Some things just aren’t for me (pt. 1)

The last time I was filling this space with my bumblings, I wrote about an upcoming trip my wife and I were goin g to be taking with three other couples. Well, that trip was this past weekend as we traveled to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to enjoy some winter sporting activities.

We stayed in a cabin that was located near the base of Big Powderhorn Mountain. The first day of our journey, we tried our hands, or feet, at snowshoeing.

We found a trailhead behind the Aspirus Grand View Hospital and ventured out in the woods near Ottawa National Forest. We were planning on snowshoeing a smaller loop that would have been equivalent to about a mile of walking.

As we got going, we realized that snowshoeing is relatively more difficult than walking and thought, “Oh thank the Lord we are only doing a mile long loop.” At least, that’s what I was thinking.

Then, as we got a little ways down the groomed trail, we realized there was another trail in the woods further in, which looked seldom used. We went to the trail and spotted a map and sign which told us that snowshoers were not allowed on groomed trails. That’s probably something that is obvious to avid snowshoers, however, being it was our first time strapping on a pair of snowshoes since elementary school, we had no clue that we were supposed to be snowshoeing through the ungroomed areas that were marked with ribbons instead.

We trudged through the woods and I couldn’t help but notice how hilly the area was. Looking back, it makes sense. We were there for a ski trip. What did I expect... to ski down a ditch and call it a day? Nevertheless, the hills were the bane of my existence that day. I brought up the rear of our train, grabbing for my inhaler, and cursing the people ahead of me out for being more in shape than I.

After hiking about a mile, I got sick of the bulky snowshoes and hiked in my boots instead. At this point, I was drenched in sweat and joked that I could probably wring out my socks.

Before we had walked out into the woods, there was talk of attending a local restaurant for pizza or fish. Dreaming about that cuisine was about the only thing that was getting me through the rigorous cardio workout I was being put through.

As we exited the woods, I was exhausted, wet and cold. If I wasn’t so tired from snowshoeing, I might have walked another 100 yards to the hospital to get a pre-emptive defibrillator shock done. That was just the start of the trip. The rest, will have to wait until next week’s column.

Speeding

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ife