Turkey Mountain

[joegoda]

Shannon and I climbed Turkey Mountain. We thought... or rather I thought about going to Oktoberfest, just to see Tim. However, it was far too nice a day for that, and the leaves were a-changing so rather than the beer soaked crowded domain across the river, we ambled down to the 71st street bridge and rolled into the Turkey Mountain Urban Wildlife refuge. Yes. It is a refuge for Urban Wildlife. You know... Like Oscar Wilde.

We spent 2 hours, give or take, walking VERY rough trails, climbing rocky ledges that at a nearly 70 degree grade. She's a keeper, I feelin'. Kept pace with me, didn't falter, wasn't afraid to ask for help and wasn't afraid to hold me up when I needed it. To say we weren't pooped when we got home would be an understatement.

I recommend it, if you get the hankerin to go a-walkin' on some sunny day. Be prepared to get tired in a good way. They have trails that are a mile long and a trail that is a rocky five mile hike. No trail is marked well, and it's easy to go off the mark... which we did. I think in that 2 hour hike, we probably went about five or so miles up and down, got lost knowing where we were, found a wonderful rocky altar and a marvelous fairy wedding bower.

Comments

[capi.livejournal.com]

*reads this with delight, and remembers*

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Aw sis... this one would have daunted even your adventuresome spirit, I fear. Rocky, rocky with green and orange and red and even a bit of blue an white smattering round and bouts. Up and up we climbed, and she kept pace with me, she did.

Both Shannon and I were winded toward the middle of the trek, because wandering adventurer I pretty much got us lost in the 400 acre wood. Coming back down, I would stumble, and she would hold me up. For her, I would be the guide person, warning of impending tricky stones or roots that would catch her foot or worse.

It was starting to get a bit chilly and breezy towards the end of the day when we finally stumbled into the van. I looked at her, she looked at me, and we decided that we had indeed done enough mountain treking for the day. I slept very, very well that night. Never did make it to Oktoberfest, and I didn't miss it a bit.

Hugs to you, dear one!

[capi.livejournal.com]

*LOL* You didnt' know me *when*, dear heart. I'm a mountain goat, i am. Well, not now, but i WAS, and i'm still always on top of things. I still get caught on top of the house more than i care to admit. *LOL* I specially like to go up rocks but trees, too. *LOL*

It does my heart great joy to hear that you are out there doing this with her. You just don't KNOW how i swell up with... with.... what word is there that's big enuf?? *grins/giggles/laughs out* I wanna hear all about it as it unfolds, k? (Can you see this smile stretched clean across my entire face?)

And then you slept soundly. It is good.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Oh, I knew you *when*, darlin sis. My brother's and I used to go "What trail?" and off we'd go. Rock, hills, brambles, fences, streams, cricks (yes, cricks) all meant the same to us - they were invisible things to be managed and conquered.

I was only truly lost once, and that was when I came to believe in angels on earth. I was 5 or 6, wandering alone in Turkey Run... a state park in Indiana. I may have even told you the tale. I came to a dead end in the trail, and didn't want to walk the long walk back to where I was, so I just sat down and cried from frustration. Granted, I could have backtracked, but Stubborn was my middle name. So, I was lost, staring at a blank wall.

A young girl, probably all of 11 took my by my hand and said "Come on, there's always a way out." She led me to the blank wall and we turned left and lo and behold... more trail! She took me all the way to the suspension bridge, bid me goodbye and I never saw her again.

She taught me the most valuable lesson in the world. Never give up, Never give in, and don't be so prideful that you think you are without help.

Shannon is a pip, sister 'o mine. A true jewel and we're joined at the heart. She wants to go on a Cruise, and she wants to go where I want to go... Alaska! Think my lil sis would be up for some salty air someday? That's an invite, by the way... cuz you know we would be swinging by Sacramento on our way to Seattle.

[capi.livejournal.com]

That question just makes me cry.

*grins*

[brotherwilliam.livejournal.com]

But the IMPORTANT thing is - DID YOU SEE ANY TURKEYS?

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

No, but I did see two hasidic nomads, and one Irish fellow with full shock of red hair and beard, sixteen small children and 8 assorted tweeners.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

That sounds lovely! I LOVELOVELOVE to go walking, especially in the Fall.

Bruce and I ended up at Oktoberfest; was fun, is Bruce's environment but not mine. I endured. Best thing about it was going to walk around the river on the way there and back.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Sis, this wasn't just walking, this was climbing, wandering, getting losting, finding our way back through bush and bramble. You are quite welcome to come or even say "Take me to Turkey Mountain!"

Remember, I tend to go adventuring. Shannon is like that as well, and I suspect that your company would be hugely welcome at any time. Don't hesitate to step forward and say "Chet, what's doin' this weekend?" Cuz while there may not be anything on the immediate, there will pretty much always be somethin in the future.

And I'll keep in mind that I have a sis that Loves to go walking, next time. I really don't think this is the last time I'll be lost there. I've been five times now, and every time I get a little bit more lost.

Here's the map of the trails.

http://www.riverparks.org/Maps/tm_map.htm

The one marked in Yellow is the one we were following. What we did, silly us, was to cut across the map from bout mid way up the most center yellow line, near the word "Techne" or whatever it is, and then head due west or left. Which was also up.

We stood on the very top of Turkey Mountain, just under the world "Well" in the center. And then we had to find our way back down through unmarked trails. fun, fun! And we survived it.

[capi.livejournal.com]

LOVE this! Reminds me of our college days when a bunch of us went camping on Catalina Island, only a tiny part of which is "civilized". We arrived late at night, well after dark, dropped off by a boat, and had to hike to our site, about a mile and a half, in pitch darkness, to the other side of the island. There was no moon. I don't know how we did it. *LOL*

Next day, Tom and i set out hiking around on our own, apart from everyone else, (so many seem to think camping is about eating and drinking....) and we left the trail down to the rugged coastline. There is a REASON there is no path there! *LOL* Took us HOURS to get back to camp, and we were all beat to hell, scratched and banged up and wiped out from what we went thru.

*whoa* If that there mountain goat skeleton.... died on this trail.... you think WE can make it? *LOL*

It was a helluva a challenge, and we'll never forget it, and we sure didn't regret it! Oh dood... remember that unexpected trip we took to Long Beach in April? It was those folks, and remember the pictures we didn't know existed? *LOL* YEAH!!! Wow, were we young!!

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

That there mountain goat skeleton was probably lunch for something. Glad you didn't meet THAT!

I did a bit more research and posted some links on my next post. One guy rides his Mountain Bike on those rocky, rocky trails! Insane stuff! He also takes photos, which is very cool, and I thought of you when I was looking at them.

[capi.livejournal.com]

The mountain goat skeleton was at the base of... a way we decided NOT to go. *LOL* We found another route. We didn't have climbing gear, after all. *LOL*

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

It does sound good and like fun.

However, I'm about to try to become a 'real' working person so my free time, as well as my computer time, may radically change.

Right now, I don't know about much of anything.

[joegoda.livejournal.com]

Then right now, we shall keep the invitation as an open invitation. I am, as always, at your service. And this comes with a lot of big, full arm hugs, by the way.

And not knowing much of anything is not always a bad thing. It means the future is fully open, full of possibilities. Heck, I live not knowing much of anything.