Well as many of you know Laina and I have increased the amount of days a week that we hike and we have certainly increased the intensity of our hikes. So sometime in July Laina told me that she wanted to again try to climb Multnomah Falls to see the comparison and how much she had progressed since we have been hiking. This was going to be a journey for just us and the families were staying home. The only other people on this hike would be the ones on this journey with her - so with that being said the photographer from the Columbia newspaper was right behind us and Michelle a personal trainer. So Saturday August 25th was our day.
That morning Laina picked me up to head up to the falls and she was slightly bummed. She had a goal of 100 lbs weight loss, however she was one pound short - I was so impressed and proud of how far she has come in this journey. (Note: a couple days later she made it to the 100 lbs!!!) I was also thinking that I cannot believe I am hiking this today I always thought it would be so hard and that people were crazy for going up - but here we go.
Once everyone got to the meeting spot we headed on up the falls. We moved up the hill with great ease as this hike was minor compared to others that we have conquered. I had my phone in my hand and was watching the clock, unbeknowst to Laina....lol. I had been confused when she said that it took her 116 minutes and was thinking an hour and 1 hour and 16 minutes or 76 minutes....so needless to say I was watching and pushing us to go a bit faster. When we got to the top of the hill we took pictures and were very excited about how much easier this journey was for her, but we still had the trip back down. Now I know that our return trips normally take half the time or less but we were getting down the crunch time or so I thought, so back down the hill we go.
At the bottom I looked at the time and we had completed the hike in just 58 minutes! After I figured out the timing mistake on my part I felt kind of bad for about oh 2 seconds that I had pushed us harder to get done faster but we hiked that hill in HALF the time as she hiked it just 3 months earlier. Not only is the weight coming off but we are loving this journey and seeing the sights. Each hike we make is strategic with us to see what else we can do. We are pushing ourselves to be better and stronger.
On that day I was so proud of my life long friend that she had lost nearly 100 lbs, that she beat her hiking time of Multnomah Falls by 1/2 the amount of time and that we are in this life journey together. Although we had been apart for 23 years in the past I can't see a time in my future without her hiking by my side.
Multnomah Falls from the bottom (for those of you not from the NW) this is the 2nd highest falling falls in the US.
A view on the way up.
Troy the photographer getting his picture taken for once....lol
A view from the top
Here is a picture of me at the top.
Falling over the edge to make the beautiful falls.
Oh Rondie! You totally made me cry! Thank you..for always being there... I needed you..precisely when you came!
ReplyDeleteTo many more hikes...and many more pounds to burn!
Laina