T minus 10

We  got in the last of our Half Dome preps today with a power walk  up  Mission Peak.  Just Barbie and me.   Hit the trail close to 9am and never looked back.  We were both using \”trekking poles\”  (Barb bought a new pair)  and both sporting new hiking boots. Barb still trying to find the perfect fit returned her 3rd pair for exchange (yay REI!!)   One thing that Rick Deutsch mentioned at the Half Dome Pep Talk last week that the downhill from Half Dome  is what gets most people.  \”You have to have a bigger toe box so your toes don\’t take a beating\”  A light bulb moment for me!  No wonder why I was always so sore after those Mission Peak downhills. No wonder my \”dogs were barkin\” after every hike.  I NEEDED A BIGGER BOOT!!!! Well Gall dung and pass the potatoes. I bought a bigger boot and and really worked well for me. The dogs were still barking but not as loud!  We made decent time up to the peak, shared a pb&j and a couple of apples. And took a self portrait.  Back down the  way we came, testing out the poles on the downhill. They were a life saver. Like a billy goat on the way up and like spider man on the way down. That and the new boots not hurting the feet made for a great hike. Thats not to say it wasn\’t a tough one. They are all tough.

 Ten days to Half Dome.

BRING IT!