Alligatorob's Diary

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well and got in a good hike. I feel good tonight.

Today I tried going to the next canyon south of the house, a little too far to walk from home but just a 5 min drive to the beginning of the trail. Its a real trail, kind of, its the remnants of a 100+ year old silver mining road, built for mule drawn wagons. I found it a lot easier than the bushwhacking I have been doing. I was able to walk farther and gain more elevation than on my close to home bushwhack with less knee stress. I think I will do this one again, might be good training for my closer to home thing.

The new trail


Now I realize this is no Everest climb, it was only about 3 miles (~5 km) with 800 ft (~ 240 m) elevation gain and took me 2 hours. Not a real tough hike, but it makes me feel good to be doing it. I have to remember that I am no spring chicken, and just a few months ago I didn't think my knees or feet would let me do much walking again. I am happy to find I was wrong about that, and happy to be doing what I can. Not sure if I will ever make it to the top of my goal hike, but it feels good to know I can try.

I really love the community feeling on the forum as well. So nice to have especially when things are feeling a little harder these days!

I agree, this is one place little impacted by the virus!

great to hear your knees did better.

Thanks, and better today!

happy you are finding a way somehow to continue hiking

Thanks Petal, so am I! And I see from your diary you are getting some good hiking in as well, 9 km is probably what I got in all 3 of my weekend hikes combined.

I tried to go on a hike before but my ankles and knees gave way. I was 15. Me and this girl stayed back with our teacher while the rest completed it lol

Hey I know that feeling, as I said just a few months ago I did not even think I'd ever be able to do this. And I saw your 4 hour walk on your diary today, that had to have been a lot longer than mine. You are doing fine.


In 1199 King Richard I, Richard the Lionheart died. He was wounded by a French boy shooting with a crossbow, developed gangrene and died. The poor French boy was flayed and then hung, by the French. A bit hard to understand since they were who were fighting Richard.

 

[Llama]

A bit hard to understand since they were who were fighting Richard.

He would have been a VERY valuable hostage. You never damage trading goods. It's one of the reasons nobility often wore splendid armor: to be visible as someone you wouldn't want to kill.
Also: the king of Sweden in the 30 years war (Gustav?) was sensitive about his weight and refused to wear metal armor because he felt it made him look fat, opting for leather instead. He got shot and died as well.

 

[liza]

oday I tried going to the next canyon south of the house, a little too far to walk from home but just a 5 min drive to the beginning of the trail. Its a real trail, kind of, its the remnants of a 100+ year old silver mining road, built for mule drawn wagons. I found it a lot easier than the bushwhacking I have been doing. I was able to walk farther and gain more elevation than on my close to home bushwhack with less knee stress. I think I will do this one again, might be good training for my closer to home thing.

That sounds great Rob--and anther beautiful looking picture. i love the look of the area you live in!
Really good to find a trail that's easier on the knees!

 

[Petal001]

Rob I totally love where you live. And it doesn't matter the distance you hike it's that you are out enjoying it . It's not just about exercise to me it's about connecting with nature , fresh air and head space. It makes us happier.

 

[Llama]

Just noticed your new picture: looking very handsome there!

 

[Cate]

Your new hike looks great, Rob, as does your new profile pic. I love that you are getting out there, getting fresh air & doing things you did not think were possible.

 

[Petal001]

Rob love your profile pic .

 

[bensanon]

I have a question for you, this weekend I decided to hike rather than go to the gym for my weight training. I was supposed to do legs, so it seemed to me to be similar. But after reading what you said about strengthening exercises I am not sure I made the right choice. It is hard for me to do both leg weight things and a good uphill hike on the same day. What are your thoughts?

Hey Rob. I like your new profile picture. You look amazing! You live in such a pretty place, I'm really happy to read out there enjoying it. In reply to your question on my thread, I'm not really sure. What's your goal? Do you prefer to hike over going to the gym? Are you trying to prevent injury on your hikes? Increase your strength so you can go farther? For me, I love running so if I need to go to the gym to prevent injury or rehab myself or work on strength, etc., I'll try to do that so I can keep enjoying my runs. Love to see your progress, Rob!

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel good. Got to the gym, our weather won't be very hike friendly for a couple of days. The gym manager told me that the city council meets Wednesday to consider more closings, including the gym. She figured it was a 50/50 thing, we'll see.

