by Gary Fatool
Now, the Super Hike.
I did it. Not sure how, or why for that matter, but I did it. It is now Monday the 14th and I am able to get up and down off a chair and hobble to the fridge without a lot of difficulty. But I am 60, with, well, now two bad knees. Guess its time to get the right one checked. After the 27.1 mile Old Loggers Path two weeks before the Super Hike I took it easy, walking 5 or 6 mile twice, and I walked 8 miles the Tuesday before the hike, and did nothing since. I was feeling good but still apprehensive. I booked a room at the Peach Bottom Inn, 16 miles away from Pequea, stopping at the campgrounds first to check it out. I stopped at the office and the woman was very friendly talking about the hike, telling me how it took her husband and son 3 hours to do the first 7 miles earlier in the week. This did not make me feel comfortable, because if you hit the first station in over three hours you are done already. Tossed and turned all night, ate a honey bun for breakfast and a few cups of coffee with sorghum, which has no sugar but good carbs. At the campground saw my work cohort and her brother, (she later bailed at the last station, but her brother did well). I refused to take a picture with them at the start sign so as I wouldn't jinx myself. Then I saw another workmate, who said she was going to sign up, but I think she thought it was something other than what it actually was. She made it past time to the first aid station at the 9 mile mark.
We started and my strategy was to get to that first station in time, so before we hit the hills I was stepping it out pretty good. Then the climbs, then the descents, then the climbs, then the rocks, then more climbs and descents, getting stung behind the left knee about 5 miles in, I believe yellow jacket, more rocks. Arrived at the first station at 9:25 am. Sweet! Ahead of schedule. Drank a few glasses of water and kept going. Being diabetic I should have thrown some bars in my pockets just in case, but luckily my stupidity didn't result in any negative consequences. I ate and drank all I wanted at the next two stations (bravo to the volunteers!!). About 2 miles past the first station I thought there was no way I was going to finish. I slipped into the creek, (after a steep descent on rock), my legs were starting to get rubbery, and it started to rain. The rain we weren't supposed to get before 3pm began, and continued for most of the rest of the hike, and it was lengthy downpours at times. They had just received 3 inches the Thursday before so it didn't take much for the creeks to start rising on Saturday. What the rain did do, for me, was to keep my body temperature at an even keel. My regulatory systems did not have to work much to keep my body cooled down. Then, surprise! the trail evened out near the first aid station and I got my legs back. Almost a third of the way in. Before getting to station 2, they added a loop of two miles of rock and boulder climbing, after crossing the Susquehanna. It was insane. But then the road! Strolled into station 2, in the rain, around noon.
In my mind, before the hike, station 3 was key for me. I knew once I hit station 3, there was only one more station. You had to check-in at station 4 twice, but it was still the last station. So I figured if I made it to station 3, I had a good shot. I made it to station 3 around 2pm. My map with the times you had to check in, and course description, I had pitched early, as it was soaking wet and unreadable. Rang my socks out, again, and continued on, following two young women, one in front of the other, and me behind them both. They conversed, and kept my mind occupied as I watched and listened to them until the hiker in the front started to lose her partner, who I followed into checkpoint four. Thanks to the powers that be for the stretch between checkpoint three and checkpoint four! Nice and flat and the place to make some time. It was pouring.
I asked what time it was. 3:30! I couldn't believe it! I was pumped. 3.5 hours to complete the last, I was told 5 mile, but it was closer to 6. Hikers had to hit that checkpoint by 5pm. There is no way on this good earth I could have done the last loop in two hours. I took a conservative pace and was relishing the fact I was on old roads, foolishly thinking I would follow all road back to the finish. One of the most beautiful vistas I've ever seen was about 6 k's in, the Urey Overlook. It was here it had finally stopped pouring. Unbelievable view! I need to take a camera to that spot. It was gorgeous. The last four k's, where the path veered back into the woods, seemed like 40, with more descents, more rocks, more climbs, raging creek, (which I didn’t have to cross, but one bad slip in the mud over the bank in spots and I'd be swimming in some rapid water), pure mud, slips, sore, knees killing me. My feet were wet but good. I learned from experience how to prepare them after the Old Logger Path hike. Then I started thinking what if the volunteer read his watch wrong and it was really 4:30, not 3:30. So I tried to step it out on the flats, but it was muddy. And when I thought I was done climbing, there was a climb in front of me. Then I started hearing music from the campsite, where the finish was set-up, so I was hoping I was close. Then suddenly I heard 3 people clapping. As they came into view I realized they were on a road. I was almost there! Had to climb over the guide rail, up a short hill, then finish! First thing I asked was the time. 5:50 pm. One them said if I hurried I could make it in under 11 hours. At that point, I didn't care if I made it in 11 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds!! I had done it. It was the most physically demanding task I've ever done in my 60 years.
It is Monday. Got a massage scheduled, for 1pm. And later going to one of my best friends for some homemade chili and the Eagles on Monday Night Football, with a story to tell. Life is good.