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Kalalua trail training: Pima Canyon Trail.

We did our 2nd training hike for the Kalalua trail yesterday. This time we got a little more serious about the weight we put in our packs! It was really good practice for 2 reasons.

1) We practiced packing our backpack. Which takes skill. You have to disperse the weight a certain way so it helps with balance and comfort. And you have to seriously use some muscle to get your gear compact! (sleeping bag, sleeping pad, clothes, tent, water, and any other supplies needed).

2) Hiking in Tucson has it's challenges. Most of the trails are very steep and rocky. Now adding extra weight? All of a sudden 11 miles is no joke!

Here are a few photos we took along the way!

It was a beautiful morning, as there was a storm passing through the canyon!


 
The desert is so green right now with the plentiful rains that January brought. (Green for the desert)


 

 
 
A few things I learned on this hike:
 
  1. I am super excited for more backpacking trips ahead!
  2. I need to stop being stubborn, and listen to my husband at the beginning and take breaks. It's best to stop every 1-1.5 miles, and take off your pack for a few seconds and stretch out. 2 hours into the hike, I quickly understood why....
  3. My ankles and lower back need to get stronger. 
We had so much fun getting some quality time outside. The trails were reasonably quiet since it was 20 mph winds, which his a hiker's paradise. It was a perfect Saturday morning :)
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Comments

Lisa's Yarns said…
Looks and sounds like an awesome hike! Carrying 20 pounds on a steep hike would be so hard! How much will you have to carry when you do the real deal? It's great that you live in an area where you can go on these hikes so you are well trained for your big hike in Hawaii!!
March 1, 2015 at 8:38 AM
Marlys said…
What can you do to strengthen your ankles & lower back? Just do more backpacking? Would putting weights on your ankles during runs and walks help? I heartily agree that you should listen to your trainer!
March 3, 2015 at 7:40 AM
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