Last Wednesday, around 20 lively folks braved the 30°C heat, meeting in the Beagle Club Road parking lot for a hike. What would possess one to do such a thing? Some of our club members have been taking on such challenges for decades.
One such person is Bob Short. Little did Bob know, when he gathered the hikers together for his pre-hike instructions, that he would be honoured for his many decades of service to the club. Wednesday was Bob's last official hike as leader. Our president Jay, thanked Bob for his dedication to the club.
A quick photo of some of the hikers and we were off! I wondered if we would be attacked by mosquitoes when we stepped into the forest.
No mosquitoes, but plenty of heat and humidity, rocks to avoid, and good conversations. We were hiking on the Green Trail which includes the Hog's Back ridge. Looks pretty tame here.
Some of us took our time making our way up the ridge. It really doesn't look very steep from this angle. All the time I was plodding up I wondered why the same hill can seem steeper in the summer than in the winter on skis? One of those questions I will never know the answer to.
Half of us left at the 5.5 km point and the rest, rugged souls that they are, continued on for another 5 km.
I am so thankful for the example set by our senior hikers. They are an object lesson that is difficult to deny.
“It is our choices, Harry,
that show what we truly are,
far more than our abilities.”
J.K. Rowling
Lots of poison ivy too! I'd usually hike in my tevas but not taking a chance with the poison ivy.