Friday, July 31, 2009
Day 11

The Hike
It’s weird to be saying that the 8 mile hike today although our longest, (I haven’t run or walked 8 miles since my days at Lambeth), was an easier one but it was. I chose this one to regroup and save some energy for the timed hike tomorrow. It was on a gravel trail the whole way, and although undulating a lot, there were no major hills and no sand! Betsy and I walked together for the first time and chatted with the guide all the way there and back and the time just flew by especially as you didn’t really have to pay a lot of attention to where you were putting your feet and we could gaze around in wonder at the magnificence of West Canyon in Snow Canyon National Park. It was also a wonder to me to gaze up at these magnificent peaks and know that I actually climbed many of them over the last two weeks.
Betsy was in the wars a little as you can see from her scarred legs. I guess bare flesh, gravel, and cactus don’t really go together. She did great today and made the full 8 miles there and back.

Close
Meals are taken communally on long refectory tables in a cafeteria-like setting and the classes are always taken in groups (individual coaching is available but is extra.) It’s very much like summer camp: people are exchanging emails and promising to write; the ones leaving are concerned but happy to go; the ones left behind now have to create new friendships all over again; and the really long term residents are hunkering down to get through their own individual trials.
Our two weeks are almost over, one last hike and a few classes on Saturday morning and we’re done. We feel great, have absolutely no regrets, and are already considering coming back again next year.