A Walk in the Park: 16 miles in Forest Park

After contemplating if I was going to post about each hike we've done this year, I decided to book it to the last one.  Last Friday Red and I hiked 16 miles through Portland's Forest Park.  I may be crazy, hiking 16 miles with a toddler in a backpack, it's true.  After doing so, I think I'd say that I am.  Nuts.  I can't say I'll do another one quite that long again this year.  Yep, that was it.

Almost ready to hit the trail, I was already having some reservations.  For one, who in their right mind, especially those like minded people who enjoy their sleep, starts a hike at 6:30 in the morning, WITH THEIR BABY!?!  That would be me.  Yep.  We already decided that I was crazy, right?  Right.  Secondly, the night before I was reviewing my plan with my husband, and realized that my math was wrong.  The section of Forest Park's Wildwood Trail that I planned to hike wasn't 14.34 miles; it was 18.9.  WHAT __  _____ (add your own carefully chosen words here)?!?!  I had mentally set myself up for a hike that was, in comparison, much shorter.  Add to that, I had lost a contact earlier in the week, so I had to hike with my glasses (not my favorite) and that the forecast was not in our favor.  Cancel?  Maybe.  I had weighed all of the options and came to the conclusion, "This is a city park, not a wilderness area" and "there are lots of easy outs if I need one" so off I went.  My wonderful husband had agreed to do a car shuffle so that I didn't need to plan a loop and a carseat would be waiting Red at the end.  Have I mentioned how wonderful he is?  Well, he is.  He is the best.

The first 5 miles were simply put, BLISS.  This is a CITY PARK.  Yes, that is right, owned by the city.  It also happens to be the closest city park to my new home.  Which makes what you see my child's playground.   How brilliantly fortunate and amazing is that!?!  As I walked, and Scarlett took it in, I felt an amazing feeling of gratitude.  So far the weather was Oregon Mist and not rain. There was an incredible grove of Hemlock so big and so dense that I would have guessed it was much earlier by the light.  So far the trail was in great condition.  So far Red was warm in her many layers and winter mittens and content to take in the surroundings.  So far.

As I passed the 10.25 mile marker that marked our first 5 miles and a quarter of the hike under the belt, Red let out one of those great bloodcurdling screams.  AH!  What happened?  Did she get bit?  Was there a branch that missed me but nailed her?  What could make a happy toddler so incredibly mad all of a sudden?  I naturally unbuckled and set her pack down immediately to check.  A little cold, but nothing immediately wrong.  Not hungry, wasn't interested in milk.  A quick diaper change and a little leg stretching later, I tried to put her in the pack again.  Pissed off munchkin.  Kicking the pack, screaming, the works.  It was great. I hope you caught the sarcasm there.  A premium 16 month fit about being in the pack.  I think the scream was her asserting her opinion.  And the kicking was definitely a message to me that I hadn't gotten it the first time.  We had already passed the 53rd Ave entrance, to which I could book it back to, but then what.  The easy out was only as easy as what we had to do when we got there!  No car, no carseat to put in someone else's car...  Wes was most likely at an install and wouldn't be able to leave until it was finished.  53rd is not exactly a heavily traveled road by people with empty carseats if you know what I mean.  And if there were one, it may very well be in a luxury automobile and picking up a momma and a kiddo on the side of the road well out of the question, not to mention whether I'd feel ok getting into a random car.  It was a fit, right?  Not the end of the world, not hypothermia, not frost bite.  So we took a break, and then I explained that we had to get going.  It worked, sort of.  She got in, but man oh man she was annoyed.

