Various Ramblings
Michael Nowak
Cha-cha-changes!
Cha-cha-changes!
Various Ramblings
Michael Nowak
Seeing can mean believing.
Seeing can mean believing.

hiking

#WBW - Waterfall Wednesday

Here’s a look back at a quick little hike to a nice waterfall with one of my favorite people. We did the short hike, over some small hills, and found ourselves at this gorgeous waterfall. There was no one around, so the nature was all ours! We took our shoes off, rolled up our pants, and felt the cold rush of spring mountain water on our feet and legs. The comfort and relief I get from rushing, cold water over my feet is hard to describe. The whole hike was magic, and I’m often looking back to this day and how a simple spring hike with a dear friend made me so happy.

Murhut Falls - Olympic National Forest

Murhut Falls - a closer look

two peple standing in front of a waterfall

Myself and my dear friend posing for the memory - wet and happy

#MondayMotivation - Keep trying

Over the weekend, I hiked for the first time in ages. A real hike. A hike with elevation. A hike with thin air. It was my first hike post recent COVID and it was hard to breathe. I was struggling. BUT, I did it. I was with a group of friends who struggled a little too, but we were struggling together.

I felt pretty good after, accomplished and ready to keep going. By Sunday afternoon, I wasn’t even that sore. The struggle for me really was catching my breath and pushing forward. I’m hoping with continued activity, and a little chat with my doc next wee, I’ll be breathing normally again soon.

If you don’t think you can, try. If you don’t want to, just try. If you go and do the thing, but don’t succeed, you tried. Did I hike as well as I would have liked, no. Did I move quickly? Also, no. Did I do the damn thing, despite being worried about breathing? Yes. Did I take measures to accommodate my issues? You bet your ass I did. This goes back to last week - adjust and go forward with a new plan.

Enjoy some photos from the hike that made me feel alive again. (Mount Rainier National Park - Skyline & Golden Gate Trails)

Dropping the Bullsh*t

First, I’m writing this for myself. If you don’t want this kind of content, don’t read it. Second, I’m writing this to have some sort of reference point that is not my personal journal since I have several journals floating around because I’m bad at being consistent. Third, I’m fine and will be fine. Life is truly good, even if it’s got some little spots that really fucking suck.

I’ve been trying to figure out what’s good and what’s not for me in my life. I’d spent years tracking my exercise and steps as well as sleep. I love data, in theory. I love data when I’m doing regular exercise and getting regular sleep. I don’t like looking through the data when I’m sleeping 2-3 hours per night or being so overwhelmed mentally I’m too tired to do anything in the form of even a long walk.

I’ve tried to track daily things since February, and have had a bad record of doing so. I’ve recently updated my info and it’s just very bleak compared to years past. I feel it in my body, I feel it in my brain. I’m foggy. I’m slow. I’m a little more plump than usual. I’m just not feeling very myself. My body is over it and so is my brain. My brain, though, is a little asshole too. It’s not as though I don’t want to go for a walk, run, bike ride, or hike, it’s my brain being like “just lay on the couch and eat ice cream” so it all snowballs out of control.

I’m making myself go to the trails this weekend. I want to get some fresh air, challenge myself a bit, and get my dog out and acclimated to hiking again. I want to pick up the trash along the way and fulfill my duty as a Groundskeeper for 2021. I want to be outdoors with people I enjoy in a place away from the office hell of home or work.

I feel myself coming out of whatever it was holding me back. I feel a little more fresh, but still a little foggy. I’m trying, and pushing myself. I’m journaling my thoughts and feelings. I’m taking note of my moods, my foods, my drinks, and my time.

Things I have not given up on (maybe the only things truly getting me through)

  • Looking for the moon each morning

  • Getting lost in a sunrise

  • Watching the sun set over the horizon

  • Going out to see the stars (and moon) on the last dog walk of the night (they’re much more clear here in New Mexico)

  • Sleeping - it’s not always great, but it always happens eventually.

