I don't know what hurt me the most on this hike - my first return to 8000' in a month - or my first real exercise in a month. But the two conspired to make this hike out of
Medey (location of an Olympic-class ice skating rink) quite a challenge. Actually, I'm blaming it all on the Kazakh's lack of desire to build switchbacks. This seems to be as true on roads as on hiking trails. So, after 3 miles of gaining 700' per mile, the trail started to get steep! And I decided that the more prudent course of action was to return. That earned me my "road rash" as I slipped out on a scree field on my descent. Every the boy scout, I managed somehow to leave my first aid kit (and my water purifier) back in my apartment based on the ever wrong assumption that it would be "just a short hike." Lesson learned. My new Kazakh friend was kind enough to offer antibiotic cream and band aids when I met him later on the trail - how often do you meet someone who has spent time in Fort Wayne, Indiana - let alone a Kazakh! So, all is good, and I'm tired. Time to rest up before my next adventure!
I don't know what hurt me the most on this hike - my first return to 8000' in a month - or my first real exercise in a month. But the two conspired to make this hike out of Medey (location of an Olympic-class ice skating rink) quite a challenge. Actually, I'm blaming it all on the Kazakh's lack of desire to build switchbacks. This seems to be as true on roads as on hiking trails. So, after 3 miles of gaining 700' per mile, the trail started to get steep! And I decided that the more prudent course of action was to return. That earned me my "road rash" as I slipped out on a scree field on my descent. Every the boy scout, I managed somehow to leave my first aid kit (and my water purifier) back in my apartment based on the ever wrong assumption that it would be "just a short hike." Lesson learned. My new Kazakh friend was kind enough to offer antibiotic cream and band aids when I met him later on the trail - how often do you meet someone who has spent time in Fort Wayne, Indiana - let alone a Kazakh! So, all is good, and I'm tired. Time to rest up before my next adventure!
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