Rachel Carson Trail: Ice Rink to North Park Lake — Part of the Path, All of the Peace
I woke up the day before this hike and thought, “Holy crap I’m sore.” Two weeks ago, I had my workouts on lock. I was hitting the gym consistently, I was getting outdoor activities in just fine, and spacing them out enough so that my body had time to fully recover before the next push. But then life happened, and for me, this meant having company from out of town for 3 days. It was wonderful to have them visit, but only afterwards did I realize the impact only 3 days off of training would have. 🫠 Allow me to elaborate.
One of the many bridges of the North Park trails.🍃
Nap Sesh Over Gym Sesh
I’d scheduled all my work ahead so that I could take time off with them. I was on a good course with the gym, and planned on fitting my sessions in around this schedule. Unfortunately, that didn’t go as planned, as most with most things. Because of this, I felt that I needed Thursday to be a straight “catch-up” day of work, and Friday I would push hard in the gym….along with Saturday.
But, when Saturday morning arrived and I could barely roll out of bed without huffs and puffs, I realized I was much more in store for a nap sesh than another gym sesh. But once again, life happened and I had another event to go to midday. Feel familiar? 🙈
While it was a good time, I’m much more the person to stay in and hermit myself with my dogs. They keep just fine company and I prefer working toward my goals rather than being a social butterfly 🦋💁♀️ (👈not me). Which meant by the time Saturday afternoon rolled around, I was completely depleted of mental and physical energy.
I didn’t go to the gym that day like I’d planned, but I had it set in my head that I’d be going for a hike on Sunday, no matter what.
…And I did! It just didn’t quite go as planned.
This trail has yellow blazes (the mark that are on the trees)! 🌟
A Loud Wakeup, a Big Breakfast, and a Bold Trail Choice
Upon waking up to a way too loud phone call sound, I tried to get over myself and move on with the day. (This used to seriously start my day off in the wrong direction, but I’ve since mellowed out when the phone rings at random hours). 🙂 Kind of.
So, I whipped up a healthy breakfast of steak and eggs for the hubs and I, then proceeded to get ready for a morning hike in North Park. He usually picks the trail—often parts of the Rachel Carson Trail— because he understands more of the elevation and mileage, but as your girl here is trying to be all independent and what not, I figured I’d give choosing a new one a try all by my lonesome.
When I showed him which one I wanted to tackle, (after slightly complaining about still being sore af), he laughed a little and then continued to get ready. (Currently, we’re training for Mt. Whitney! Yay! So we’ve been packing our daypacks with actual 10 pound weight plates and a handful of snacks along with 1-2 bottles of water. This will put us close to what we’ll need for that day hike, so we keep adding to it a little at a time).
On the way, I made sure to down another protein shake in hopes that it would help my poor legs get back into their normal go-mode for the *more hard than I thought* hike I was about to embark on. My favorite is the Fairlife Core Power Elite which contains a whopping 42g of natural protein and legit tastes like chocolate milk. Yes, please! (They offer a variety pack as well, but as a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur, I stick to chocolate and chocolate only). P.S. Check out this short if you wanna hear about how they pack so much protein! 😳
But, as we got to the trailhead, I was wrong about my legs and they were in for a serious surprise.
You’ll park in this lot and then cross over toward to ice rink (behind us in the pic). ⛸️
Then, you’ll head into this area on the left of the rink, that has a cute little wooden bridge to the marshy area.
Which eventually takes you to this nice walkway through the marsh and near the wildlife (especially the birds!)
Into the Woods on the Rachel Carson Trail
Once we got to the parking lot, (the trail begins at the ice rink in North Park), there were two little bridges we’d have to walk over to get to the trail itself. First from the parking lot, and then after the grassy area into the marsh. Once in the cute little creature zone (that’s what I call the bird sanctuary area), you’re able to walk over a platform that’ll get you to the next big opening.
Then, you’ll ascend up the hill and across the road, where you’ll begin your trek in the woods of Rachel Carson trail. (My favorite!)