Things I will try harder to do, despite any of the bullshit in my brain

  • Take that dog for his 4 mile daily walk

  • Restart Couch 2 10K YET AGAIN

  • Get over to the apartment gym for some rotations

  • Make better food choices at home

  • Drink less alcohol (hasn’t been a problem, but certainly not always the best choice)

  • Hike every weekend again

  • Maybe bike to the office in my new small town

Here’s to a better March and a better outlook for 2021. Here’s to getting back to a routine, back in my groove, and back to reality. Here’s to balancing work and life and having some weekend adventure. If you need me, reach out - no matter my state I’m always here.

#ForestFriday - Cascade Pass Trail

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Today I’m looking back at my brief day trip to visit North Cascades National Park. I’ve created a post on it already, found here. Today I’m going to highlight some of the plants and fungi I found along the Cascade Pass Trail. The clouds may have prevented me from seeing the views, but my I was able to focus on the ground a little more.

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The trail climbed steadily, and I was continuously blown away by the lush greenery through the mist. The Pacific Northwest is truly magical and it’s easy to see why my heart can’t rest until I make a return.

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The trail had huge drop offs and that may make some nervous. I took it as motivation to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy the moment.

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#MondayMotivation - A Healthier Mike: May 2020 Update

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THE GOOD STUFF

  • Every day had at least a walk (only a few were less than 4 miles)

  • Learned more about stretches necessary for keeping my hip, knee, and back in check

  • I hiked! Oh my glob did I hike! It was glorious, too. Thirty miles of hiking felt wonderful after months with little to none.

  • I feel well enough to start running again

  • I managed to maintain my weight, without gaining anything

  • It was another month over 150 miles of activity (168 actually, even 162 if you take out the biking)

  • My lowest daily steps was in the 9000s which is great

  • I closed my rings every day, in theory. I missed one day of standing because I left my watch on the charger for 6 hours. BUT, I did stand so…whatever.

  • Average daily mileage was over 4 miles

  • I know where I need to improve and refocus.

  • I feel good and I think I look better. My confidence is a little higher these days.

  • Ran my fastest mile to date!

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THE NOT-SO-GOOD

  • I miss the gym

  • I need more sleep

  • I need to stop letting myself be dragged down by others

  • I didn’t lose as much weight as I was hoping, and I certainly didn’t build any muscle but I maintained so I guess that’s a neutral

  • My bike was neglected, as were my running shoes. Stupid hips.

  • I had a lot of binge-type days that included truckloads of alcohol and snacks. I learned it doesn’t ruin the whole process, but certainly doesn’t help. The water weight/bloating from one snack/drink happy hour stayed with me for a few days and really killed my vibe.

MENTAL HEALTH

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  • Even though work is at home, I’ve learned to leave it in the corner after hours.

  • I’m about over my own stupidity. I have a lot of solutions for my own problems but no willpower or energy to do anything. It’s awful.

  • Constantly having to respond and reach out to people can be tiresome, even for this extrovert. Sorry not sorry if I seem anti-social or haven’t reached out “enough” lately.

  • Sleep is a constant battle… there was a period of time I was sleeping a lot, or a lot more than normal. Now, I’m back to being weird. I’m staying up late, which is my not so secret favorite, and waking up just in time to do a morning work call. This is not enjoyable. I wish there was a world where I could stay up late and get up early, like I used to, but there’s not. SO, I’m going to start trying to sleep before 11pm again and wake up at 6am. That’s the goal for June.

  • I’m reminded of how lucky I am in these trying times. SO VERY FUCKING LUCKY, even if things sometimes just shit all over me.

  • I am my own worst enemy.

  • Apple Health isn’t the end-all-be-all. It’s a tool in bettering yourself. I rely too heavily on this for what? For my own tracking and motivation. I need to stop letting it really bother me. If I’m doing enough and feeling fine, fuck it.

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GOALS FOR JUNE

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  • Read a Damn Book!
    OK, TV be damned. I’m going to set a tough goal of reading 6 books this month to catch up for the year and get my head out of the programming.

