Winter Set Back - I know why they call this the ice age trail!
I've been enjoying some winter hiking/backpacking. I add the backpacking because, I do wear a backpack 3/4 full - for the weight and to help familiarize myself with my new pack.
Well, a few day ago I went out to hit a new section of the IAT. New for me that is.
Anyway, I parked at the really nice Emma Carlin trail head paved parking complete with bathrooms. What a difference from the days when I mountain biked here. However I would usually access the trail via the connector trail and remember this as a technical section of single track that would test most bikers. However, I'm sure this is all changed by now, because as I exited mountain biking the trails were already changing. As a way to to encourage more people to use the trails, most of the "technical" sections were removed by removing the steep climbs with switchbacks and large rocks and tree roots that reach out into the trail were replace with truck loads of crushed limestone. I feel they destroyed the mountain biking by attempting to include all!
But today my plan was an out and back that should be a little more than 6 miles.
The trail was a mess due to the numerous freeze thaw cycles of the past week and the trail was sketchy at best. The flat sections there difficult, but there was often a patch of grass poking through the ice within a step or two for traction and they became my path. And the trail didn't really get any better until it entered the timber and the hills began. And I much prefer this scenery to the emptiness of the flat sections.
I briefly stopped at the top of a ridge with steeply sloping sides. This had to be the esker that I had read about before the hike. I really wanted to get some pictures or video, but figured the return trip would the opportunity for that.
The IAT winds around and crosses snowmobile trails and briefly joins a service road for a few hundred yards before splitting as the IAT veers to the left and I continued to hike up the next hill before dropping into a flat depression that held melted, packed show and rough ice.
I was almost out of the ice patch when I attempted to step to my left to avoid some ice and basically stepped onto more ice. My left foot slide forward so fast that my body began to drop and land directly on my foot, which was now bent backwards and took the brunt of body and pack weight.
My ankle stung with pain as I rolled to my side and off the foot and lay there almost afraid to move. But as the ice started to melt with my heat, I knew that I needed to at least get off the ice and out of the wind.
I ate a little something, had a drink of water and deciding to turn around and head back.
2 1/4 miles later I was looking at the road crossing. Instead of the usual feeling of "I'm almost there", I had more of a "I still have that far to go". I was never so happy to see the car and know I would be off my feet soon.
I found out first hand why they call this the ice age trail lol
See you on the trail...
Well, a few day ago I went out to hit a new section of the IAT. New for me that is.
Anyway, I parked at the really nice Emma Carlin trail head paved parking complete with bathrooms. What a difference from the days when I mountain biked here. However I would usually access the trail via the connector trail and remember this as a technical section of single track that would test most bikers. However, I'm sure this is all changed by now, because as I exited mountain biking the trails were already changing. As a way to to encourage more people to use the trails, most of the "technical" sections were removed by removing the steep climbs with switchbacks and large rocks and tree roots that reach out into the trail were replace with truck loads of crushed limestone. I feel they destroyed the mountain biking by attempting to include all!
But today my plan was an out and back that should be a little more than 6 miles.
The trail was a mess due to the numerous freeze thaw cycles of the past week and the trail was sketchy at best. The flat sections there difficult, but there was often a patch of grass poking through the ice within a step or two for traction and they became my path. And the trail didn't really get any better until it entered the timber and the hills began. And I much prefer this scenery to the emptiness of the flat sections.
I briefly stopped at the top of a ridge with steeply sloping sides. This had to be the esker that I had read about before the hike. I really wanted to get some pictures or video, but figured the return trip would the opportunity for that.
The IAT winds around and crosses snowmobile trails and briefly joins a service road for a few hundred yards before splitting as the IAT veers to the left and I continued to hike up the next hill before dropping into a flat depression that held melted, packed show and rough ice.
I was almost out of the ice patch when I attempted to step to my left to avoid some ice and basically stepped onto more ice. My left foot slide forward so fast that my body began to drop and land directly on my foot, which was now bent backwards and took the brunt of body and pack weight.
My ankle stung with pain as I rolled to my side and off the foot and lay there almost afraid to move. But as the ice started to melt with my heat, I knew that I needed to at least get off the ice and out of the wind.
I ate a little something, had a drink of water and deciding to turn around and head back.
2 1/4 miles later I was looking at the road crossing. Instead of the usual feeling of "I'm almost there", I had more of a "I still have that far to go". I was never so happy to see the car and know I would be off my feet soon.
I found out first hand why they call this the ice age trail lol
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fast forward 2 days and things weren't getting any better, so off to the doc I go. Turns out it wasn't just a really bad sprain - I have 2 different breaks where the Fibula meets the Tibia. Still don't know what the treatment will be - I'm hoping for a cast at most and hoping no pins will be needed. I have an appointment in 2 days with the orthopedic specialist so will know soon. Fortunately the fibula is a non weight bearing bone - because if it had been - I have no idea how this story would have ended.See you on the trail...
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