Extreme Hiking Boot Camp ...... WOW

A week or so ago, my sweet partner in crime asked me if I would hike with her. I never say no to 't'. She thought maybe The Hornsbees (my other partner in crime and sith) would want to go too. She had it on her mind to hike to El Lieutenant.

This is the information that 't' provided about the hike:

El Lieutenant is a huge rock dome at an elevation of 3,048 feet. It is a smaller version of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Trail: 4.6 miles
difficulty: Very Strenuous.
Conditions are rugged, traffic is light.
Recommended for experienced hikers. (lol)
Elevation drops about 1000 feet and then regains the 1000 feet (it's a loop). Table rock has a 2,000 foot elevation gain, so it won't be as bad as that!
This loop is a combination between two trails, The Bill Kimball Trail is more difficult and spectacular while the Coldspring Branch is more restful.

Bring first aid supplies, hiking staff, water, food and BRING YOUR CAMERAS!!!

No problem I say as does Hornsbees.... and the plan is set.

We all meet here on the farm and head up to Caesar's Head. We are on time schedules, so no sooner do we hit the trail 't' is leaving us in the dust ........ The hike starts on the Coldspring Branch Trail and is uphill at the start ....... then it connects with the Bill Kimball trail. The trail is tough, pretty rugged with a lot of elevation changes, at one point there is a chain that helps you safety navigate a piece of the trail.







Then you approach El Lieutenant ..... Very Very AWESOME, you get 3 different views of it along the trail. Very much worth the hike to see it.










The Bill Kimball trail then connects again with the Coldspring Branch trail to make the loop back. This has the 1,000 feet elevation gain ...... BOY DOES IT !!! This was tough ...... it is a constant gradual uphill walk for over 2 miles. TOUGH, my calfs were a screaming ! 't' just walked and walked .... leaving Hornsbees and I in her dust ! The trail is beautiful both of them ..... the river is constantly there with it's sounds and cool air, you cross it many times, and it is a very beautiful hike .... even if it HURTS ! At one point Hornsbees and I were convinced that the sweet innocent 't' was trying to do away with us siths. She even went so far as to say ..... Ya know if you two were not on the DARK SIDE .... we could call this Jedi Training ! ..... Then I knew it ........ She said ya know if you two can't keep up .... I could just leave you here ..... We looked at each other as 't' stood there with that huge smile on her face .... I think I heard the other sith say "I don't care just leave us aughhhhhhhhhhhhhh" .... But like good siths we stuck together and walked through the PAIN and walked and walked. Finally we were there ... we could see the road. Right on the schedule 't' wanted to keep. We hopped in the van... 't' high tailed it down the mountain and THREW us out her van at the farm. Hornesbees made her way back up the mountain and I came in the house to PEEL my wet clothes off me ! I felt really good... we started the tail about 10:30/10:40ish .... and we were in the van at 1:19ish ..... so about 5 HARD miles, less then 3 hours, 2 boxes planted, 1 additional find for Hornsbees, and a GREAT DAY with 2 of my favorite boxer friends .......

What will 't' cook up for our next hike ...... Be afraid ... Be Very AFRAID !