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Had to switch up my usual loops because of a bum knee, and it turned out great
So my left knee has been giving me grief on any trip longer than five miles lately (just a dull ache, nothing sharp). I was pretty down about it, thinking my days of doing the big 15-mile ridge loops were over for the season. Instead of just not going out, I spent some time looking at the map for shorter, more scenic routes under five miles with good payoffs. Found this little 3-mile lollipop trail to a waterfall I'd always skipped because it seemed too easy. Did it last weekend with a lighter pack, took my time, and honestly, it was amazing. I actually noticed way more stuff, like the different mosses on the rocks and the way the light hit the pool below the falls. It felt more like a relaxed walk than a forced march, and my knee didn't make a peep. I guess sometimes your body forces you to slow down and see the trails in a whole new way.
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carter.laura7mo ago
Sometimes the best hikes are the short ones.
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cole9947mo ago
Forced to slow down, I found the same joy in short hikes.
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thomaspatel7mo ago
Totally get that. Had to let go of the idea that a hike wasn't worth it unless it was some big all day thing. There's a little loop trail near me, maybe takes 40 minutes if you drag your feet. Started doing it just to get outside. Ended up noticing so much more. The way the light comes through the trees at different times, little animals you just blast past on a longer trek. It's a different kind of good.
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