One irritation is that I have gained a few pounds, 3 or 4 since a low last Thursday. I weigh pretty much every day so I have seen it happening. I know I am not eating enough to really be gaining fat, it must somehow be water, but still a little disconcerting. I know I need to follow the advice I have so often given - to be patient and the weight will come down. But it is advice more easily given than taken.

i love the look of the area you live in!

Thanks Liza, it does have it's high points. Being able to get out and hike a bit helps to experience it. No hike today, but here is another picture from yesterday.

it doesn't matter the distance you hike it's that you are out enjoying it . It's not just about exercise to me it's about connecting with nature , fresh air and head space. It makes us happier.

Thanks Petal, you are right of course, I really like being outside. I find taking pictures helps, forces me to slow down and look a bit more.

looking very handsome there!

Thanks LaMa, and Petal and Cate, flattery will get you everywhere!

I love that you are getting out there, getting fresh air & doing things you did not think were possible.

Thanks Cate, I am really enjoying it, having fun!

What's your goal? Do you prefer to hike over going to the gym?

All things being equal I do prefer the hiking or biking, being outside. However the gym is more weather proof, and in the gym I workout upper body muscles that don't get use hiking or biking. If the gym can help build my legs to make hiking better that would be great, I am not sure if that's the case or not. My goal? Just to get into better shape and feel better. Increasing mobility and agility would be great. I don't feel the need to build a lot of muscle or be able to lift a lot of weight.

 

[Llama]

My goal? Just to get into better shape and feel better. Increasing mobility and agility would be great. I don't feel the need to build a lot of muscle or be able to lift a lot of weight.

In that case I'd stick with doing upper body work at the gym (if they do stay open) and using the hiking and biking as lower-body strength training for now. Once you've been doing those things for long enough that the amount you enjoy doing no longer feels challenging you can add "real" lower body strength training back in.

 

[liza]

Do you have an area inside your house you could do a bit of a workout Rob? I really like doing my little workout at home, but i don't use any equipment so its easy to do. But it might be something for you to consider if your gym does close.
Another beautiful picture. Too bad the weather coming up isn't great for you but at least we're coming into spring so if the virus sticks around we can get lots more outdoor exercise.
I feel for you with the slight weight gain. Mines gone up too...
I imagine the water would make sense if you're developing muscles--maybe LaMa could speak more to that...

 

[Cate]

Rob I love taking photos on my walks too. It makes it feel more purposeful, somehow & more meditative.

 

[Petal001]

Rob I think your weight gain maybe due to the exercise but that will settle . I don’t want to give advice because I don’t understand why it happens but I do know from my slimming class people who start the gym etc initially put on weight . They are told to eat some protein after their exercise . But those people always look fantastic, more toned and fit and of course lose that weight gain after a week or so .

 

[Emilyrose]

What is the actual number you are going for Rob? Are you in a healthy BMI range or close to it?

Where you live is probably perfect right now as it is easy to socially distance and I think you mentioned you don't have any pubs anyway! Well done on the hike.

 

[alligatorob]

It was a good day, I ate well, exercised and feel pretty good. Not sure the weight is going down much though, oh well.

I tried a new hike today with marginal results. Its the third canyon south of the house, about a 6 or 7 mile drive to the starting point. Someone told me there was a waterfall up it, so I was tempted. The weather wasn't great, but it stopped raining for a while and I gave it a shot. Turned out to be a mistake, the trail was quite steep and the one I ended up on anyway very poorly developed. More a bushwhack than a trail, and way steep. This is how it started out, not too bad.

But then it got worse here is where I turned around.

About the time I turned back it started to rain, the rocks got slick and the trip down was really hairy, had to crawl a lot of it. Lots of thunder and lightening, very dramatic in a narrow canyon. Then the rain changed to snow, but I got out alive. I think I can see a better trail and one warm dry day I'll try for the waterfalls again. When I was young I did a lot of hiking in places like this, it feels good to be trying it again, but as a friend pointed out to me we are not 20 anymore, don't expect to do what you could in your 20s. I guess I am resolved to that, but still like trying. Tomorrow the gym will have to be good enough, more rain and snow forecast.

In that case I'd stick with doing upper body work at the gym (if they do stay open) and using the hiking and biking as lower-body strength training for now.

Thanks LaMa, I think that is good advice.

