialization, presents, or ridiculous pictures for social media.

But for me, the best thing about Fall is getting back in the woods again.  In the South, Spring does not come slowly.  On the last weekend in March, you are walking around the woods and notice a few sprigs of green shooting out from under the brown carpet of leaves.  One week later there are fresh briars and poison ivy exploding in every sunny spot, and there are mosquitoes swarming in every shady spot.  The undergrowth grows and grows.  In a few weeks corn is planted, and in a few more weeks the soybeans go in.  Getting out in nature off the well-worn path just becomes more and more difficult and unpleasant, until eventually you just go to the pool.

But in the last week or so of August, if you know what to look for, you see the change coming.  You see the undergrowth dying back.  High in the tops of the trees, there are a few leaves turning.  You find a yellow tulip poplar leaf on your windshield.  Even some of the poison ivy patches are starting to turn red.  The nights are coming back.  And then there is that first morning with a low in the 50’s, and you breathe that first breath of cool air that has touched your lungs since late April.  The fields start to be harvested and the trails are tromped down again.  It is time to explore. 

So whether you hunt or hike or fish or mountain bike, this is the time to dive back in.  This is the time to remember what it is like to stand under the trees and listen to the wind.  This is the time to enjoy the sunshine instead of hiding from it.  Football is great, but let’s not waste too much time inside. And yes, there are still some hot days and bugs left, but seriously, what else are you going do?  The pool is closing anyway.  

Mountaineering: Yes We Can!

As long as I have been hiking, I have been drawn to the pursuit of peak bagging, or standing on the tallest place around.  And as long as I have been peak bagging, I have been drawn to bigger and bigger mountains, which eventually entered the realm of mountaineering.  Some people say the phrase "mountaineering" or "mountain climbing" and they get these visions of climbing Everest or K2.  Some people would consider the Chimney Tops trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a mountain climb.  The distinction between hiking and mountain climbing is a very blurry one.  Because I have had the opportunity to dwell on the matter through miles and miles of weary trail, I have decided that the distinction depends on either the use of your hands for rock scrambling and/or the presence of  real seriousness.  The scrambling part is easy to understand. The seriousness part will be quickly be discovered the first time you go up the hill.  On a mountain climb, time is serious.  Of course additionally, water is serious.  Food is serious.  Gear is serious.  Physical conditioning is serious.  Weather is serious.  Planning is serious.  Navigation is serious.  I don't know of another physical endeavor that challenges your physical strength, mental acuity, and general courage the same way that a big mountain does.  I like to describe it as running a marathon, while playing a game of chess, and being chased by a grizzly bear.  Hey, this is fun stuff! 

Anyway, I know it might be easy to look at the pictures from some of these mountain trips and think it looks intimidating.  But it really shouldn't be.  I am a believer that the mountains have something to offer everyone.  So here are a few pointers for anyone wanting to give it a try.  There is great mountaineering country all over the western U.S. (Rockies, Sierras, Cascades), but the rest of this is a little Colorado-centric because I have the most experience there.   

1) Mostly, it is just typical hiking.  When you start reading about the routes up various mountains, they will be likely described with the YDS, Yosemite Decimal System.  The YDS uses the terms Class 1, Class 2 and 2 +, Class 3, Class 4, and Class 5.1 and up.  Class 4 and Class 5.1 and higher are typically the realm of technical climbing using protection and ropes.  Unless you have specialized skills, you should stay off these routes.  You can summit almost all of the 14,000 ft mountains in Colorado without touching a Class 4 or higher route. 

The break down is such:

Class 1:  That is a trail like every other trail you have been on.  Even the standard routes on the "hardest" mountains will be usually be mostly Class 1 on the lower parts.  In fact, on many mountains you could just follow the Class 1 trail as high as it goes and get a pretty good adventure out of it.  And there are many Colorado 14ners with Class 1 trails all the way to the top.

Class 2:  This is off trail hiking, typically through loose rock called talus or larger boulders.  Occasionally you might put your hand down for balance, but it is really mostly rock hopping. 

                               The "Trough" on Longs Peak

Class 2+: This is using your hands for hand holds and making basic climbing moves.  The holds are easy to find and most people feel comfortable facing out when descending.

                         Old Rag in Shenandoah National Park

Class 3: This is using your hands for hand holds and making basic climbing moves.  The holds are still easy to find, but the conditions are such that most people feel comfortable facing in when descending.

