What was I thinkin

“Yesterday I took a dayhike in Talladega NF around Mt. Cheaha. There is a loop that I had been wanting to try. I thought it would be a good way to start on some of those sympathy pounds after the birth of our daughter. I was at the trailhead by 6 am and 18 miles later back on my way home. The last 4 miles were a real struggle. I was already sore last night and can barely walk today.

It was a great trip. I didn't see anyone until the last 3 miles. The last section is a common one for dayhikers, but the rest of the mileage is usually used as an overnight loop. Having that much time alone around a state park was special. It's great to just get out there.”

“Man - pounding out the miles on a dayhike? How long was lunch - a granola bar on the run? Any wildlife out there?

Congrats on the birth of your baby daughter! (I'll assume it was recent.)”

“I just did the Snicker bar or PB&J sandwich snacking along the way. It was too cold to stop. I did see one whitetail through some trees. Lots of squirrels.

Most of the hiking was ridgelines and switchbacks below ridges. When I tied back in to the more public area there was a fairly large creek. It reminded me how much I like hiking next to water. At one overlook about 7 small cascades were visible. It was a grey day with lots of grey rock outcroppings. The whitewater with the grey background was striking. I wish I had taken a camera.

The baby is 6 weeks old tommorow.”

“Sounds like a great way to spend a day. That was some mileage though. Glad you had a good time.”

“a snickers in the cold - a good way to break teeth (grin) - what did you do - cut it up ahead of time?”

“Great story,.. Thanks for sharing it with us!

Congrats on the little one!!!

Sounds like a great time had in a short time, but it`ll be remembered long after!

Thanks!”

“I put it in the pocket of my fleece about 30 minutes ahead of break time. Worked like a charm.”

“No pain no gain......:)

Feel the burn feel it now!!!”

“I've been hiking in FL for so long that I really would not have thought about my Snickers being frozen. I am in for a rude awakening when I do finally camp out in the cold.”

“Congrats on the kid Dayhiker!

Get Badger sore muscle rub, it works!”

“Wait two more weeks and then give the wife a rub down with the Badger sore muscle rub, it works! ;o)”

“Ummmmmmmmmmm rub down..........:)I wish I had a girlfriend to give me a rub down..........:(”

“You've got it backwards CrazyMike!”

“Talladege NF is a nice place. 18 miles is a long day out there. Me and a friend did 18 miles in one day with packs on. The funny part is, we completed the loop the next morning with less than 3 miles to go.”

“I'm glad I didn't have much of a pack on. Just extra clothes and food. When it's cold(by Alabama standards) I tend to overpack. I bet I had two days worth of food along with a down parka. If I'd doubled the weight for an actual pack it would have been brutal. I'm not sure I could have finished before sundown. I finished with about 2.5 hrs of sunlight with my daypack. 6am to 2:30 pm.”

“I've dayhiked 20 miles before a couple of times. Once it was planned that way, lol! Beer never tasted so good at the end of the day.”

“Can you guys imagine...Flyin' Bryan did the triple crown last year averaging close to 30 miles a day--for 10 months!

Unbelievable.

...Also I remember deathmarch saying he had gone out one day for a 26-mile day-hike.”

“Yeah, I feel like a wimp compared to those #'s. I thought about the Triple Crown guy while I was out on Monday. I was thinking how this would be a slow day for this guy, and he's in more rugged terrain. I would like to get in better shape to take some of these longer trips. I enjoy backpacking, but I also enjoy seeing the same sights on a long dayhike. It's great to take a long hike and then drink a beer with pizza, play with the kids and kiss the wife goodnight.”

“Wow-
That Badger stuff Bhudda talked about is great.

Congrats on the baby--”