<p>Well, the mountains kicked our butt! I am so sore; not just my legs, but my arms, shoulders, and pects as well. This was one steep hill. The route itself was an 11-mile loop; it was flat to an easy uphill grade for the first 2.5 miles. Then it was a moderate uphill for another mile. Then....1600 feet in 1.2 mile....ouch! It was just shy of a technical climb with lots of exposure on steep rock and I was quite certain I would either die or suffer from great physical pain. (The route follows an old land-slide). At the top of the slide, the trail continued very steeply through the woods to the summit. Spectacular views from the top of the slide, I might add. We then crossed all three summits of this mountain, with only two counting toward the 4000-footer list as the southernmost peak does not have the requisite elevation separation from its neighboring peak. Then....the route down from the South peak was another slide. This one was all loose talus for about a mile. I was walking like a drunkard over the last two miles. I guess you could call it fun, though! </p>
<p>Last night we were still tired from our hike, so we grilled out and enjoyed the Sox (Red) game. Tonight we are going to catch our local public hs soccer game (where my son attended last year) and then might hop over to the local state college to see a game as well (we know two boys on the team). We are so addicted to watching our kids play sports, it's hard not to have that going on right now. They literally never stopped, with activities every night. We are just not used to not having somewhere to drive! (Of course, this is temporary while we wait for their school sports to begin).</p>
<p>We have not heard from my bs son since Sunday and mr. lyme is quite distraught. I am less distraught, but slightly baffled. Has he lost his cell phone? Does his computer not work? His sister (at college) has phoned several times; she has not heard from him either. He has never been a caller, though, and has been away several times before. I can only assume that he is busy and all is well. Anyone else experience a freshman who doesn't call much?</p>