Crystal clear blue sky, Mt. Rainier

 Today was trash clean up on the lower portion of the logging road. I brought 4 grocery bags, filled 1 with cans for recycling and 3 with trash. It took forever to get to the end of the trail. I like having the trail clean, but I can't say I really like picking up trash. It just shouldn't be there, so I pick it up. And another thing, while we're at it, I don't actually enjoy hiking. I keep telling myself that I do, but right now it's just a way to exercise. So, part of my learning to like hiking is to count the reasons "I like hiking:"

1. It's exercise. I sweat, I raise my heart rate, I move my arms and legs and I cover ground.
2. It's close to my home. Minimal travel time for a lot of hikes. I've been doing the forest treadmill, steep trail (see photo above) but there are longer trails with less elevation gain, too.
3. It's free.
4. It gives me a sense of accomplishment.
5. It wears out my dog. She loves it.
6. It helps me sleep better at night and awakened refreshed in the morning.
7. It helps me appreciate nature, to enjoy the lush greenery.
8. It's challenging.
9. I can breathe fresh air during my hikes.
10. I detox from electronics, civilization and stuff.

If I don't yet like hiking, but I'm hoping I will like it soon. I would still rather be laying in the sun or taking a nap or swimming. 

Dr. Oz Smoothie ingredients, modified

Dr. Oz Smoothie ingredients, modified

So, I've been trying out the 15-day detox, recommended by Dr. Oz breakfast smoothie with a few modifications for personal reasons and deliciousness. Here's the adjusted recipe:

1. 1/2 cup of berries
2. 1/2 banana
3. 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
4. 1TB Hershey's baking cocoa
5. 1 tsp cinnamon
6. 2 TB All Whites 100% egg whites
7. 1/2 cup Fage Greek yogurt
8. 2 TB ground flax seed
9. 1/2 cup water

This is an enjoyable way to start the day. As far as the heated water/lemon, I drink the heated water with 1/2 lemon and try to choke down the lemon because I can't stomach eating the lemon by itself. I am having success with some weight loss, which is nice. I'm also very grateful to be off sugar. With the detox eliminating all sugars, it also removes the cravings. You know, the irrational, insatiable cravings that make me eat everything in sight without regard to any consequences. And without a desire to stop. I have wanted to be off sugar for so long. I've read how to quit sugar ebooks, several medical texts and endless research on the topic. It seems so impossible that removing a toxin, which happens to be present in nearly everything, could have such instant and impressive results. I know what I must do. I must stay off sugar forever. For me, there is no half-way with it. It takes over my desires and my inhibitions. I make promises to never have it again, only to forget, slip up, give myself a treat, etc. The most frequent way I get hooked again, is with the false claim that I'm buying it for the kids, for Randy. Then, my mind justifies when I consume it, saying, "I deserve it." What I truly deserve is treating myself right. I deserve the best. We all deserve the best. 

Looking uphill at my forest treadmill

Roxy, always on the hunt.

Forest treadmill, going downhill

Only once have I worn my HR monitor but it gave me enough information to know that this hill is a burner. I could feel it in my butt and my heart was racing. It felt good. I was actually able to jog a good portion of the trail. Next time, I will bring more trash bags for the lower part of the trail as I went down the logging road yesterday and carried as much as I could in my hands and arms,  but there was still more. Why don't people respect nature? Leave no trace?

Peterman Hill on a clear day

Hannah Bliss on a not quite clear day

Roxy, striking a pose

2014-06-20 Went hiking with Hannah and Roxy to the top of Peterman Hill after I gave her all of my swim coaching books. Time to pass the torch. It was definitely bittersweet because I LOVE SWIMMING. But, in order to move forward to pursue my dream of becoming a physical therapist, I had to give it up. I'm so thankful that Hannah was ready to take over the team. What a blessing!

Island in Packwood Lake

After enduring a 4 mile hike (I know, it's not much) with the gigantic pack on my back, I finally reached the lake. The breathtaking beauty left me speechless. To say it was worth the hike would be an understatement. However, I am not practiced or used to hauling a 30+lb pack on my back. I felt like I was 100 years old! When I reached the camping spot, I was so relieved to jettison my pack, I restrained the urge to toss it in the lake, instead setting up camp and cooking dinner.

 Borrowed tent.

Shameless JetBoil advertisement.

Look, where there's smoke, there's FIRE!

If all of this outdoorsy, nature girl looks completely natural, it shouldn't. I have never camped by myself. I've never packed in a HUGE pack and stayed the night anywhere. Nope, just car camping for me which I no longer am interested in...I mean what's the point? Drive somewhere, set up a tent, pay to stay (usually), then reverse. Oh, and the noise you escape from your city or small town is replaced by the noisy, rowdy campers in the campsite next to you. Relaxing? Hardly. So, this attempt at getting away was the first of its kind in my life. No cell phone. No electronic devices. Just me and the dog. Of course, a girlfriend was supposed to come,  but I wasn't cancelling just because she did! The mashed potatoes were delicious, while the chicken was a little dry and rubbery. Roxy loved it though! I would never even attempt this type of thing before today. I just decided to do it. I had to borrow the tent from Paul, the sleeping bag/pad from Tyler, the backpack & JetBoil from Randy and I bought a hatchet, flick-n-flame, firestarter and citronella candle on my way there. I also opted for the annual Northwest Forest Pass because 1 night/2 days would have cost me $10.

Temperature: 60 degrees

I didn't bring my wetsuit this time, but I will when Randy and I go later in the summer. (Or maybe, I'll risk just wearing a swimsuit.) I'll talk him into carrying the tent. It seriously almost broke my back in two. Not joking! I'm still hobbling around the house and could barely get from the car to the front porch without dying. I will bring less stuff next time. Like, how about just the camel back? I know I could handle it then ;)

Gorgeous view of Mt. Rainier from the trail

Unlikely to see this mileage again, coming down from Packwood Lake parking lot in 3rd gear.

Let me just say something about the condition of the road. It's BAD. Lots of potholes, sinkholes and treacherous regions. At times, the middle dotted line is just wishful thinking as the road narrows to just over the comfortable width of one lane. Please go 25-30mph on this road. There are trucks towing horses that take up the ENTIRE road, minivans driving like it's the INDY500 and like I said before, BAD road conditions. Stay safe.

The hike is really mild without a 30lb pack. But for me, the pack nearly killed me. My hip bones are bruised, the muscles in my hips and lower back are super sore and like I said before, I am hobbling around like an old lady. Time for a nap.

Garbage on the trail

Sadly, I did not memorialize the three large garbage sacks full of trash that I hauled off the trail today. Fortuitously, I ran into a friend and her two daughters and they helped collect the rubbish and carry it to the intersection of the road and the trail. I hiked the rest of the trail sans bags then zipped up the treacherous road to capture the load then deposit it into our dumpster at the shop. I would have liked to recycle some of the aluminum cans, but they were moss-covered and filled with dirt so I let them go.

Sorry, no photos today. The area sure looked amazing without the garbage. Yeah me! and my helpers, too!

Top of the world views

 Mount Rainier from the top of Peterman Hill

Roxy looking out at the view

Me and my hiking buddy

It's getting easier to pump out a 1-2 hour hike with little problems except the cardiovascular and sweating issues when it's a direct 1.5mile steep incline. I couldn't believe the view today. It was amazing!

Enjoying the view from the top of Peterman Hill. There's Morton and Mount Rainier, too.