                               Estes Cone near Estes Park, CO

2) The gear is really simple.  If you already hike or do almost anything outside, you already probably have the clothes.  A synthetic fleece and a Gore-Tex shell is mainly all you need.  You always need the rain gear no matter what the temperature.  The shoes can be trail runners, trail shoes, or boots. Your day pack doesn't have to be anything special, but I like anything that holds a camel-bak or something similar to make drinking easier (good hydration is a defense against altitude sickness).   For longer climbs, I am a big believer in trekking poles.  When hiking in the east, I have never bothered much with them.  But when you are high above the tree line in the thin air with shaky legs, you will appreciate the extra stability and the almost "4wd motion".

I haven't really mentioned snow, because for most big mountains in the Rockies and Sierras, if you go in the peak climbing season, Mid-July through Mid-September, you won't encounter much snow.  If you do go during the spring or early summer, you may encounter a significant amount of snow.  If it isn't that steep or deep, you will be ok with just your trekking poles and maybe snow baskets on the ends.  If the snow gets more serious, you will need gaiters, extra traction (mirco-spikes or crampons), and a basic mountaineering ice ax.  Snow climbing skills can be learned quickly by taking a simple snow school that is mandatory on a guided climb.  The Cascades are a great place to learn this stuff because of the amount of snow they receive. 

3) Pictures can be really, really deceiving.  Honestly, this is one of those things that you will only understand after going out a few times.  It is really easy to look at some pictures and think things look super easy.  Most likely they ain't.  And on the other hand it is really easy to look at some pictures and think something is crazy impossible.  Most likely it ain't either.  I have learned this lesson the hard way (the main way I learn lessons) and I will always pick the easiest route the first time I visit a mountain.  You can read all the guides and look at all the pictures but until you stand there in person it is all academic.

               It just looks like a snowy hill behind me, but that
                         is Mt. Hood.  Spoiler alert: It is not easy 

                       This is the Home Stretch on Longs Peak. 
                   I always thought this picture made it look crazy.  
                                  It really wasn't that bad.

4) It really isn't that dangerous.  I know I mentioned that "being chased by a grizzly bear" part, but when you really drill down to it, it isn't more dangerous than probably ten other activities you do already.  Lot of things are dangerous.  Lawn mowers are dangerous.  Boats are dangerous.  Shooting is dangerous.  Cooking with a propane grill is dangerous.  Don't even get me started on driving.  Just like all that other stuff, you just have to be careful and respectful of where you are and what you are doing.  If you take it serious and be careful, you have a much greater chance of getting hit by a car in the trail head parking lot than you do of something happening on the actual mountain.  

Anyway, if you find yourself out west near some big'uns, and the season is right, give it shot.  Keep putting one foot in front of the other.  Even if you don't make it anywhere near the top, you will get some cool pictures for social media.  And isn't that the whole point of doing anything???? 

                          Because this shot wasn't staged at all

Trout Fishing. Yes We Can!

When I was a kid I remember watching A River Runs Through It and being amazed at the whole concept of trout fishing.  Of course there was the whole fly rod theatrical stuff, but I was also amazed at the idea of standing in a rushing river of clear water with rocky shores and fishing for something that seemed so exotic as a trout.  Growing up in West Tennessee, we fish for crappie, brim, perch, large mouth bass, and catfish.  Those fish are all fine for eating, but trout were served on menu's in fancy places, like Red Lobster.  Also, I grew up fishing in lakes, ponds, and Tennessee River backwater, all still water with very limited visibility below the surface.  The whole idea of fishing in a river where you could possibly see what you were catching before you had it almost next to you seemed exotic as well.  And even if I never caught a fish I just liked the idea of trying for it. I have always liked to stand or walk near rivers.  On backpacking and hiking trips, my favorite trails are the ones that follow rivers and streams.

So I am writing this from a base level of total ignorance. Everything I have learned over these past couple of trips on the Elk river has been through complete trial and error.  So here are a few of the things I have discovered along the way.

1) The fly rod stuff is not necessary and you won't be out of place if you don't fish that way.  Fly fishing is like learning to play the piano.  If you don't have the time and a place to practice, it is going to be pretty hard to just pick up, and it is probably not worth buying entirely new gear if you are only going to be around trout one or two times a year.  All you really need is a normal rod and spinning reel set up and you will be fine.  There will be plenty of other folks using them.  The guys that are flying fishing will still look cooler though.

2) Trout streams are relatively easy to find.  Your state wildlife agency website will tell you where to find them.  The main reason for that is because they want to sell you a special license.  Most likely your normal fishing license is not going to cut it.  There probably are several options for the trout "stamp", from day permits, to all species endorsements, to maybe even special rates for tourist zones (in Tennessee, Gatlinburg has it's own special rate).

3) The best way to access them is from a canoe or kayak.  The public walk in accesses can be crowded, but if you have a way to stay mobile, you will have better luck.  Most trout rivers have canoe and kayak rental options if you don't have you own.

