Einey's Hiking Youth

7 years ago at Kelly's Run Trail.  Skinny 2 year old trail doggie.

And present day, we took a nice half hour walk to find the new geocaches at our local Walmart.  We only found one, the other one was surrounded by "Muggles".

Roll Over!

Ein at Codorus State Park.  April 2013.

AT Flashback

Flashback photo for today.  Never take a self absorbed pitbull on a chilly backpacking trip in April.  Never ever.  Because she will steal your sleeping bag without a single thought about where her human might like to sleep.

Appalachian Trail - Smith Gap Road to Leroy Smith Shelter

Yesterday found me on the Appalachian Trail (again.)  The goal was to hike from "Smith Gap Road" out to the Leroy Smith Shelter (that was my end point on this hike.)  It was roughly 7 miles out and back, so a shortie in respect to what we are used to.  About two miles in I started getting a migraine aura and was kind of furious.  I hate my migraines but not once has one occured while I was hiking.  I refused to turn back and let it ruin my day!  It was a good choice too.  The whole experience must have lowered my blood pressure or unconstricted my constrictors (or whatever evils cause migraines.) because once the aura cleared I still had an appetite instead of nausea, and only a low level headache.  I was much more tired than I usually am after a hike, though.  I felt like I had hiked 12 miles.

So!  This hike was pretty boring until we came out into the powerlines opening that leads to the Leroy Smith Shelter.  It was just woods and woods and woods with moments of large rocks, but mostly it was small fist-sized rocks hiding underneath of a carpet of fallen leaves.  Very irritating.  Very Rocksylvania.  The other awesome thing was that it had rained the night before, so all of those leaves and rocks were wet.  Yes, I did fall once (blaming it on the Iditarod pitbull-and-poodle-team attached to my backpack, though.)

Note: Dirty pants, wet and annoying walking surface.

Anyway, backtracking...we started here.  Smith Gap Road was a fairly insane and winding uphill mountain road that was very rutted.  I was driving like an old lady and glad there were no hunters in enormous trucks stuck behind me (Big trucks do much better on such roads than little hondas.)

It was just...that for all the 3.5ish miles that I hiked out.  I was so happy to see the powerlines clearing because it is interesting, pretty and there is a view there!

My official turnaround point last time.

 

Lunch break stop at the Leroy Smith Shelter, only .15 miles off the trail.  We had it to ourselves today, unsurprising.  I really felt like I wanted to go backpacking after going to a shelter and seeing tent sites.  Sigh, not 'til spring.

Drink break for the dogs and some Mountain Lovin' from Molly.  Unfortunately Molly copes with frustration by humping Perri.  Frequently.  (Molly was frustrated that I was not handing over an entire pack of cheese crackers to her NOW.)

Onward!  We saw a bald eagle!  We saw the views!  We took posed vista photos and Molly gave me death stares.

Classic Personality Shot 

Back into the woods...

When I linked the photo set from the last hike in this area (October 2012) I smiled when I saw this photo.  7 month old Perri completely exhausted from our big long hike.  She has certainly built up more stamina since then!
 

Ein Zen vs. Molly Focus.

February 2012.

Geo Metro Throwback

A favorite work-talk subject of mine is my beloved old Geo Metro, many years in the junkyard but much missed.   That car was an overheating, decomposing, unreliable little rust bucket - and she was mine.   I still praise that car's safety in the snow (seriously, it was a beast!), low gas mileage and the hammer I kept in the back just in case I needed to give the engine a good whack to get it started.  I checked the gas and added coolant and oil.

I am well known around work for being a Dog Lady and so when a coworker and I were chatting about our old Geo Metros (rest in peace!) another coworker asked if I had as many dogs then as I do now - and I couldn't have fit them all in the car.

Of course I could fit a bunch of dogs in my Geo Metro...

From Left to Right, Nikki (rip.) Deanna and Ruger (rip.)

 

Nikki and gang sleeping a hike off.

 

Ready for Adventure!

Lake Monster

Molly Shake-Off.  Nockamixon State Park.  May 2012.

Memorial Day '12

Ahh, Memorial Day.  Last year I spent the day picnicking with family and swimming in a pond.  This year, I am working a double shift.  Both options have their perks.  One thing is for sure though, I have no interesting photos for today - so may as well relive the fun from last year! 

Shake It!

Best Swimmin' Pals FOREVER.

WOOOOOOHOOOOOOO!

And gone but never forgotten is Millie, our first foster dog.  She was with us for a month of the good life (and our Memorial Day picnic!) and LOTS of fetch with her Wubba.  Millie was euthanized due to unpredicatable aggression and probable brain tumor.  Rest in Peace, Millie.  Will think of this crazy old lady when each Memorial Day goes by. 



She sure could jump HIGH!



Up The Ladder

July 2012.