Take a Hike!

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7922963766289047218.post-49768147010457033682008-11-09T18:04:00.012-05:002008-11-09T18:53:16.984-05:002008-11-09T18:53:16.984-05:00Take a Hike!We have a new family activity that we "enjoy" on Sunday afternoons. We go hiking at <a href="http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/crmo/main.php">Crowder's Mountain.</a> Today was our second time. Did I mention that one of us is really out of shape? And doesn't like heights. One of us was also perfectly happy to take the easy little Fern Trail, but nooooo. Everyone else insisted that we hike up Pinnacle Trail. Pinnacle? Pinnacle? What's a pinnacle? That's what I was thinking all the way up. It must mean killer cardio workout all the way up and jelly legs on the way down. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266799013876860994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdtzGWCCEI/AAAAAAAAAh4/OH6PYwCbSXQ/s320/DSC01261.JPG" border="0" /> Tree hugger! One in every crowd! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266799436058283810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRduLrF7TyI/AAAAAAAAAiA/F1NKMZkC4YA/s320/DSC01253.JPG" border="0" /> Yikes! Does that sign say something about death????? <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266799841457383922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdujRUmqfI/AAAAAAAAAiI/0KqEuKOcczQ/s320/DSC01251.JPG" border="0" /> Thank goodness I had my strong, brave daughter so she could run off and leave me. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266800251883659490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdu7KR2oOI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/01YqX8OmrUs/s320/DSC01252.JPG" border="0" /> Whew! The end of the trail! 1.7 miles straight up! I found this tree to collapse on. Just a few more rocks to scale and we'll be at that pinnacle thingy. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266800657770931522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdvSyU65UI/AAAAAAAAAiY/tEvMCKxR26M/s320/DSC01254.JPG" border="0" /> The view from 1705 feet: <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266801053715018578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdvp1VWM1I/AAAAAAAAAig/BVcxrbSCiVU/s320/DSC01255.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266801412797249826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdv-vBOOSI/AAAAAAAAAio/qW43RYS2pUY/s320/DSC01256.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266801960268592738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdwemgj9mI/AAAAAAAAAiw/RhpL2Xuv2Ls/s320/DSC01258.JPG" border="0" />Don't let anybody fool you. It's crowded at the top. Apparently, everyone had the same idea today. I might have enjoyed the view a whole lot more if people weren't letting their preschoolers explore the pinnacle WITHOUT AN ADULT BESIDE THEM! The parents didn't seem to mind, but I was frantic. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266805159976356930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_oyUuQqckQx0/SRdzY2WVzEI/AAAAAAAAAi4/CGPVQR9kB-A/s320/DSC01259.JPG" border="0" /> Of course, no challenge is complete without a treat at the end. You didn't think I did this for nothing did you? I can't think of anything better than looking out over the autumn colors of the county on a crisp, sunny afternoon while munching on a doughnut or six. I figure I burned a million calories on the way up that mountain anyway. <img class="centered" alt="post signature" src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh102/extragrace/bonita%20lillie/bonita_signature.jpg" />Bonitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13945043297139219733noreply@blogger.com10