  • More Salads & Greens.
    Veggies are my friend. I haven’t had enough lately, and it shows. Time to re-up the salads and make them in bulk for lunches.

  • Social Media Break (3 days, at least)
    I’m heading off the grid to the cabin to do some work/relax for at least three days.

  • Run Run Run!
    May was a total bust for running, whatever. I will run my ass off in June. My race isn’t canceled, yet!

  • Keep going!
    Now that the state parks are open, I plan to make up the lost hikes of 2020. I’m checking off quest goals while hitting mileage ideals.

  • FOUR+ Hikes in June
    Got some really good hikes in during May, hopeful for as many ore more in June.

  • 175 Miles.
    I hit 160, so I’m going to try for 175. Obviously, if I run, walk, and bike in the same day it could really amp it up.

  • Lose 5+ pounds
    I know it’s not about the weight, but I need to rethink what I’m eating and drinking and really push to be better overall and I think this is a reasonable number to shoot for. I’d like to end the sixth month 50 pounds down for the year.

THOUGHTS, NOTES, CONCLUSIONS

  • I am on the right path. My momentum kind of stalled in May, but added hiking kept me going. I’m still working on my food/alcohol/exercise balance and getting more sleep. This is the right path and my clothes falling off are proof.

  • I am using Noom. My Noom was reset by 4 weeks to help me improve and reinvigorate me. I’m basically using it to track and I really need to be more mindful of what the lessons are each day.

  • I have accepted the new me. I still enjoy some days with indulgence, and that’s not going to change. If I have to cut something completely out of my life, I don’t succeed. The beauty of my main meals being overall better for me is that the indulgence days don’t completely fuck me over in the long run. Balance, baby! (Still a work in progress)

  • I’m still like running. I am going to amp it back up this month. I’ve got pages of stretches and yoga moves to help keep me limber.

  • For real REAL. I’m finally on a path that allows me to have the things I want with little sacrifice as far as food and drink go. It feels good to be in the 280s and not going back up. It feels good to know that I can have a burger and fries, once in a while.

“Oh, why do I compare myself to everyone?
And I always got my finger on the self destruct”
— Demi Lovato - I Love Me
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#WayBackWednesday - Ludington State Park, 2007. #PureMichigan

Back in 2007 some friends and I took a trip to Ludington State Park on Michigan’s west coast. The park sits along Lake Michigan with dunes, trails through the woods, and access to nearby lighthouses. The whole coast of Lake Michigan is amazing, but this little slice is extra nice. If you get the chance to visit Michigan, make sure to travel along the shorelines of the Great Lakes and stop at Ludington State Park.

We lived in nearby Allendale, MI where our college was located so this was an easy little trip for us. We were a bunch of twenty somethings headed camping and we definitely made some memories. The photos I share are from an old camera and are mostly the natural beauty. I didn’t find many photos from our campsite, probably because we were having a real good time.

Spring here in Texas reminds me of summer up in Michigan. The temps are warm enough, the sun is plentiful, and the air is breezy. Here’s to the summer nights of the past and hopefully some in the near future on one of Michigan’s coasts.

#MondayMotivation - What's the big idea?

I was in the middle of a hike on Saturday when I started to feel the burn. This hike wasn’t particularly strenuous or anything, but there were some minor hills and it was a total of 10 miles. I was on mile 7 or 8 and I was thinking I need to get more hikes this long and intense in my life. I also thought I needed to include more strenuous hikes weekly and cardio into daily life. I thought I needed more healthy choices in my life and I thought I needed more random drives to random locations. In the peak of my hike, with light dancing off canyon walls around me, I had all the great ideas.

Today, while I made smart food choices and bought plenty of produce for the week, I didn’t do much in terms of cardio or exercise in any way. All of the big ideas I had during my hike usually don’t translate to reality, but I am going to do a few things inspired by them. I’m going to restart the Couch 2 5K program and continue on my quest to reduce my calories and increase my nutritious items. I’m going to visit more locations that require leaving in the middle of the night and I’m going to see more sunrises.

