10 Mile Training Hike

Because we (Nancy, Ingrid and I) are gluttons for punishment, we decided to do a 10 mile training hike the day after we got back from snow backpack. We are training for "The Big 20" to send Carolen off on her PCT thru-hike. In a few weeks, we'll be hiking with her, and her PCT partner Di, from the border to Lake Morena as a big send-off. So in an attempt to not kill ourselves walking 20 miles, we are building up with a 10, 12, and 15 miler beforehand. The goal was to move our legs as quickly and consistently as possible, shooting for over 3 miles per hour. We had a nice flat stretch of trail out at Mule Hill that we walked 5 miles in and 5 miles out. There was one hill towards the end of the 5 miles that was pretty gnarly. My legs were definitely sore and not fresh just out of the snow backpack. We cranked it out though. Ingrid's sister, Ina, also walked and cruised right along. When it was all said and done, we had 2.46 hours of walking time for an average of 3.5 miles per hour. We even ran the last little bit which was a lesson in pain for sure. Nothing like a little self flagellation. No pictures of this one. We were on one mission and one mission only - WALK.