I've only been a geocacher for a year now, and up until this point hadn't really attended any of the big events in my area. Not because I didn't want to, but time just didn't allow it. But this past weekend I got the opportunity of a newbie cacher's lifetime....
There were actually two events - a pre-hike breakfast, then the 6th Annual AGA Birthday Bash picnic. The hike was the main part of the day for myself and my friend Mary.
There were about 30 of us who, as a group, made a trek through Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, Alabama in search of seven caches hidden in the park. But this wasn't any ordinary trail hike. Nope. We went off trail and climbed up the mountain from an elevation of about 525 feet to an estimated elevation of about 1242 feet. Over half of that climb felt like we were going straight up.
Our highest destination was for a cache called "The King's Chair". About 45 minutes into the hike I was beginning to think I had lost my mind and if I managed to get out of this alive I would never allow myself to be talked into something so godawful painful ever again.
Then I saw the view. I changed my mind. The view from The King's Chair was worth every step, every stupid stone, every painful draw of oxygen into my lungs, every drop of sweat. Yeah... I'm serious.
I'm not going to describe every photo, I'm just simply going to post them and share what I saw with you. None of these photos will do the day justice. At one point we were standing in a valley, just in awe as a swirl of wind caused the leaves to flutter and fall in a swirl - twirling and twirling, leaves dancing merrily down to the forest floor. And not one of the many photos I took captured the beauty of the dance.
I hope you enjoy the photos. Next time, you'll just have to go with us.
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Comments: 26
Shannon, it was several miles, but the CLIMB was what was killer.
And I thought the braids were cute. I look stupid with my hair like that.
Fly fishing vest - $35 at Bass Pro Shop - has more pockets than a girl knows what to do with, eliminates the need to keep up with a backpack, and literally holds EVERYTHING I need on a caching excursion.
Canteen - $30 at a civil ware event - holds TWO bottles of water and eliminates the need to keep up with the plastic bottles, and is much more comfortable than toting the bottles in your pockets.
hand carved wooden walking stick - $35 - purchased from the Beaver Pond Artist group in Pensacola, Florida. It's my favorite walking stick.
and the black and blue thing attached in the front is my blood sugar monitor and my emergency glucose - can't leave home without that!
Those few we found were just the tip of the iceberg in that area. CT and I are definitely planning a trip back there soon.
My daughter is learning how to geocache in her 4H club.
Hubby got my GPS from ebay, used, but in great condition, for pretty cheap.