SC Foothills Trail

We left out early that morning for our destination.  Upon arriving we parked one vehicle at the exit point and then drove to the entry point to begin our adventure.  The hike was beautiful and ran along the Chattooga River.  The temps were perfect, not too hot and not too cold.  

As the day progressed, although I had water & snacks, I could feel my energy level dropping. This would be my longest hike to date... prior to this, the longest hike I'd been on was 5 miles.  What I thought would be our "halfway mark" to stop for lunch took a lot longer than I had imagined in my mind, lol!  When we finally arrived at the mid-way mark, I was famished!!  We sat by the riverside and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings while we ate our lunch and talked.  When it was time to get started again, my body wasn't ready, lol!  But we had to get going so we would make it to the exit point before dark.

The remainder of the trail became harder and harder for me physically.  At one point I fell and landed on my knees and the palms of my hands.  It hurt pretty good, but I was able to get back up and keep going thanks to the support of the many friends that were with me!  One of which, Allyson, wore Chucks to hike in!! LOL!  She had never hiked that far before and was doing way better than I!!  I was simply amazed that her feet weren't killing her, but she did great!

I wasn't the only one that had a spill that day, a few of us did, but they too dusted themselves off and kept going!  Tough group of ladies!!  

As the day progressed, although we had water, snacks, honey packs, etc.... of which were shared with me, as I ran out (thought I was prepared...not), my physical and mental endurance were running very thin.  I have to give it to my girl Sherri, and the rest of them, for putting up with me because I was losing faith!  I kept asking "are we close yet?" LOL!  "Do you see the parking lot?"  LOL!  At one point I seriously thought I was going to have a mental breakdown... Through the help of my dear sweet friends we made it to the end just before dark.  I remember hollering for Roseann, hoping we were approaching the exit point and finally we heard her call out, "you're almost here!!!!"  It was such a RELIEF!!!  I thought we would NEVER make it!

We we finally made it to the exit point, where some of the others already were, waiting on us (dang power hikers, lol), I fell in to the back seat of the vehicle and literally died...  Although I was very proud of my accomplishment, I have never been so thoroughly exhausted in my life.

Will never forget this adventure!