Gone With the Wind

I attended my first training hike on Saturday.  When I stepped outside our apartment building to go to my car, I looked up at the sky and soaked in what felt like the beginning of a nice day.  It wasn't that cold, and the skies were clear.  A great day for a  hike!

We gathered at the Safeway parking lot near the falls to carpool to the trailhead.  When I got out of my car, the first thing that greeted me from the Gorge was a huge gust of wind! I don't know what the winds measured, but i think it would be safe to say they felt like they were going at least 30 mph.  I was not expecting this, that's for sure. Hmmm....maybe being in a Gorge had something to do with it? Not to mention "The Gorge" famous for world-class wind surfing.  

The wind was bitter cold.  I couldn't wait to leave and head off to the trail where hopefully the trees would block most of the wind.  After about a half hour of getting organized, we took off.  

The actual hike wasn't as windy, thank goodness.  But  by the time we were sheltered, the wind had made its way into my bones and my nose was running like hell.  I was Snotty Sami for the entire hike! My body felt great and recharged despite having been recently sick. By the end of the hike though my knees were pretty tired.  All the straight down hill was beginning to take its toll.  I'm afraid it might be time to start doing squats....

It was a 5.5 mi. hike at Multnomah falls, and included a 1600 ft. elevation gain.  The hike was uphill all the way for the first 3 mi or so, and then it was all downhill from there. The trail was covered in snow, ice, mud, rock, dirt, pavement, you name it, the trail transformed! I definitely was not expecting that either!

The people were all nice enough, and I enjoyed myself.  I was back home by around noon, and I spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch! LOL. After my hot shower, I was out of commission!  I was sneezing every few minutes , blowing my nose when I wasn't sneezing, and trying to rehydrate myself all at the same time.  But after a restful afternoon, a fondue dinner, and a good night's sleep, I was as good as new!