Still a Runner
A Blog by Mary Lou HarrisArchive for Hiking
Finding Sasquatch – A Preservation Trail Run 5 & 10K
A week of high temperatures and humidity gave way to an evening of downpours that continued through Saturday’s Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run 5K and 10K. The run is billed as an adventure run – and definitely is. It begins at North Branch Farms and benefits the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County.
Sasquatch did appear. I’m sure there must have been more than one, since I saw him (or her?) several times on the trails. The mixture of terrain was good, with some open pasture land, some horse trails through the woods, and at least five or six horse jumps to find our way over by whatever means, followed by short but steep ups and downs. Then near the end of mile 5 came the stream crossing.
With the intense rain the night before Codorus Creek was running high and fast, more than waist-high for me. A couple of burly volunteers were stationed in the creek to ensure none of us was swept downstream.
It was when I emerged from the stream that I realized that from a quick fall – down and back up again in a second – that I had blood running from my knee. I reached the finish line at 1:27:30. Friends who had finished much earlier were there cheering. Seeing my bloody knee, they flagged down a gator. I hopped in for a ride back to my car, pulled out my first aid kit, and with the help of the volunteer cleaned out and bandaged my knee well enough to get to urgent care.
With only a light breakfast hours before and 10K of trail under my belt, I decided just a bit of nourishment was needed to keep from getting lightheaded. At the McDonald’s nearest to the highway, I pulled up at the drive-through. Creek-wet from the waist-down and blood dripping from my knee, I wasn’t suitable for even the interior of a McDonald’s. My order? Apple pie and coffee, please. Calories and caffeine.
Back on the highway to urgent care, I was seen quickly. As expected, stitches were in order. Not a great ending to a scenic run, but for my many miles of trail runs and hiking, this was my first experience with stitches. Bumps, bruises, scratches and a few insect bites, yes, but never stitches until now. A small price to pay for many wonderful experiences in the outdoors.
How was your weekend run? Hopefully less eventful than mine.
Kipona Weekend
My capital city celebrates each Labor Day with activities around our beautiful sparkling waters of the Susquehanna River, our Kipona Festival.
Here you will find hand-made art items, musical performances and food, lots and lots of food.
While all that is wonderful, my early arrival on City Island was designed to get in a few miles before joining running friends Todd and Jen as they hosted a River Runners group run to celebrate their upcoming marriage. Todd and Jen met at a group run years ago so it was only fitting to host a run and finish it off with post-race snacks. Group runners began at different paces, making our way up river through food and performance tents not yet occupied by vendors and visitors.
Runners congregated post-run to chat and munch. I saved my snack for later as I had more miles on my schedule. On my last lap around City Island, I stopped at the Pow-Wow Festival and listened a bit to the haunting sound of a wood flute while I picked up a Fry Bread Taco. Delicious and far too big for me to finish.
While running down river earlier, I saw that wires were being set up for a tightrope walker scheduled for later in the day. Given the gusts of wind coming across the water, I expected the walk would be cancelled. Not so, as my friend Jennifer caught in this photo.
Not a water walking nymph as the eye might have us believe, but a graceful tightrope walker probably 40 feet or so above the water.
Overall a relaxing weekend, ending with an out-and-back six-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail, 93 degrees at the start but feeling cooler on the trail, Our return trek took us into dusk, ending with a dark trail alight with the beam of our headlamps.
The end of summer heat and humidity did nothing to dampen my appreciation of the bountiful beauty of this region. Never forget those who labor to protect our environment so that we can enjoy it.
I will end this post with another view of our sparkling Susquehanna, this one from atop Peter’s Mountain, taken during the hike, a scenic close to a beautiful weekend.
Power lines can be an eyesore along some trails. In this case, our hike leader Mark captured the view as the sun was about to take that last shred of pink beneath the horizon, the lines having the look of architecture, drawing our eye down into the valley below.
Art in the Wild at Wildwood Park
What better way to spend a hot, steamy Independence Day Week than a walk (or run) on a shaded towpath and hilly perimeter around Wildwood Park.
Using mostly natural materials, each year artists construct art that reflects the natural setting where a variety of flora and fauna have a happy home. Here is your preview:
Forces
Boundless Tabernacle
Embracing Diversity
Larger than Life
Harmonic Convergence
Nature’s Gallery
Birth of Mother Nature
Natural Abstraction
So this week of July 4th, give us your independent vote. The official awards have been given, but we can still make choices right here. What’s your preference in art? Go Wild with your response!
Walking in Solothurn – Day 5 and Farewell
Our final day hiking began with a train from Solothurn to Deitingen where we walked through a lush forest to the lake of Inkwil.
The pilings in this lake area are a Unesco world heritage site, originally houses on stilts now primarily underwater due to changes in environment over the thousands of years since the houses were built.
After another hour of walking we came to a clearing in the forest where two Friendship Force of Solothurn volunteers Susan and Martin surprised us with a forest luncheon.
We learned how to properly score a sausage prior to placing over the fire.
Jürg demonstrated the proper technique to score a sausage to achieve the desired appearance.
Bidding goodbye to Susan and Martin, we continued out of the forest and were again on open trail where we came upon the Lake of Aeschi, a lovely tourist stop suitable for swimming and having a beverage on the lawn that banks to the lake.
A beautiful afternoon of sun and water followed by a farewell dinner with many thank you and good-byes, and of course music of the region.
