End of August

I'm mostly recovered from my 10 mile hike on Aug 14th. My 2nd left toe is still horribly bruised but no longer hurts. I bought new sneakers and new light hikers in a larger size to prevent damaging the feet again. My heel tendons still don't want to stretch properly and cause me some pain when I get up from sitting a few minutes. I have to face up to the fact that a hike on the N-P trail is not going to happen this year. Randy and I head off to Arizona next week. I will do a little hiking there but at least at this point, we have no plans to do any major hiking.

Hike Aftermath

It's been 2 days since my 10 mile test hike. Not good. I really bruised my left 2nd toe. It hurts even to have my socks touch it let alone put it into my sneaker. My ankle tendons and heel tendons also hurt after a rest period. They warm up eventually but even so, what would they feel like after 16 miles with a 50 pound pack. I'm steeling myself for the realization that a Northville - Lake Placid hike will not happen in October. I've been totally bummed out all day. It may be that no major hiking will occur, ever. I'll hold off on that for awhile yet. Perhaps with the new inserts in my new sneakers, and some rest, my tendons will yet heal and I will eventually go backpacking.

Return to Wilcox Lake

My husband Randy and I just returned from a hike to Wilcox Lake. I hooked up with an over 50 hiking club. An informal group, they had scheduled this hike to Wilcox Lake and Tennant Falls. Some of the group went to the falls, a short, maybe 5 mile round trip hike. Two of the group, Cathy and Gail went with us to Wilcox Lake. Those ladies went like gangbusters. We left the trailhead at about 9:45 and were at the lake, 5 miles away at 12. After a lunch break we headed out again and were back at the car by 3:20. Cooking! My purpose in this hike was to see how my feet would do on a long hike. The left (previously broken) ankle did good, even after I stumbled really good on it on the way to the lake. My left heel tendons felt like they didn't want to stretch out. I made them do their job anyway. My right foot felt good. The only other problem is that I think the inserts are causing my toes to hit the front of the boot. The big toes and 2nd toes of each foot are bruised. Bad news. I will have to get new boots. Otherwise, I felt great and my feet are only a little tired. We did not take Spot. Her old legs are just too arthritic to take that long a hike now. She would have loved it but too much pain. Perhaps I can seriously consider doing the rest of the Northville-Lake Placid hike?