Day 1

Mountain biking trails suck to hike on after a season of heavy rains. The trail on 4 mile post is all but fallen apart. It changes so much, I don't recognize it every time I go up there almost (not that I go up there on a regular basis or anything, but like the trails in NC don't change to my eyes for years). The first .1 mile or so I thought it was a completely different trail that had been cut. The steep sections are a LOT steeper, some parts just heading straight up. But I will say, it seems like you get to the top a lot faster that way, just a lot harder to do.

Didn't kill me, but I think it was harder than what we did last weekend. Switchbacks are my friend. Here's hoping I can force myself to do it again tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. . .