Still Crazy After All These Years

There were eight of us who set out Saturday evening for our monthly adventure race training. Eight women, average age 45+.

Our plan was to hike from the Cascades in Pembroke, Virginia, through the mountains to Mountain Lake resort, switch to our mountain bikes, which we left there earlier, and mountain bike back to the Cascades. In the dark.

We are training for a 24-hour adventure race in 2012. We had hoped to do the race this fall (2011), but life and injuries took many of us out of the picture, so we decided to wait until 2012 so we all can do it together.

About three weeks ago we did a 12-hour overnight bike/hike that covered around 30 miles and a lot of elevation gain. It was hard, but fun, and we learned a lot.

The Cascades to Mt. Lake and back hike/bike would turn out to be on a beautiful, clear, mostly warm night, with an almost full moon.

Andie, Kim H, Kim O, Lynne, Magda, Nichole, Teresa and myself parked at a friend’s house about a mile below the Cascades parking lot and headed out…it was 7:20.

The mile to the parking lot was paved, but we soon reached the trail and headed to the “harder” side of the trail, which has rock steps, bridges across the creek, and lots of elevation gain.  The creek was beautiful, and very loud. We talked and thought as we walked, and fueled and hydrated. We know how to take care of ourselves, and we like each other…so its always fun out there.

We paused at the main falls to check out the open view to the sky and the stars…the falls, in the dark, with our lights on them, were awesome. It was quite epic!

Not staying long, we hiked past the Little Cascades and on to the Forest Service road, which climbs, and climbs, and climbs…then, its downhill for about a mile before climbing back up the backside to Mt. Lake. Did I mention we did a lot of climbing going this way?

At the top it was freezing…its always colder at Mt. Lake…and with the 30mph winds, we were really cold…we got the bikes ready, changed clothes, sat in the cars and ate and drank supplies we had left there, then headed back down the mountain…

My bike was shaking it was so cold and I was shivering so much. Freezing.

About a mile down, we came to the Forest Service road again, and up we went. Not too bad of a climb, and only a mile up, we knew once there it was downhill all the way to the car!

The ride back was wonderful – so much fun! Great trails and good riding by everyone.

Overall, we were out there a little over 6 hours. I was home by 2:30ish, and asleep by 3:30ish. Lynne was out before that.

I think everyone was impressed with the “scenery” and the trail, especially the mt. biking. Mostly, we are happy with ourselves and what we can accomplish. And just how crazy it is to not only do what we did, but to have so many of us out there doing it!

Next time, join us!