Motivation comes in many forms, sometimes it lasts and sometimes it fades. I’m hoping to run with the momentum (pun intended) from my hike on Saturday and at least half-ass try to be better at things. I want my hiking pants to fit better and I want that hoodie to be a little loose. I want to to have boundless energy and I want my body to hurt less after 10 measly miles. I want to run that trail from Saturday and hike even further every weekend. Big ideas that translate to a bunch of small steps that hopefully lead to big results.

Do you ever have big ideas during a hike or adventure that you have to find ways to translate into real life ideas? Feel free to leave a comment!

#WayBackWednesday - Caprock Canyons State Park

We’re going back to Caprock Canyons State Park last year at the end of September. This was a quick weekend camping trip that included a hike to Fern Canyon (a must-see if you’re at Caprock) and some other adventures with bison and spiders. Camping varies there, but there I’d recommend anywhere but near the lake as you’ll have more space between spots. Primitive looked best, but we just car camped at one of the tent only areas. Enjoy some photos!

#MondayMotivation - Find your mountain

I want to backpack in or around Mount Rainier National Park the next time I go there. So, until solid goals are set, the motivation for any exercise or healthy habits is this photo:

Find your motivation and get to it. I really needed this little adventure to kick my ass into gear. I feel alive again, truly! I am thankful to have people in my life that were willing to show me these places that keep me wanting to be better as a human.

#MondayMotivation - upcoming hikes!

As much as I love the cloudy days, I’m excited to see some sun in the forecast for the Pacific Northwest this coming weekend. I’m always prepared for rainy hikes when I’m up there, but I’ll take the sunshine if it shows. I’m motivated this Monday by the memories I have from previous trips to Olympic National Park. I’m looking forward to hiking in trees and fresh air on Saturday and Sunday. I haven’t hiked in a while, and it surely wasn’t very fresh feeling the last time I did. I’m excited to meet a new friend who will guide me through the area and hopefully future hikes!

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#ForestFriday - Santa Fe National Forest

A year ago this week, my other half and I visited the Santa Fe National forest in New Mexico.  The city of Santa Fe is a colorful desert town, but the National Forest is burst of green trees and mountains on a completely different level.  We stayed at the Holy Ghost Campground and explored around that area.  Here are some photos of the forest to enjoy!

#WayBackWednesday - Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Camping in Palo Duro Canyon State Park was a highlight from spring of 2017.  Looking back through my photos, I didn't even capture the immense beauty of the canyon but sure did get some great shots from our hikes and our campsite.  If you get the chance, it's one of the most beautiful places in Texas and is worth a visit!  This place was Hike #6 of my 2017 52 Hike Challenge and you can read more about the adventure and see more photos HERE.

#ForestFriday - Tyler State Park (Texas)

Today's Forest Friday post features the pine forests of Tyler, TX.  I'm thankful Texas has such gorgeous pine forests for me to hike through and enjoy.  I love the tall pines so much, I am planning to head back very soon for an early morning hike.  Enjoy a few photos and may the forest be with you, always.

#ForestFriday - Herman Vogler Conservation Area

Back in my hometown of Rogers City, MI there is a park called the Herman Vogler Conservation Area.  The park has a few trails over the river and through the woods just down the road from my grandparent's house.

This place is special because my grandma would take us there to cross-country ski and walk the trails all throughout my childhood.  I have fond memories of muddy feet in the spring and sore back sides from falling while skiing in the winter.  This park is where I learned to love cross-country skiing and reminds me how much I miss it!

At the end of 2017, I was fortunate enough to be up in Michigan for the holidays and did my final two hikes of the 52 Hike Challenge 2017 here.  Hike #51 & Hike #52  Both hikes were through the snow, and both brought back memories instantly.  I hold this place near to my heart and look to it as a way to remember the good times from childhood, especially now that my grandparents are older and less active.

The photos below are from a visit my BFF Molly and I made in October of 2009.  Enjoy the forest and happy trails!

