Shaddox Hollows Loop

While I have had more outdoor experiences than a lot of people I know, I still consider myself a newbie when it comes to living life outdoors. I have friends whom I consider to be the epitome of "hardcore," and I have always wanted to be more like them. This blog is meant to record my experiences on the trail, so to speak. I want to push myself to reach the limits of my comfort zone and then keep pushing through to the other side, where I hope to learn more about who I am as a strong and capable outdoorsman (outdoorswoman?). I want to hold myself accountable to not becoming complacant or too satisfied with where I am on this journey; instead, I want to prove to myself that I can do things that I once never thought I would or could ever do.


That being said, today started my quest to explore both nature and my own uncharted potential. My husband, Charlie, my sister, Martha, and I took a short but invigorating hike on the Shaddox Hollows Loop in Northwest Arkansas. This trail was 1.5 miles and it was a very easy hike. It snowed here last week, and much of the ground was covered with unmelted and untouched snow and ice. We took some beautiful photos of the scenery, and we had a lot of fun climbing into small inlets of rock and exploring what was around the next bend. Charlie found a geo-cache in one of the alcoves and we signed the notebook, leaving one of our favorite Bible verses, John 3:16, for the next hikers to read.

I have been reading books on gear and what makes for a comfortable and safe hiker. I own a pair of Columbia boots that are warm and supportive, and today I also wore jeans, a cotton tank layered under a cotton t-shirt, with a ski jacket, gloves, and ear muffs. I stayed quite warm, and even shed the ear muffs and gloves as we progressed and my heart began to beat faster. I felt really dumb because I didn't bring any water or any supplies except for my camera. Even though it was a short hike, I know I shouldhave had more "just in case" supplies. That's one thing I am working on for next time.

Charlie is an experienced outdoorsman, and I always feel safe when I am anywhere off the beaten path with him. In fact, I rely on his skill and knowledge so much that I don't have the skills I would need should I ever find myself alone and lost or in trouble on a trail. One of my main goals through this process will be to learn how to survive and how to stay safe on hikes, camping trips, backpacking trips, or any other adventure I might encounter.

Here are some photos from today's beautiful hike: