Take a Hike
This past summer, my mom and I made the crazy (and somewhat impulsive) decision to sign up for a Grand Canyon hike next year. The trip includes hiking to the bottom of the canyon via the South Kaibab trail, spending two nights at Phantom Ranch at the base, and returning to the rim using the Bright Angel Trail. While it is sure to be the trip of a lifetime, preparation will be key to making it as enjoyable an experience as possible-including lots of training. We are still well over 200 days away from this adventure, but it is never too early to start getting in shape!
In the winter months, I will be relegated to the gym and will have to rely heavily on the StairMaster and treadmill. That said, nothing provides conditioning quite like actually hiking. Fortunately, the greater Columbus area has lots of opportunities! This past weekend, I ventured to Highbanks Metro Park. I took the Dripping Rock Trail to the Overlook Trail, and then took a slight detour on the Wetland Spur Trail as I made my way back to the parking lot. Although both Dripping Rock and Overlook were classified as "moderate to difficult," I was able to cover a little over 3 miles with relative ease.
I will definitely be returning to Highbanks in the future and hope to explore some of the other metro parks as well. Talk about the perfect study break!