At this point, my lower body was already in shambles. I knew this would be a tough one, but I was determined to collect my headspace outside in nature after the long week behind me. (This feeling was familiar, as it’s usually how my lower half feels while hiking in the Grand Canyon or other massive elevation areas or places with excessive mileage. There’s a point when the soreness typically disappears, but then complete fatigue sets in not too long after and everything just goes mental instead of focusing on the physical).
Nature is so beautiful! 🐈
A yellow blaze (on a metal pole this time instead of a tree) showing you which direction the trail is in.🧭
The field you’ll come into after making your way out of the marsh. The road you’ll cross is up and to the right in this picture. 🚗
The bird tower in the field, check out the next pic to read more about it!🦅
The Audubon Society has left these bird towers here, read the sign if you want to learn more! 💜
It was a beautiful hike. A familiar one. We had never started in this portion of the Rachel Carson Trail before, (which is total is 37 miles long!!) but we had done other pieces of it which I was able to recognize as the trail passed beneath my feet. I was happy to be there again, despite the annoying twinges from my hamstrings. I was grateful we were still able to make time to get outdoors, and the cloudy, fall-like weather is my favorite, so I had no complaints. 🤷♀️
A familiar fallen tree that I’ve used years before to take breaks on. 💜🥾
Unexpected Uphill and the Sweetest Motivation
Around the halfway point, (which brings you down toward the dam on North Park Lake), he asked if I wanted to traverse back the way we came or continue around the lake loop. I 100% agreed to walking the loop. A little sad that I felt cheated of the views on the way back through the woods, but seriously grateful that I didn’t have to gain all of that elevation again. No, thank you.
I’m sure we got some weird looks wearing hiking clothes and day packs on the trail that most people use to walk, run or ride bikes on, but I was more than content especially after noticing that there was still more uphill on the loop trail. How did I not realize this before? 😅
We made a pit stop at Millie’s to snag a milkshake and some motivation, and then continued on toward the ice rink parking lot. It is MUCH further than it feels. 😂 🙌
Thank you Millie’s for getting me through more miles! 🍦🥾
If you look through the trees here you’ll see the North Park Boathouse in the distance! This is where I just rented a kayak from recently. If you want to learn how to do so yourself, check out the post below!
In retrospect, I realize that it would have been wise of me to understand my body more and choose a less elevation, shorter mileage hike…or take the day off altogether. But, as I’m trying to incorporate more active recovery into my days more often, I wanted to get at least something in before moving on with our day.
I know now that choosing something smaller would have been just as beneficial, and taken a little less time as well to spend on other recovery activities at home such as reading or walking my dogs…but then, no Millie’s. 🤔🍦
Sometimes we feel like we need to keep pushing because we missed out. We don’t stop to recognize that even just a few days off a routine can put a damper on your plans later on in the week.
This Day Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail Reminded Me to Slow Down
I promised myself this time that I wouldn’t try to play “catch-up” with my routines. After making a solid (and manageable) schedule, I told my husband that if I missed something for any reason, I’d simply skip it and move on to the next thing in line…and this is a prime example of what I should have done.
It’s hard to say you’ve hit a wall. It’s hard to realize that your mind and body have checked out, because there’s still things that need to be done and that you’ll want to get done. It’s in understanding though that we need to step back sometimes and listen to that internal voice that’s saying, “Shut up and take a nap already.” 🤨
Even though there is work to be done or hikes to be had, we are only human. And being human is one of the greatest things in the world. So, I’m grateful for this learning experience and I’m also grateful you’re coming along with me to laugh at my hurt hammys.
What’s your biggest challenge recently? Have you tried something and failed? Have you pushed harder only to get more pushback? Tell me about your experiences and I’ll keep telling you mine. 😌 🤝 💜
Thanks for joining me on this sore-legged adventure along the Rachel Carson Trail. Whether you’re here for the hiking inspo, the honest reflections, or just to laugh at my questionable choices (looking at you, uphill loop), I’m glad you’re here. Every day hike has a story—and I’m grateful to share mine with you.
