Because I am entertaining notions of hiking into and out of the Grand Canyon, I’ve started to get some hiking practice around here.
In late September, I went on a nine-mile hike at Moraine State Park with the fine folks from Venture Outdoors (see previous kayaking post). Then last Sunday, Oct. 12, I hauled myself out of bed and got to McConnells Mill State Park by 10 a.m. to tackle part of the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail. I put in five miles, walking along a short Hell’s Hollow Trail, then along Hell Run, and back.
Yesterday, Oct. 18, I went back to McConnells Mill and started at the opposite end of the park, along the Alpha Pass just north of the old mill. I trekked all the way to Walnut Flats and then back, about eight miles, I figured.
All three hikes wore me out. Both the McConnells Mill hikes were spectacular. The first was under a clear, blue sky, with the temperature somewhere in the mid- to upper 70s. The leaf colors were bright and beautiful. The second was a partly sunny day and much cooler, in the 50s. The colors were less vibrant, and leaves had started to fall. In fact, my quiet lunch break at Walnut Flats was occasionally interrupted by the thud of giant oak leaves landing on the water or on the rocks on the creek bank.
The toughest hiking was actually between the old mill and Eckerd Bridge. The trail is fairly flat, but parts of it are rocky and I needed to watch my step. It was especially tough on my way back because my legs were very tired by then.
The signs at the Slippery Rock Gorge Trail announce that it’s physically demanding, so I was pretty proud of myself for doing as well as I did! I’m planning to keep at it, even as the weather gets colder, but I’m going to look around for some loop trails that are more like five or six miles.
I’m not in Grand Canyon shape yet, but I’ve got a better idea of what it will take to get there.