A little taste of winter

This morning I received a call from work at 5am that I got a 8 hour no pay! I was super excited because this meant that I could join in on the group training hike up Tiger Mountain #3. I didn't sleep well last night so I woke up a bit grumpy despite the fact that I got to go on the hike. We were running a bit late but we went to go get coffee anyway. On the way to coffee I saw a guy using his trekking poles as he was crossing the street. Had I not been a bit grumpy I might had found that a bit humorous but instead I realized, "Oh my gosh! We forgot our poles!" So we grabbed some coffee then back to the house to get the poles. I was freaking out that we were going to be late, if you're not there and ready to hike at 9 am they will leave you. But we made it with 10 minutes to spare! The morning was clear and beautiful but freezing! We started up the gravel road to the trailhead. After a quick potty break we were on our way up Tiger Mountain. I was in the beginning of the train with Gavin and Richard and not too far into it I was having a hard time. My nose wouldn’t stop running (I forgot tissues again), my pack was driving me absolutely bonkers it wouldn't synch right without hurting something on me, and I was having a hard time breathing. So needless to say I was having a difficult time keeping up and felt like a complete failure. I had to pull off to the side of the trail and had a complete breakdown. My wonderful husband pulled over with me and helped me continue on our way but at a much slower pace. After a few minutes my meltdown resolved and other hikers had slowed down as well. Carna, our event planner, didn't want to keep with the crazy pace of the pack either so she and I hiked at a much better pace behind the rest of them. It was great! I got to know her a little better and was able to breathe!

At 0.9 miles left to the summit the guide suggested that those who brought Yaktracks put them on. Gavin, Richard, and I did not purchase those so we will be hiking up the rest of the way without them. Boy do I wish I had some better hiking shoes and Yaktracks now! For the next 0.9 miles up it was icy! Winter had come to Western Washington in the previous week and hadn't left the top of Tiger yet. I had my poles (thank goodness!) and pulled my way up! Took me a bit longer due to all the sliding but to the top I made it! It was gorgeous up there! Bad mood has gone away! So after a little lunch, chitchatting and some picture taking down we had to go. I still don't have any Yaktracks and down is only as slippery as the way up. Slowly but surely I was making my way down. I was doing pretty good too! We were almost back to the end of the iciness...I was confident I was going to make it without falling when the next thing I know I'm flat on my back! Ooops! I must have leaned a little too far back, with my 25 pound pack I was a goner before I had a chance to think about it! Oh well, back up I got and down the trail we went. The rest of the way down was good, a little sore on the knees but doable! We had great conversation with another young couple and enjoyed the last couple of miles. After we got back to Seattle we went to REI to fix my pack and buy a new pair of hiking shoes in hopes to avoid anymore grumpy days!