Rachel Carson Trail: Ice Rink to North Park Lake — Part of the Path, All of the Peace
Rachel Carson Trail: Ice Rink to North Park Lake — Part of the Path, All of the Peace
I woke up the day before this hike and thought, “Holy crap I’m sore.” Two weeks ago, I had my workouts on lock. I was hitting the gym consistently, I was getting outdoor activities in just fine, and spacing them out enough so that my body had time to fully recover before the next push. But then life happened, and for me, this meant having company from out of town for 3 days. It was wonderful to have them visit, but only afterwards did I realize the impact only 3 days off of training would have. 🫠 Allow me to elaborate.
One of the many bridges of the North Park trails.🍃
Nap Sesh Over Gym Sesh
I’d scheduled all my work ahead so that I could take time off with them. I was on a good course with the gym, and planned on fitting my sessions in around this schedule. Unfortunately, that didn’t go as planned, as most with most things. Because of this, I felt that I needed Thursday to be a straight “catch-up” day of work, and Friday I would push hard in the gym….along with Saturday.
But, when Saturday morning arrived and I could barely roll out of bed without huffs and puffs, I realized I was much more in store for a nap sesh than another gym sesh. But once again, life happened and I had another event to go to midday. Feel familiar? 🙈
While it was a good time, I’m much more the person to stay in and hermit myself with my dogs. They keep just fine company and I prefer working toward my goals rather than being a social butterfly 🦋💁♀️ (👈not me). Which meant by the time Saturday afternoon rolled around, I was completely depleted of mental and physical energy.
I didn’t go to the gym that day like I’d planned, but I had it set in my head that I’d be going for a hike on Sunday, no matter what.
…And I did! It just didn’t quite go as planned.
This trail has yellow blazes (the mark that are on the trees)! 🌟
A Loud Wakeup, a Big Breakfast, and a Bold Trail Choice
Upon waking up to a way too loud phone call sound, I tried to get over myself and move on with the day. (This used to seriously start my day off in the wrong direction, but I’ve since mellowed out when the phone rings at random hours). 🙂 Kind of.
So, I whipped up a healthy breakfast of steak and eggs for the hubs and I, then proceeded to get ready for a morning hike in North Park. He usually picks the trail—often parts of the Rachel Carson Trail— because he understands more of the elevation and mileage, but as your girl here is trying to be all independent and what not, I figured I’d give choosing a new one a try all by my lonesome.
When I showed him which one I wanted to tackle, (after slightly complaining about still being sore af), he laughed a little and then continued to get ready. (Currently, we’re training for Mt. Whitney! Yay! So we’ve been packing our daypacks with actual 10 pound weight plates and a handful of snacks along with 1-2 bottles of water. This will put us close to what we’ll need for that day hike, so we keep adding to it a little at a time).
On the way, I made sure to down another protein shake in hopes that it would help my poor legs get back into their normal go-mode for the *more hard than I thought* hike I was about to embark on. My favorite is the Fairlife Core Power Elite which contains a whopping 42g of natural protein and legit tastes like chocolate milk. Yes, please! (They offer a variety pack as well, but as a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur, I stick to chocolate and chocolate only). P.S. Check out this short if you wanna hear about how they pack so much protein! 😳
But, as we got to the trailhead, I was wrong about my legs and they were in for a serious surprise.
You’ll park in this lot and then cross over toward to ice rink (behind us in the pic). ⛸️
Then, you’ll head into this area on the left of the rink, that has a cute little wooden bridge to the marshy area.
Which eventually takes you to this nice walkway through the marsh and near the wildlife (especially the birds!)
Into the Woods on the Rachel Carson Trail
Once we got to the parking lot, (the trail begins at the ice rink in North Park), there were two little bridges we’d have to walk over to get to the trail itself. First from the parking lot, and then after the grassy area into the marsh. Once in the cute little creature zone (that’s what I call the bird sanctuary area), you’re able to walk over a platform that’ll get you to the next big opening.
Then, you’ll ascend up the hill and across the road, where you’ll begin your trek in the woods of Rachel Carson trail. (My favorite!)
At this point, my lower body was already in shambles. I knew this would be a tough one, but I was determined to collect my headspace outside in nature after the long week behind me. (This feeling was familiar, as it’s usually how my lower half feels while hiking in the Grand Canyon or other massive elevation areas or places with excessive mileage. There’s a point when the soreness typically disappears, but then complete fatigue sets in not too long after and everything just goes mental instead of focusing on the physical).
