Out of Moab
The Horicon Challenge
Our Spring Fling Trail Challenge continues! This past weekend, there was nothing springy about our hike, but it was definitely a challenge!
We had decided to check out the Horicon National Wildlife Sanctuary (we’d previously been to the State Wildlife Refuge just to the south of it but hadn’t done any trails in the national side yet.) If we did both trail loops, we’d get about 3 ½ miles, which would be perfect.
The first challenge of the day was the weather. It was in the mid 30s with winds gusting to 40 mph. We know how to bundle up by now, so while not ideal, it would be doable.
Because Horicon is a marsh, I was expecting to contend with mud. I wore my tennis shoes, since I don’t mind getting those muddy. It didn’t take long to figure out that mud wouldn’t be our biggest issue – the trails weren’t so much muddy, but they were spongy, saturated and full of unavoidable puddles. So with our non-waterproof tennis shoes, after the first 5 minutes, our feet were cold and wet.
Instead of turning around and giving up, we hiked the full 3 ½ miles that we’d planned on – with cold wet feet, and with the 40 mph winds blowing. It was probably the least fun I’ve ever had while hiking, but I am glad we did it! I am actually proud of us for pushing through and not complaining (except for the occasional yelp when our feet were periodically re-soaked with ice-cold water!)
What I learned:
· I need to invest in a good pair of waterproof hiking boots if I plan to continue hiking in the spring! Or at the very least, bring a couple of types of footwear if I am not sure what conditions await me!
· I can put up with more physical discomfort than I would’ve imagined. I’ve always thought of myself as kind of a wuss when it comes to dealing with pain or even discomfort. But my health journey has apparently built in both physical and mental toughness, to an extent I hadn’t previously been aware of!
· And while I still wouldn’t say that I enjoy hiking in less-than-ideal conditions, I do like that these conditions prevent all but the most committed ones from being out on the trails. So it feels like we have the place to ourselves, which heightens the sense of adventure and exploration – and I felt an instant bond with the few other people that we ran into that were silly enough to be out on a day like that!
Now that we’re in April, I am hoping we are past the worst of this ridiculous weather – and that I will finally be able to experience a bit of spring beauty.
But in the meantime, I continue to be grateful for this challenge which has pushed and tested me in ways I hadn’t anticipated!
If you'd like to read about my hiking adventures as I continue this trail challenge - be sure to subscribe! I will be posting periodically (hopefully with prettier pictures as the weather improves and spring actually comes!)
Hey, I'm Deanna!
I'll start with the typical introductory details - I live in Wisconsin and work as an Administrative Assistant for a non-profit organization - but those are the least interesting things about me!
I love reading (theology, spiritual formation, biographies), baking and cooking, hiking and exploring the the beauty God has created - in all 4 seasons! All of these things bring me life, and they are all things I will be writing about here - so if any of that is interesting to you, subscribe and stick around for a while!
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