First days are always hard. This was no exception. I started the day at the little Missouri river parking lot. I’m completing the loop counterclockwise and so from the little Missouri put into the first corner, which is the upper left-hand corner of the square, it’s about 4 miles. That part of the trail was very easy because it follows the river for most of the way. There are a few ups and downs, but nothing significant.
Once you turn the corner though and head south The terrain changes. There are six peaks because they run west to east and so going south your according over the six . I’d plan to do three of the six peaks today and about 2/3 of the top edge, but when I got to the valley after the third peak, There was no water. It was already dark at this point, about 6 o’clock. So I decided to do another 1.6 The next source of water. I didn’t pull off the trail at 7:30, which is good considering that I didn’t actually put in until noon. So all in all, I did a little bit more than I thought that I would today.
I got my night I can, spending about the last 2 1/2 miles essentially in the dark. At the end of the hike, I came across a campsite which a lot of people were at. Obviously accessible by vehicle, and a lot of kids smoking marijuana. I decided I wanted to go through that and get to forest with a little solitude.
Once I got past the campsite I had a strange feeling that I’ve been here . Seven years ago, our hiking club hike, the same trail, although we started at the upper left-hand corner and didn’t, and not at the little Missouri river, so that first day was only about 6 miles. One of our hikers, an elderly woman who had never been on a long hike, struggled with the ups and downs. Allyson and I ended up pulling her off the trail at the same campsite that I just mentioned. We found a hiker who allowed us to borrow his car, and we took her to a motel and put her up until the rest of the crew could finish the hike.
When Allyson and I got back, we hiked about a mile past the campsite just so we could be alone. It was pitch black and I use my headlight, which is exactly what I did tonight. In fact, the date of that hike was in November 2017, roughly 8 years ago almost to the day. Felt like returning to the scene of the crime. Anyway, Allyson and I were able to pitch our tent and sleep, and then the next morning we got up early and caught up with the rest of the crew who we’re taking their time getting packed up and ready to go for the day. That was a lovely hike.
We’ll see how tomorrow goes, but I’m hoping to do at least 10 miles tomorrow. If I do that, then I’ll only have about 6 miles the last day, which would be an easy hike. My plane doesn’t leave until day four early in the morning, so I’m gonna drive back to Little Rock Monday night and stay at a hotel so I can go to the airport early.
Contemplation on this hike has been rampant. I said that I wanted to find out what felt like it was missing in my life. After day one, I think that what’s missing is probably some type of religious purpose. About a year ago, circumstance happened which removed me from what I thought was my Purpose from God. Since that day, Allyson and I have been trying to blend in and be “parishioners“ in our church rather than leaders who do everything. I think that may be what I’m missing, but I don’t know what my new purpose would be in a religious sense. I want to think about that.
Today’s mileage: 9.3.
Total miles: 9.3