Day 19 - Zuma Ridge

When I heard that we were hiking Zuma Ridge today, I was like no way...not this girlie!  "I'm tired."  "My foot hurts." "I will never be able to hike a trail that hard."  As soon as I got back to my room I realized that my body felt incredibly strong...it was FEAR that was holding me back.  Being afraid is no longer an excuse and never will be again.  So I grabbed all of my stuff and ran to the van (purchasing some socks in the pro shop on the way, realizing just in time that I had forgotten them.) 

The Zuma Ridge Trail is a wide dirt service road that weaves northwest up the back of the ridge west of Zuma Canyon. The hike starts at the base of the flood plane and ascends to beautiful hillsides and views. In short, you hike at an incline for 1 1/2 hours getting as high as you can before it's time to turn around and head back.  I picked a point and set my goal.  I have never felt so strong in my life!  My destination was so close when I heard, "Turn it around."  Any other day I would have been relieved to hear those words...it was hot, my legs were screaming, my heart was pounding in my ears, and it is rattle snake season for God's sake. Today...today I was determined to reach my goal.  There was still one guide and one hiker ahead of me.  I asked to keep going until I ran into them or arrived at my destination.  Time was short, so I picked up my speed and got focused.  ~15 minutes later...I was there...I made it!  Not only that, but I was the second highest climber!  There are not words to describe how proud I felt and still feel.  The day I arrived, I was out of breath just walking to my cabin...and today I made that trail my bitch!  I am forever changed by this experience.

What exactly am I doing?!

Time to catch up after pausing for a few photos.  Wait up Michael C.!

View #1 from the "Top"

View #2  from the "Top"