#ForestFriday - Dino Valley has trees, too!

Texas has some big trees - they just live a few hours away from me.  If you go east from Dallas, near the border of Louisiana, you'll find some big pine trees that make you say "ahhhh" when you see them.  I love when I have to go out of town and drive through that area, but it's still a bit of a distance for a quick day trip.  In a previous post, I focused on the trees in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area at Cedar Ridge and this entry will feature another local treasure known as Dinosaur Valley State Park.  People visit Dino Valley for the visible dinosaur track fossils in the Paluxy River and the dinosaur sculptures at the entrance.  I visit because you have to cross the river to hike, weeding some people out, and because the hills are great exercise.  I ALSO visit because there are streams that flow into the Paluxy and those streams mean trees grow nearby and trees mean heavenly shade from the beating sun.  The trees along the trails range from oaks to juniper, with some cedar and live oaks in between.  I've found a few, old and large live oaks throughout the park and plenty of little forest areas to offer a cool reprieve from rocky ridges and open fields.  Here are a few photos of some trees from my many visits over the past 15 months to this wonderful little gem, only an hour from the metro area.

#MondayMotivation - Make it happen!

Standing out on Spectra Point at Cedar Breaks National Monument (one of my "Must See" places in Utah)

It was May of 2017 when I bought the round trip ticket from DFW to SLC.  I was going to Utah in mid-August, for a weekend, and I was ecstatic.  I was flying out after work on a Friday and flying home on a Sunday night because I didn't have any vacation left to use - it just all fell into place.  I had been tossing the idea of revisiting Utah around for a while and I was tracking flights for weeks.  I knew I had to go and I decided to make it happen.

While it was a short hike, it was exhilerating to be walking along the rim.

Booking that flight was a rush.  Planning the trip was easy and only continued to build my excitement while allowing me to feel the reality of it all sinking in.  I had solid plans, some "must do" moments, and a daily itinerary to maximize the time available for adventure.  I opened it up to friends and let everyone in my outdoor circle know what my plans were and that I was open to anyone joining in.  My best friend Molly decided she could make that weekend work and would be flying out to join me.  Her company and our chance to reconnect easily made that weekend one of the best in 2017.

The might Bristlecone Pine - Cedar Breaks National Monument

The 52 Hike Challenge was a major motivator in 2017 as were the various outdoor communities I had connected to online.  I had been camping and hiking more than ever before in my life, I couldn't let a weekend go by without something happening.  When my hikes were getting repetitive, I knew I needed a change of pace and a weekend away.  I looked at many cities, tracked flights for weeks, and weighed many options, but Salt Lake City just worked for that moment and I'm glad it did.  I would have flown anywhere for a weekend if the flights and prices worked out so I researched many places - Vegas for Death Valley, Portland for Crater Lake or the coast, Seattle for Olympic, etc.  Through this adventure I learned that I could make a weekend work, even with a flight, and that I actually thrived with a limited amount of time because I made every view, rest stop, and moment of daylight count.

I'm thankful that I have the resources to do a spontaneous weekend, because I haven't always been in that position.  I'm aware that I'm privileged to be able to run away for 48 hours and see the beauty our country has to offer.  I know not everyone can just book a flight and explore.  My point with this Monday Motivation is to simply make it happen if you want it to happen.  It could be pushing yourself to get outside locally, hiking further next time, finding a friend and taking that weekend road trip, or booking a flight and exploring your favorite places.  Too often I fall victim to my own laziness, so this is also a reminder to myself to keep going and make it happen.

A picture from my BRIEF visit (drive through) in 2009.

I've been obsessing over the Olympic Peninsula for months now, so I just booked a flight over Easter weekend to Seattle so I can go hike and reinvigorate myself and find new motivation.  Anyone is free to join, but I will be hiking the Ozette Triangle Loop (Olympic National Park on the coast) on Saturday, so plan accordingly.  I'm taking suggestions and recommendations for things you love about the Olympic Peninsula and things I "must see" while I'm there.  I fly in Thursday night, late, and fly home over night for a Monday morning arrival before work.  I'm so excited, probably even more than the flight to Utah last year.  Here's to making it happen! 

