Healthy Regenerative Lifestyle
Reset
Last week I was totally booked up with things that I needed to accomplish at work. I had at least twelve-hour days set up to even start to get done what needed to be done. So, what did I do…I went camping and hiking for three days.
David Proctor
We may not live on a farm, but we can grow where we live.
Mind & Body Reset
by David Proctor
August 16, 2018
Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine Published Weekly
It just so happened that my daughter wanted to go to Grayson Highlands State Park to camp and backpack. The objective was to drive down, find a place to leave the car and backpack along the Appalachian Trail to get to Mount Rogers Summit.
Mount Rogers Summit is 5,729 feet, making it the highest point in Virginia. The hike to the summit is about 4.5 miles each way. Carolyn planed on hiking part way and setting up camp, then the next day make the hike both ways without having to pack in too much equipment.
With some quick shopping, I was prepared to go along. The three of us, Carolyn, her dog King (7-month-old pit mix) and myself. The dog had not been on an overnight campout nor an 8-mile hike. For that matter I hadn’t been on an 8-mile hike that involved elevation hiking and decent.
I have walked a lot doing site surveys for work and could do the canal path in Fredericksburg without any problem, so I figured I was set.
We got to the state park and found the overnight parking for hikers. We then loaded up our backpacks and set off. About a mile latter I was dead tired. Carolyn left me along the trail to find a place to camp, which she did just a short distance away. She came back and got me.
I couldn’t believe she found a campsite right off the trail, set back over 100’ with rocks already in circles for a campfire. You did good Mrs. Bailey. Camp Wild Wood taught her well.
We found a small area to set up our tents. Of course, I set mine up on a slope. That night it was like trying to sleep on a Teflon pan, I kept sliding downhill.
We got up the next day and proceeded on the hike to the summit. That was the longest 4 to 41/2 miles I have hiked in a long time. I didn’t even have a pack on. Carolyn carried the pack. I know, I felt bad her hauling the pack but she insisted.
Me
It was a beautiful day and hike. King, Carolyn’s dog did great hiking up to the summit. We made it about lunch time and found the survey marker on a big rock. That is after trying to figure out where the trail went, because there where no signs saying “Hey, You Are At The Summit”, just a small surveyors placard stating U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey. Other hikers where hiking on as we did, trying to figure out where the summit was at.
Sitting On Top of Summit Marker
Survey Summit Marker
Getting to the summit we hiked through an area that was covered with Spruce trees and evergreen trees that had moss growing all over the trunks. Very storybook looking.
Moss
I thought this is great, made it to the summit and it’s all downhill from here. About a half mile into the descent, a muscle around my right knee started to ache. The more we went down hill the worse it got. Who would have thought that going downhill was harder than going up, but it was, at least for my body?
Trail
After many stops, we made it back to camp. I didn’t bother moving my tent to another location that night. Early the next morning, after a restless sleep I woke up with my head below my feet. As I setup I felt vertigo kick in. I thought great, bum leg now vertigo and we still have to backpack about a mile to mile and a half back to the car.
Back At Camp
Tired Dog
It was slow going but made it back to the car. We loaded up and drove back to Fredericksburg. Even though I had some minor problems with the old body of mine, it was hard to leave. Even the dog wanted to stay. As it turned out, this was exactly what I needed. My body and mind had a much needed disconnect from the world of internet and business. My mind, body, and eyes had spent several days focusing on and feeling the scenery that was all around us.
I may not have gone through what I had planned to accomplish last week, but what I got out of being back in nature and being with family was so worth it.
This was the natural reset that I needed. I feel better and can think better. Please take the time, even if it is just in your backyard, to get outside and take in the sun and surroundings. You will be glad you did and your mind and body will thank
you for it.
Forest Trail
Check It Out!
Quick Tip
1. Set your tent up on level ground.
2. Have more than one way to start a fire.
3. Build up to the hike ahead, days before.
Panoramic
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