4) Lures are simple.  You will get a ton of advice, but from pure trial and error, I have seen that simple casting spoons and rooster tails work best.  If you don't live in an area with many trout streams, your local outdoor store will likely be stocked with 10,000 different kinds of bass lures.  You might be able to find rooster tails, but you will likely have to order spoons off the internet.  The big difference between these type of lures and bass lures is that trout are not going to be attracted to big, flashy, rattling, diving, swamp creatures like bass are.  Trout like simple and shiny.  If there is much current you will need 1/8th oz or heavier.  The really light lures get drug up to the surface in strong current.

If all else fails, you can cover a small hook with whole kernel corn, straight out of the can.

5) Trout are just fish.  They are not magical, they act like every other fish.  They find a place to not expend energy, they look around for food, then they strike.  The same concepts that apply to other sport fish work the same way.  Trout are going to find a hole or deep pool out of the current.  They might hide behind a large rock or a fallen tree.  When they see something that looks yummy near them, they will hit it hard.  The main thing to learn is how to deal with the current, which will just happen with practice.  Just keep putting your lures over the fishy looking places and they will find you.

So if you get a chance, give it a try.  If you catch a few that are eating size, grill them whole, over a wood fire.  I promise they will taste a lot better than the ones at Red Lobster.

The Not So Equinox

Everyone gets excited about the first day of Spring.  For a long time I thought that it finally meant that we would have more daylight than night, because the Equinox was the day of equal day and night.  But being the obsessive Weather Channel App user that I am, I noticed that the day of equal day and night happens a good week before the Equinox.  On the actual Equinox, hanging out with us folks on the 35th Latitude, sunrise is a 6:58 am and sunset is at 7:07 pm. What was up with that?  The quick answer is that the Equinox refers to the geometric center of the sun, which I assume that we are not supposed to ever look at.  In any event, here is an article that explains it much better than I can.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/equinox-not-equal.html

Late Winter Trail Running

Trail running was an easy thing to convince myself to get into because it seemed to combine two of my favorite activities, which are hiking and running.  But even if you are not a runner already, you should give it a try.   The most ardent runner in the world will have to admit that occasionally, running on the road/street/sidewalk, etc. can sometimes be really, really boring.  We all get in these ruts where we run the same routes on the same streets, over and over and over.  We get on auto pilot and sometimes mentally check out of the whole experience, or focus on some stupid output from a smart phone app, like our max heart rate by feet of elevation gain by seconds per lap.  I mean, you have to have something to post to Facebook right?  We pound on concrete for ten plus miles and then complain about foot pain, knee pain, and hip pain.

Trail running is a completely different experience.  In almost every big road race I have ran (half or full marathon) I have struggled with cramps in my legs.  But in trail races, I have never had a problem because in a trail run every foot fall is different.  Your muscles are getting stretched every which way, which is a good thing.  That is also a reason why I don’t deal with as many “runner pains” on the trail as I do on the road.  Having a much softer running surface makes a world of difference on your knees too.  Beyond less physical stress, your mind actually goes to work as well.  When terrain or trees are rushing past you, you actually feel like you are going somewhere, and you have to concentrate to place each step.  This is so much better than being stuck beside the same concrete rain gutter for ten miles, only occasionally stopping for an intersection or skipping around dog poo.  Beyond the tangible stuff, there is the spiritual side of it.  It just feels good to run through the woods.  As a human, you are made for running distance.  Other than horses and dogs, we are the best distance runners on the planet (although there is actually a horse versus human race in Wales every year and sometimes the human wins).  For tens of thousands of years, the main way our species hunted meat was to chase it down.  We are simply built to run long distances over rough terrain, even if there isn’t a Woolly Mammoth in front of us.  Trail running lets you connect with a little part of that.  

    

So if you ever wanted to try to trail run, this period of late February into early April is about the best time of year to give it a shot.  For the most part the brutal cold weather is moving out.  The briars and the poison ivy are as down as they are going to be.  The mosquitos, spider webs, chiggers, and ticks are as down as they are going to be.  The snake issue is reduced, but I keep my eyes on the trail anyway just in case there is an early riser.  If you have shoes, you have all the equipment you need.  Specialized trail runners are nice, but not really necessary.  The commitment barrier is low.  If you hate it, at worst you just wind up with an easy day hike.  So get out there while the conditions are good and give it a shot.  And if you spot a Woolly Rhinoceros, take ‘em down.  I have heard they are pretty tasty!

Where to go:

For Madison County folks, the trails at Union University, Fred Young Park, and Pinson Mounds State Park are all great places to go.  On March 11^th, there is a charity 5K race on the Youth Town trail which would be a good introduction to a trail race.  Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-town-hero-trail-5k-runhike-tickets-31852501690