Nature is so beautiful! 🐈
A yellow blaze (on a metal pole this time instead of a tree) showing you which direction the trail is in.🧭
The field you’ll come into after making your way out of the marsh. The road you’ll cross is up and to the right in this picture. 🚗
The bird tower in the field, check out the next pic to read more about it!🦅
The Audubon Society has left these bird towers here, read the sign if you want to learn more! 💜
It was a beautiful hike. A familiar one. We had never started in this portion of the Rachel Carson Trail before, (which is total is 37 miles long!!) but we had done other pieces of it which I was able to recognize as the trail passed beneath my feet. I was happy to be there again, despite the annoying twinges from my hamstrings. I was grateful we were still able to make time to get outdoors, and the cloudy, fall-like weather is my favorite, so I had no complaints. 🤷♀️
A familiar fallen tree that I’ve used years before to take breaks on. 💜🥾
Unexpected Uphill and the Sweetest Motivation
Around the halfway point, (which brings you down toward the dam on North Park Lake), he asked if I wanted to traverse back the way we came or continue around the lake loop. I 100% agreed to walking the loop. A little sad that I felt cheated of the views on the way back through the woods, but seriously grateful that I didn’t have to gain all of that elevation again. No, thank you.
I’m sure we got some weird looks wearing hiking clothes and day packs on the trail that most people use to walk, run or ride bikes on, but I was more than content especially after noticing that there was still more uphill on the loop trail. How did I not realize this before? 😅
We made a pit stop at Millie’s to snag a milkshake and some motivation, and then continued on toward the ice rink parking lot. It is MUCH further than it feels. 😂 🙌
Thank you Millie’s for getting me through more miles! 🍦🥾
If you look through the trees here you’ll see the North Park Boathouse in the distance! This is where I just rented a kayak from recently. If you want to learn how to do so yourself, check out the post below!
In retrospect, I realize that it would have been wise of me to understand my body more and choose a less elevation, shorter mileage hike…or take the day off altogether. But, as I’m trying to incorporate more active recovery into my days more often, I wanted to get at least something in before moving on with our day.
I know now that choosing something smaller would have been just as beneficial, and taken a little less time as well to spend on other recovery activities at home such as reading or walking my dogs…but then, no Millie’s. 🤔🍦
Sometimes we feel like we need to keep pushing because we missed out. We don’t stop to recognize that even just a few days off a routine can put a damper on your plans later on in the week.
This Day Hike on the Rachel Carson Trail Reminded Me to Slow Down
I promised myself this time that I wouldn’t try to play “catch-up” with my routines. After making a solid (and manageable) schedule, I told my husband that if I missed something for any reason, I’d simply skip it and move on to the next thing in line…and this is a prime example of what I should have done.
It’s hard to say you’ve hit a wall. It’s hard to realize that your mind and body have checked out, because there’s still things that need to be done and that you’ll want to get done. It’s in understanding though that we need to step back sometimes and listen to that internal voice that’s saying, “Shut up and take a nap already.” 🤨
Even though there is work to be done or hikes to be had, we are only human. And being human is one of the greatest things in the world. So, I’m grateful for this learning experience and I’m also grateful you’re coming along with me to laugh at my hurt hammys.
What’s your biggest challenge recently? Have you tried something and failed? Have you pushed harder only to get more pushback? Tell me about your experiences and I’ll keep telling you mine. 😌 🤝 💜
Thanks for joining me on this sore-legged adventure along the Rachel Carson Trail. Whether you’re here for the hiking inspo, the honest reflections, or just to laugh at my questionable choices (looking at you, uphill loop), I’m glad you’re here. Every day hike has a story—and I’m grateful to share mine with you.
Hey friends! I’d like to let my favorite people of the internet world (that’s you) 😊 know that the products mentioned or linked to in these posts may be affiliated in some part with Amazon or another party. By doing so, this allows me to continue creating valuable content to share at no extra cost to you if you were to use those links to purchase a recommended product. Thank you as always for your support along this journey and for being the awesome human being that you are!