Do you have an area inside your house you could do a bit of a workout Rob?

Yes, and I have been thinking about how to do that. At the gym today they were giving folks advice for home exercising. I think they believe we will get shutdown soon.

I love taking photos on my walks too. It makes it feel more purposeful, somehow & more meditative.

I agree, it is a good way to stop and take in what you are seeing. Makes the hikes more enjoyable, even if the pictures don't get used.

I think your weight gain maybe due to the exercise but that will settle . I don’t want to give advice because I don’t understand why it happens but I do know from my slimming class people who start the gym etc initially put on weight . They are told to eat some protein after their exercise . But those people always look fantastic, more toned and fit and of course lose that weight gain after a week or so

Sounds good Petal, I'll take it! I know the weight will come off eventually, it has to. But having y'all remind me of that helps.

What is the actual number you are going for Rob? Are you in a healthy BMI range or close to it?

Where you live is probably perfect right now as it is easy to socially distance and I think you mentioned you don't have any pubs anyway!

My BMI is 32, still a little high, but I started at 50, so I am pretty happy to be where I am. A county without pubs probably sounds strange to you, but the population of the county is only 50,000 and 90% or so of those are Mormons, who are not supposed to drink. However it is a big county area wise, I looked it up we are 14,880 km2, that compares to Northern Ireland at 14,130 km2. Hard to imagine Northern Ireland without a pub! We actually do have one private club that serves alcohol to members only, I am not a member but know some so I can get in. It is hard for any bar or restaurant in Utah to get a liquor license, though the ski resorts manage.

 

[Llama]

It is hard for any bar or restaurant in Utah to get a liquor license, though the ski resorts manage.

Money talks, even to people who aren´t supposed to worship Mammon.
I´m glad you got back from your hike safely but please be careful in the future! Breaking a leg (or worse) and being laid up for several weeks would be bad for all kinds of things but since we´re here: it tends to lead to weight gain.

 

[Petal001]

Oh Rob do be careful where you are hiking and especially alone . I remember going off track once with the kids and I was in a panic . It sounds rather like you could have ended up in a bit of a pickle . It sounds like some development could be done around there to make it more of an amenity for others to use as hiking trails . Do your local council look at such things .

 

[alligatorob]

Well, I am down a bit this morning, but after my wild upward swing I don't think I well do an "official" weight this week, just keep it where it is, 208, and see what happens next week. I am happy that the bounce up seems to have ended.

please be careful in the future! Breaking a leg (or worse) and being laid up for several weeks would be bad for all kinds of things but since we´re here: it tends to lead to weight gain

Thanks, I did think about that as it was raining on the steep slick rocks. I do plan to be a bit more careful. It is in my nature to push things a bit too far, I know I need to be careful about that. Too far is not nearly so far as it used to be. I did think about you when I was crawling down the slick rocks, for a rock climber it would not have been hard. Probably easy for you.

It sounds like some development could be done around there to make it more of an amenity for others to use as hiking trails . Do your local council look at such things

No, it has always struck me as odd how little attention most people around here pay to the mountains. They look at them and take pictures, but it is hard to find anyone who has even tried hiking these trails. They are big on 4 wheel drive trucks, jeeps, ATVs/QUADs, dirt bikes etc but if you can't drive there most people don't bother going. The best of the trails, the first canyon south of us, is maintained, I am told, by an 80 year old man just working on his own. He has been doing it for years. I guess its his retirement job.

 

[Llama]

The best of the trails, the first canyon south of us, is maintained, I am told, by an 80 year old man just working on his own. He has been doing it for years. I guess its his retirement job.

Here it´s usually the hiking/outdoor/mountain* clubs doing maintenance and taking care of signposts. Maybe once you realize how smelly pelicans are you can offer the 80-y/o some help?

*I know: Vienna´s surroundings aren´t particularly mountainous. But 150 years ago my old 3-hour Sunday morning walk from Baden to Mödling required a guide/escort for safety

 

[alligatorob]

But 150 years ago my old 3-hour Sunday morning walk from Baden to Mödling required a guide/escort for safety

I looked it up, your walk really looks impressive Hiking tour to Mödling and Baden from Vienna | musement Maybe not so mountainous, but lots of interesting things to see, and some lovely scenery. Seems you can still hire a guide, probably not for safety though.