Tomorrow, we leave this wonderful hive of hikers to cast ourselves to various destinations. Some will continue to travel in Europe, others like myself will be returning to our homes.
I will miss the door-to-door public transport that Switzerland offers. Among the first departures in the morning, I catch the earliest bus at our stop. The bus drops me at the Solothurn train station where I then board the train for arrival at the station in the Zurich Airport, finishing my morning commute with a walk through security and on to my airline’s gate.
Many thanks, Friendship Force of Solothurn for a hospitable and healthy journey.
Walking in Solothurn – Day Four atop Weissenstein
On the fourth and perhaps my favorite day of our walk, we board the train from Solothurn to Oberdorf. There we hop on the gondola and ride to the middle station at Nesselboden for this beautiful mountain in the Juras chain, Weissenstein.
We did well, needing only one rest break on our way to the top.
The cattle grazing along the mountainside are responsible for the wonderful cheese and other dairy products we are enjoying during our stay.
Although rain was predicted, we don’t see any until we reach the summit where a fresh mist was coming down.
We watch a hand glider preparing to take flight
From the top of Weissenstein, Lucie leads us on a path that dips down several hundred feet to the Sennhaus restaurant. There we enjoyed a well-earned lunch of sausages and potatoes.
With our wonderful guide Lucie, dark clouds overhead at the top of Weissenstein.
Our trip down was shorter and steeper, and soon we were back to the gondola for a quick trip to the base of the mountain.
On our return to Solothurn, we joined in at the Cheese Market. We made our way through animals, hay bales, vegetables and an array of Swiss cheeses and chocolates to sample and buy.
After a long day, we hike back to the hotel to prepare for our final day of walking and hiking.
Thank you for a splendid day, Lucie, Karin, Urs and Jurg, our Swiss friends.
Walking in Solothurn – Day Three along the River Aare
Today, before our walk along the River Aare, we spend a bit of time with a historic walk through this lovely baroque town. There are three remaining gates to the city and we also see portions of remaining Roman wall jutting from the corner of a trendy shop.
The Solothurn Cathedral (Cathedral of St. Ursus, an early martyr of the church), was originally built in the early middle ages with changes over the centuries including a rebuild in the 1700’s.
The detailed history and design is worthy of a guided tour when you make your visit to Solothurn. As is the Church of the Jesuits, a relative newcomer built in the late 1600’s with a stunningly breathtaking interior.
We don’t leave the town center before seeing some of the many clocks, including one representing the cycle of life/renewal and death, a musical clock, and an 11-hour clock (the number 11 having a special designation in Solothurn – 11 steps to the cathedral, 11 of almost everything with a historical significance).
Leaving town, we follow the River Aare, passing cattle in pasture meadows, fields of crops as well as some industrial buildings along this lane.
The stork settlement at Altreu was a delight. In September, many of the young storks had already flown south. Those too old to make the trip stay to winter here.
Having hiked just over six miles from Solothurn, we boarded a boat on the River Aare for our return and to meet our dinner hosts.
Our day ended with small group dinners hosted by local Friendship Force members. My good fortune was to be included in a dinner in the neighboring city of Bern where we dined at the home of Urs and Ursula. We were treated to wonderful food, including dishes incorporating grapes, figs and apples from their garden. After enjoyable conversation and cuisine, we returned to Solothurn by auto. (Urs had rented an auto by the hour, a common practice when several people are traveling or large items must be transported. Otherwise, the order of the day is convenient bus/train combinations to get from town to town.)
Many thanks to our dinner hosts as well as day hosts Tamara, Kurt, Lucie and Jürg. Sleep tight and prepare for Day 4 – hiking up Weissenstein.
Walking in Solothurn – Day Two along the River Emme
Another beautiful morning in Switzerland finds us on Day Two of our 5-day walk with Swiss Friends.
Two rivers run through the city of Solothurn, the Emme and the Aare. Today, we are exploring the River Emme.
We meet with our hosts at the bus stop for a short trip to the train station, then on to Ulzenstorf.
Our trek begins with a green path, dotted with houses that seem to merge into the countryside and always surrounded by flowers and greenery. The beautiful Juras Mountains are at the horizon.
These homes with truncated hip roofs and large balconies or porches are a typical style found along our walk.
Every window ledge has a distinct look to catch the eye of passers-by
A short way ahead our feet find us at Landshut Castle. It was the seat of the Lords of Uzansdorf for about two hundred years.
The castle was rebuilt in the 1600’s and exchanged hands many times over the next 200 years.
What is a castle without a moat?
Today it is a Swiss heritage site housing the Swiss Museum for Wildlife and Hunting.
We stopped for a break and ate our packed lunches under the watchful eye of these outdoor sculptures and hangings.
More walking on our return, then a stop at the Coop, a cooperative grocery with a dining and refreshment area. Here we had the option to return by bus to the hotel or hike a bit further ending at our hotel. I opted to continue hiking.
More outdoor artwork along our return path:
Taking a break before our final stretch home
We were ushered to our destination by beautiful swans and ducks guiding our way. A hearty dinner at a nearby tennis club awaited us (water fowl were not on the menu).
Thank you to our Swiss hosts for the day, Jürg, Lucie, Marie-Therese and Thomas of the infectious laugh. You made another beautiful day possible for us.