At the next "easy out", Firelane 2, she just looked so tired, and so not exactly happy with me.  But the fit was over, she was content to take it in and have a drink.  At this point I was looking at maps and wondering what the new plan B would be, and if we got to the next checkpoint, what that plan B would be.  Right after this point, the trail became a mudrun.  Just the weekend before, I did a 5 mile trailrun from Lower Saltzman to Maple Trail and out at Firelane 3.  The trail had looked good.  Now I was very happy to have some poles.  The Oregon Mist turned to Oregon Rain.  My gratitude was fading and that mental game within started.  I should have planned to stop at 53rd.  What had I been thinking.  Just about then, my once mad daughter started cooing and babbling a happy babble.  Oh, sweet music to my ears.  It is no surprise that she may be enjoying the mud slip and slide.  On a trek to Pacific City with our friend Fae, she thought it was just hilarious whenever someone slipped even a little on the large sand dune.  Fae had a German term for it that essentially translated to finding enjoyment from another's pain and suffering.  But in this case, I just didn't care, it was what I needed and I picked up the pace.  I kept pulling out the map when it wasn't slick to think about changing the route.  It was at least 11 miles left once I got to Firelane 3 to get to my car waiting for me at the end of that trail.  The thought of 11 more miles really didn't make me happy, but if I dropped down to Leif Erikson, it had to be shorter.  That old road was only a little more than 11 miles total and I was a good grip into it.  I could also head back to NW Portland from there and Wes' shop was only a mile past the Leif Erikson trailhead.  Ok, new plan and plan B established.  

The rain was now mist again.  Thank gawd and goodness!  We made it to Firelane 3 without much ado.  Many mountain bikes had really had a great time on that trail and I think I would have enjoyed myself on a bike as well, without a little one.  About a half mile down we made it to Leif Erikson!  Whoo hoo!  What mile marker were we at?  Between 4 and 4.25...  hmmm.  A little break to let Red run and contemplate the meaning of this.  That meant that we had about 6 miles left.  It also meant that we could shave almost 3 miles from the day.  It wasn't really misting or raining at the time, nor was it dry.  5 miles to Wes' shop, 6 miles + a little bit of road to my car. hmmm.  Happy baby, not raining.  hmmm.  Change the diaper, give Red some new dry pants and get hiking.  To the car.  Just do it. Get it done.  Go home and drink warm beverages for the rest of the day.  Wes was prepared to get BBQ (one of my weaknesses, but also a great reward) for dinner and I was keeping my eye on the prize.  We hadn't seen anyone for awhile, just some runners back around mile 6 or 7.  So that was what got me going, I admit it fully - BBQ.  Whatever it takes, right?!

Around 2 miles later, someone sounded like she needed to have lunch, so we stopped.  Again.  Changed a diaper, ate some food, changed to a pair of woolies after she found a puddle.  Life was good.  Beautiful place, beautiful company and happy company to boot.

Getting back into the pack was a breeze.  Big sigh. whew.  ok.  4 miles to go.  Hey there is a runner!  "Good morning, do you have the time please?", "11:15", "thanks".  Awesome!  We actually weren't making the worst time!  Forget dinner, BBQ for lunch if we make it by 1!  Yeah.  Still motivated by BBQ.  My diet is guilting me right about now.

1 hour later...  man, my hips are starting to really burn.  Scarlett has settled into a nap, and after singing Music Together songs for an hour, I am happy about that.  2 miles left.  Whew.  Keep going.  One step at a time.  high step it to the next bend.  This part of the trail is very familiar.  We hike it often enough to see that we are getting close.  Walking right through the puddles is refreshing, and the thought of a river at the end is a nice daydream.  Ice bath at home?  Um, hell no.  But it was a nice thought for a second.  By now I am fully aware that I am thinking less about the beauty surrounding me and more about the heal-to-toe express that means finishing the hike.

At the Leif Erikson trailhead I was overcome by joy.  We made it!!!  Now, just hike the road to the car (my car said that it was about .35 miles, spit in a bucket)...

We get to the Wildwood Trailhead by way of Germantown Road and she is still asleep.  Getting a pack off was never so unnerving or such a relief.  My hips are hurting but I feel ok.  Mental note to call for an acupuncture appointment.  I can hear Kimberly telling me to take it easy already.  BBQ?  nope.  I want some cottage cheese and tomatoes and a coffee.  Another 16 mile hike next week?  Um, no thank you.  I'll take the 5.  

I remember having the very clear thought somewhere by Firelane 2 that this hike will either be held against me when she is older, or she will love it.  The next day I had to smile at the thought of the later as she continued to crawl and play in her backpack throughout the day.

Thanks for reading this!  See you next time.  The BBQ was delish for dinner. :)