Trail Story 1 - McCoy Hollow at Mammoth Cave National Park

Almost two years ago now, I experienced a status change. You know, the kind that means you're now checking out books about cooking for one... After the initial shock wore off I started doing the proverbial soul searching. I could not find my zen. I told a few close friends I was going out into the woods to find her, and that <insert bad word> better show herself or else, my Zen that is. Infamous (not last) words.

As if emotional instability wasn't enough on my plate, I was going to drag my sorely out of shape already-crying-dehydrated self out into the woods alone. Did I run over to the state park only ten minutes from home? Nope. Go big or go home, albeit not quite Cheryl Strayed big. Without further ado, what not to do when day hiking by yourself after a somewhat long hiatus.

I set out at 5am on the two hour drive to Mammoth Cave National Park with the following items:

• Backpack (Women's Mountainsmith Mayhem 35L)
• (2) 20oz bottles of water
• Apple
• Cliff bar (white chocolate macadamia nut, because they're the best)
• Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam sandwich
• iPhone 5C
• Hammock (ENO Doublenest)
• A phone picture of the MCNP backcountry trails map board with the McCoy Hollow 6.4 mile trail picked out

I read that list now and literally die of giggles every time. I was more concerned with taking a nap at the half way point than with hydration. 12.8 miles, 2 bottles of water. Let it sink in for a few minutes. You know where this is going, don't you?

Notes on the trail. This was the first backcountry trail I'd hiked alone, ever. So I'm not sure I would have noticed some of these things if I were hiking in a group. I found that being solo challenged my rusty navigation skills, BUT Mammoth Cave National Parks has the best marked trail systems I've traveled to date. There are reflective blazes very regularly placed along the trails with helpful mileage markers every quarter mile or so.

The Temple Hill Trailhead is off an old backcountry fire road, and it's fun to find. McCoy Hollow Trail is what I would consider a moderately difficult trail. It follows a natural watershed path for most of the route with steady climbs/descents at the beginning and the end (intersection of Wet Prong Trail). The first mile is a steady decent into low lands, and then its up and down crossing small creeks. My first time hiking the trail was in November, and the whole area was flooded with a beautiful misty yellow glow from the remaining canopy leaves. The low lands do get you quite muddy in that season, and be mindful of slippery rocks!

I hiked out around 7:30am and was pretty motivated to start. Downhill is fun! Until you realize your boots are too small. I think I adjusted my laces and socks and boots a million times, but it was useless when my feet just wanted to poke out the front like Flintstones feet. I did manage to get some fun photographs in this first half of the hike and marvel at how similar the feel is to the Smokies with random rock outcroppings.

Half way was 6.4 miles. I saw no other hikers at that point and was wondering why. I popped out my hammock and tiny lunch. I swigged down a whole bottle of water, not realizing it was my second bottle of two, and my first bottle had maybe an inch in it. Somewhere between dangling feet and the end of my sandwich I heard noise off in the distance. A group of four horses and riders passed, stopping to say "Nice day to hike!" before clopping off down the trail. Note to self, this is why we do not hang hammocks along the literal edge of the trail.

After realizing I had taken all but the last few sips of my water supply, I packed up and headed back. By now, I was also walking with a limp. Those too-small boots had officially pulled my middle toenail up on my left foot. Where was my Zen??? I said a few choice words to myself, crossed creek after creek, picking up my pace as I could because now it was 2:00pm. Sunset in November, 4:30pm. I was racing to get out of the woods by dark. No pictures on the return trip. 4 miles left and only two hours. I'm out of water at this point, and I'm slowly losing my temper with myself. The negative self-talk was real. I literally scolded myself out loud until I realized that was only making my dry mouth worse. Is this what it feels like to walk thru the desert? Oy.

If you follow the same route that I did, it will occur to you at some point (hopefully way sooner than it did for me) that the lovely fun downhill decent at the beginning is now the ugly torturous uphill battle at the very end of the hike. When I reached the bottom of this climb I recognized where I was. I was pretty lightheaded at this point. I thought, let's just push thru this last half mile or so. The empty pep talks didn't work. Only a hundred feet in or so I felt like I was going to pass out. Eventually I bargained with myself to take ten steps and then rest. I could complete the last portion in the dark with my iPhone if I had to. Ten steps then rest.

Spoiler alert, I finished. There was no harrowing event or need for rescue, but the fun wasn't over. When I saw my vehicle at the trailhead I literally cried. I hobbled over to it, set my pack on the ground and laid on my back on the adjacent picnic table for about 30 minutes. It was almost dark. BUT I made it. I drove very shaky all the way out of the backcountry to the nearest interstate intersection and sat in the drive-thru at McDonald's. I was afraid I couldn't walk in and was extremely lightheaded. "Large diet coke and large fry, please." I pulled over into a parking space and scarfed both down as quickly as possible. Then I slept for a few minutes.

The two hour drive home started slightly refreshed but before I was even on the interstate I had to pull over. Drinking an entire large fountain drink and then hurling it up on the side of the road is quite the experience. Dehydration is a fickle beast, and overexertion only adds to the complications. It happened two more times along the drive home. There was no more self scolding tho, just humility.

Trail Lessons:

• Hydration is the most important consideration for day hiking.
• Know (and accept) your physical fitness level and limitations.
• Take care of your feet. 
• All boots may be made for walking, but not all boots are made for hiking.
• Tenacity is your best friend and your worst enemy, use it wisely.

Yours,

Chicken