<p>Here’s the YouTube photo show of my first day’s hike. Just a bunch of waterfalls on the Falling Waters Trail in Franconia Notch. As you can see, the weather was off the charts. As usual there’s a high def version of the video for full screen…</p>
<p>I had done this hike last September, but it was close to my campground and short enough just to the top of Cloudland falls, so I could get camp set up in time to shower and make it to dinner in a warm restaurant!</p>
<p>It is a spectacular bit of trail.</p>
<p>It was pretty noticeable how much better I am at hiking now compared to a year ago. Especially noticeable walking from rock to rock or balancing on rocks crossing streams. Also better at picking out a path – the idea is to find intermediate rocks that minimize how much you step up or down on each step.</p>
<p>MOfWC, I was able to open the link, thanks! I guess, as long as they are moving and not sitting in front of the computer 24/7, good for them! And more medals for us, geezers!! :D</p>
<p>I actually passed somebody going uphill on the third day. (I think she had left her walker in the car…)</p>
<p>One of the interesting things about the “easy” hikes is that you get a broad cross section of hikers, including tourists who see a “1.5 mile” hike to a waterfall for even better a 1/2 mile hike to a waterfall and give it a go. And, yes, these hikes are easy in terms of distance, but the trails are just as rough. It’s a real shock.</p>
<p>The poor lady I passed was 1/4 mile into a half mile hike to Ripley Falls. About 400 feet of elevation gain right from the car. I was huffin and puffin. She was wearing those orthopedic white nurses shoes. Even older than me. Heavy. Really struggling. She had sent her husband on ahead to see if they were almost there. I checked the Garmin and told them it was about halfway and I think they (wisely) turned around. I don’t think she would have made it. Saw another elderly tourist couple (sneakers, khakis) from Illinois and commiserated with them. These trails are demoralizing the first time out. </p>
<p>Saw another lady hiking that trail in Mary Jane flats. I just scratch my head. My leather hiking boots are gouged top to bottom from the rocks.</p>
<p>And I officially saw the craziest hiking outfit ever. Long flowing ankle-length “hippie” skirt and high cut [LL</a> Bean duck boots](<a href=“http://s10.postimg.org/7592b06e1/ll_bean_duck_boot.jpg]LL”>http://s10.postimg.org/7592b06e1/ll_bean_duck_boot.jpg). I like my Bean duck boots as well as anyone, but those things are made for puddle jumping, not hiking. The rubber boots would rub your poor foot raw on those trails. Yikes. And, a long skirt?</p>
<p>Lots of groups of teens/college age types this week, many with pink hair. Some smoking weed. More power to 'em. I need all my remaining wits about me just to stay upright, which I managed to do all week (with a couple of hiking pole saves).</p>
<p>Haven’t posed in awhile. Been cranking it up again with am and pm runs. Went to a HIT class yesterday and my hips and legs are crying. Have a 5k in 2 weeks and hoping to get in the 19s.</p>
<p>MOWC - don’t necessarily agree with the writer. Our US middle distance runners have been the best we’ve seen in 30 years.</p>
<p>I keep tabs on the Over-50 Hiking Group with an eye towards joining them for another hike. But, every time they do one that I like, they have 20 or 30 people signed up. It’s just ridiculous to hike in a group like that – particularly because their policy is start together, stay together, finish together. So it’s like a boy scout outing…</p>
<p>There were a LOT of people on the trails this week. Picture postcard weather and I was on pretty popular trails.</p>
<p>Sometimes I wish I lived a little closer to NH, I am just a little too far away to do day hikes in southern New Hampshire. The scenery is amazing.</p>
<p>I think I’ve got my next race selected, early October. Haven’t officially committed yet. That, and am working on setting up a day trip down to see my daughter. :)</p>
<p>Cruised a few stores today. Didn’t make any athletic attire investments. It’s nice to have enough of a running wardrobe in place now that I can supplement or replace items if I want but have basics I need already for the most part.</p>
<p>That’s because I only did the first half of it! It continues (relentlessly) on beyond the top of the falls to a 5000+ foot ridge. 3 miles and 3000 feet of elevation gain to the top of the trail, where it meets the Appalachian Trail for a breathtaking run along the ridge across three summits.</p>
<p>These are both in the Crawford Notch, just south of the Bretton Woods Mt. Washington Hotel and its stunning views of Mt. Washington and the mountains I’ve been climbing this past month or so.</p>
<p>idad, I think long skirts are the outfits of choice for hippies hiking the Kalalau trail. They are usually paired with vibrams, flip flops or bare feet. Duck boots - that’a a new one; have not seen anyone hiking in those, not in HI, not here in my neck of the woods.</p>
<p>“I actually passed somebody going uphill on the third day. (I think she had left her walker in the car…)”</p>
<p>Oh c’mon, you! I’m sure she was very fit!
