A Hor with a Heart of Gold

[dawn_felagund]

Mount Hor has a terrible name. Apparently, Mount Hor is also a mountain in the Bible, and I suppose it was named after that; I haven't been able to find anything about the history behind the name and can't fathom why you'd name a mountain "Mount Hor" without precedent. So Mount Hor is like the poor kid in school who gets assigned a storied,

Comments

[indy1776]

Other people drool over attractive people; I drool over mountain landscapes.

This hike was pleasant enough that it's one I would strongly recommend for the Mereth Aderthad, because it is doable for someone in moderately good shape, even without experience hiking in the mountains. (For the truly adventurous, Bobby and I will take you to the fire tower at the top of Bald Mountain!)

So: are hiking boots needed or would walking shoes be okay? And what would you call "moderately in shape?" (Am I using the MA to force myself to start exercising again? Oh yes.)

[dawn_felagund]

Oh you will LOVE Vermont! We have some amazing mountain vistas throughout the state but especially here in the Northeast Kingdom

[pandemonium_213]

So I'm guessing my LL Bean hiking shoes would work? :^)

ETA: I would say that if you can manage an uphill climb for 40 minutes or so...

This should motivate me to be more consistent at the local YMCA!

[dawn_felagund]

I'm sure they're better than mine! (I hope to have new hiking shoes by next summer. I really need them. My feet should not hurt after just three miles!)

[pandemonium_213]

So far, these shoes have served me well. They're shorter than a hiking boot, so there's the liability of no ankle support, but they're also lighter and firm enough for good support and traction for rocky trails. I always wear them with a thick pair of Smartwool socks. They're also Goretex-lined, which is handy for cold rain and snow.

[dawn_felagund]

I understand the motivation too. In Maryland, I was torturing myself with a climb on the elliptical every time I went to the gym so that I wasn't TOO humiliated hiking mountains here! :D I'm horrible at uphill climbs, so I need that motivation too.

[indy1776]

I'm jealous. On the other hand, I'm going have to get over my fear of driving in the mountains… Even being a passenger freaks me out sometimes.

Hmm… I'll probably need new walking shoes by then, so if so, they'll have a good grip. Or maybe I'll look into hiking shoes. (Flip-flops? On a mountain? My head hurts.)

Right. Now to figure out how to get into climbing shape when I don't have and won't get a gym membership… :)

Getting up in the fire tower wouldn't be a problem (ignoring the hike required to get there); it's getting me down! :P But gah. Yes, it's motivation. Huge motivation.