#MondayMotivation - The nervous and excited energy of just getting out there

I still think back to my first, and only, camping trip to Arches National Park.  It was part of a great road trip involving two friends that went from Michigan to the west coast and back.  My camping prior to 2009 was limited to the Great Lakes and I really hadn’t been in the middle of nowhere like you are in Arches or along US-50 in Nevada.  This trip in 2009 was my first real hiking through a National Park, my first middle of nowhere camping trip, and my first time TRULY appreciating the little things like a campfire, cold beer, or a crappy hotel room.  When I sit here and think it’s too hard to get outside or it’s too far, I think back to that trip.  We camped, road tripped, stayed in hotels, hiked, and everything in between all on a budget and with time constraints.  I now look to my peers and see them doing all of the activities from simple car camping to backpacking trips and beyond and I’m motivated.  I’m glad to be connected to so many people doing things I had never even heard of before.  I’m glad to have memories of being a bit nervous about traveling across the country and camping, but also just so excited.  I’m motivated today by my desire to keep that feeling going and the desire to just go for it – whatever activity that may be.  Happy trails and stay motivated!

#MondayMotivation - An excuse for everything

The pond in the morning at Cedar Ridge Preserve - Dallas, TX

This weekend, I had an excuse for everything.  From dinner plans to household tasks that NEEDED to be done, I avoided my local hiking haunts like the plague.  I had apartment tours to take, property tours to take, a friend's birthday dinner, chores, shopping, and uncooperative weather.  I truly had an excuse for every hour of daylight.  Were the excuses legitimate?  Maybe some, but certainly not all of them.  Could I have taken a hike at one of my standby locations?  Definitely.  I'm not opposed to hiking in the rain or even the dark, but I used those two situations to justify staying home and being less active.  I reached out to a couple of people to see if they would go with me, they were busy, so I used that as an excuse not to go out.  The drive to the place I really wanted to go was 45 minutes, through traffic, so I avoided it.

I wasn't motivated at all this weekend to get outside because the options just weren't that appealing to me.  I had this problem last year - when I didn't have an out-of-town trip planned, or couldn't drive a few hours to a nice state park, I would lose motivation or begrudgingly go to a local staple and not even enjoy the outdoors that much.  So this post today, is about fighting off the excuses, fighting through the illusion that local green spaces aren't good enough,  and getting excited about the local haunts that keep me sane between bigger adventures.

Pros of local spots:

  • Easy to access, usually
  • User-friendly
  • A little green in the concrete jungle
  • Always there when I need it
  • Cheap or free

Cons of local spots:

  • Can seem boring
  • Often crowded/overused
  • Not wild enough/secluded enough
  • Trails not long enough

This is all psychological, for me, and once I actually drive somewhere I get a little more excited and can look past the cons.  Getting from my apartment to the car is the hardest part for local hikes so here's what I'm going to do to psych myself up:

  • Start earlier to avoid people and traffic
  • Know that I'll be better off after a few miles through the woods, always
  • Come to terms with the fact that this is enough and plan for a more exciting hike the next time - it's all about balance

This post isn't very motivating, yet....hopefully this helps.

I'm aware that this is a personal problem, and is specific to my city life in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.  I'm working on being more grateful for the green space and nearby state parks I do have while also knowing I need to balance out these local spots with more adventurous places.  I know life can get busy, but the whole point of the 52 Hike Challenge is to make sure I always set aside time for a hike.  It is time to get pumped up again and make up for this missed week.  It is time to show gratitude for the places I do have nearby and for the peace and clarity they can bring.  I hope, if you're having trouble getting outside or are sick of the same parks you have, that you can try to break through that mindset too.  Share with me what motivates you to get outside, bonus points if you have a story about feeling refreshed about your local spots.  Happy trails!

Cedar Ridge Preserve - Dallas, TX

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