Gorgeous video, wow. It just makes me keep thinking, ahhh…got to do more now before the ugly weather hits. So beautiful now, but before you know it, so miserable.</p>
<p>“And I officially saw the craziest hiking outfit ever. Long flowing ankle-length “hippie” skirt and high cut LL Bean duck boots.”</p>
<p>I’m sure my mother (avid hiker for 50 years) would much rather see that than the couple of naked guys (no doubt nutso) that she’s run into!</p>
<p>Did some rock climbing today, actually completed a V2…which I have never done before. There were several times I looked at a route and thought, there is no way I can physically do that…jumped for it, or barely caught with my fingers, and made it to the top. I love trying things that I doubt I can do, and sometimes accomplish them. It is very rewarding.</p>
<p>Oh, no. She looked like one of those ladies riding around the grocery store on the electric cart… I felt bad for her. She was really struggling. A little half mile stroll to a pretty waterfall seems so simple in the tourist guidebook. But, that half mile had 400 feet of elevation gain and the usual terrible rocks and roots. Of course, they had no water, etc, etc.</p>
<p>She was dead in the water at the bottom of a 20 inch step up from the ground to a tree root. That’s when I made the official pass! :)</p>
<p>I ran into her poor husband a couple hundred yards up the trail. She had sent him on to see if the falls were right around the next bend in the trail…</p>
<p>It really makes me appreciate this whole fitness thing. Wish I had figured it out a lot sooner…</p>
<hr>
<p>BTW, I have to confess to fast food carbs once this week. On day three, after packing up camp, I wanted to get a move on to fit in both hikes and a 2.5 hour drive home, so sitting in a restaurant for breakfast was valuable time. So I ate a Mickey D’s chicken sandwich in the car on the 30 minute drive to the trail head. It didn’t kill me. It was funny, though… I could distinctly taste the sweetness of the sugar in the bun.</p>
<p>See, you passed two people! Better than you thought. Yeah, it sure is easier when you start younger, that’s for sure. And I think after all that hiking, a little bit of junk food ain’t gonna kill you!</p>
<p>And, that’s on top of the girl I passed last spring on Modandock. The poor girl had fallen and sprained her ankle and was waiting for the rangers to arrive with crutches. I left her in my dust. :)</p>
<p>Wow, that little girl in the first video is either going to grow up to be a hiker bar none…or will hate hiking completely and take up a sedentary hobby makes you recall how much fun it is to be a kid, and be agile, and not think about the next mile until you’re cooked!</p>
<p>Great hikes. I’d be crab walking down the whole thing. I’ve got up down, but don’t have down down, so to speak, even on my comparatively little hill! </p>
<p>DeborahT, many years ago I wrote an article about the benefits of hydrotherapy. And then promptly bought myself my first hot tub. The fact that I will un-complainingly drop 800 on a new pump when I’ve dumped cars for less indicates my “loyalty” to hottubing. Especially on winter mornings while its still dark and the sky is clear, or even when its snowing. I joke about it being my warm up, but it actually does loosen me up to put on the snowshoes and hit the hill! Best investment ever!</p>
<p>I do, though, tend to use it before exercise, not immediately after. Too hot. But it’s great for DOMS later on.</p>
makes you recall how much fun it is to be a kid, and be agile, and not think about the next mile until you’re cooked!</p>![http://s10.postimg.org/7592b06e1/ll_bean_duck_boot.jpg]LL](http://s10.postimg.org/7592b06e1/ll_bean_duck_boot.jpg%5DLL){kind=link}
