July 13, 2008
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A Freaking Big Dragon!
Yeah, I'm back at home sooner than expected. Way sooner.
I greatly underestimated the size of the dragon.
After 3 miles of uphill hiking, up a hill that never ended, I thought I was having a heart attack. Even after several half hour rests, I couldn't walk 10-20 steps without my heart rate skyrocketing, my chest getting tight, my blood pressure throbbing through my head, skipping beats, nausea, dizziness.... I kept stopping and leaning against trees, catching my breath, going another 10 or so steps to the next tree, leaning, feeling like my head was going to explode.
Not only was the dragon way freakin' bigger than expected, but my pack, with equipment, food, and water, weighed an unwieldly 50 lbs, at least. So I actually hiked 3 miles uphill with 50 lbs on my back, in addition to my own extra built-in baggage.
I really thought I was going to keel over. And I was barely halfway to my first planned campsite. I couldn't do it. I tried to stick it out, but I couldn't do it.
I took a side trail downhill and out to a road, managed to walk another mile down the road until I could get cell phone reception, and had my husband come retrieve me. That was 5 hours ago and I'm still shaky.
I'm disappointed, but I learned a lot. For one thing, I can't carry that much weight. I'll have to figure out what to cut back. Like, maybe only carry a couple days worth of food instead of the whole weeks worth. Secondly, I'll have to wait until I lose some of my own extra baggage. Third, I have to be in better aerobic shape, too.
I just wasn't up to it this time. Sorry guys.
I'll try again. In a while. Someday. When I'm more ready.
Comments (4)
Don't say "sorry" to us!!! You are an inspiration and what you learned this time is going to make your next attempt work out great!
Were you attempting the Dragon's Tooth in VA? Wow. That's pretty impressive. I just got off the phone with my boyfriend, who through-hiked the AT (a number of years ago
) and he said he remembers feeling like the uphill would never end on that particular stretch. Pack weight is about right for the AT, he said, so I'm not sure what you could eliminate there. He even cut off part of the handle of his toothbrush!
Finally, he said that hiking it is both an ordeal and a challenge and when he was finished, he had changed forever. We both wish you the best as you accept the physical and mental challenge that is the AT.
And the maternal quilter is absolutely correct--you're an inspiration! Keith and I discussed rehiking parts of the trail together last night--thanks to you!
@absintheandcinder - Thank you so much for the encouragement! I started at VA 522 and headed south. Took Harmony Hollow trail out and ended up on VA 601 and 604. I don't know if that's called a dragon's tooth or not, but wouldn't it be ironic that I chose the dragon metaphor for it without knowing.
The first time I tried a mile and a half of uphill like that, I was in the same boat. I went back and forth between wanting to puke and trying to get through heart palpitations that were debilitating. In the end, it was because I overestimated my ability. Like you, I wasn't really ready...and I was going way too fast, trying to make the hike in two minutes. That was just dumb. The next time I tried, I paced myself--didn't race, took a little more time, kept my pace steady. And I'd done some serious hiking up and down the hills in town. The next time, I made it with no problem.
You will too!