Over the Hill
May. 26th, 2007 09:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebThe mother of an old friend of mine decided to go over the hill on her fiftieth birthday literally by climbing Mount Rainier. I really like the idea of literally going over a hill and have decided to steal it for myself.
But what hill? The highest point in my town, Mt. Bonnell, can be scaled by climbing up some steps. I would like something a little more adventurous, but not too serious.
The highest point in my state, Guadalupe Peak, is nice. I hiked part of the way up, set up camp, hiked the rest of the way up, and hiked back down to the camp in one day with a friend. So, it doesn't require fancy climbing gear or even backpacking gear but can be done as a day hike or--as we did--as a car camping trip. I'd like something like that, but I'd rather go some place I'd never been.
There's nothing anywhere near me. But do I want to go to Mt. Rainier?
No, I've decided I want it to be a road trip. And I want to rent a van or something so a bunch of people can fit in. So what's decent driving distance?
Yesterday, I finally found a hill I think I might like: Signal Hill, the highest point in Arkansas, in Mount Magazine State Park. This is on Mount Magazine, near Paris, Arkansas. Never heard of it? Me, either, until yesterday, when I thought I'd do a little research.
We could go in October when the leaves are turning. We could stop in Hot Springs and look at the bath houses. We could take a scenic train ride.
But here's another question. Camping? Or something fancier but more expensive? There are some totally gorgeous lodges on Mount Magazine with wrap-around porches, hot tubs, fire places, kitchens, washers and dryers. The biggest one holds only six people, but maybe that's enough. It's over $350 per night. Maybe at least one night.
This plan reminds me of an eight-person backpacking trip I took to the Grand Canyon, where I decided that eight people was a very good number of people. Of course there's the problem of having to couple up, and I don't make friends only with couples.
Well, there's plenty of time to iron out the details as I won't be fifty for over five more years.
But what hill? The highest point in my town, Mt. Bonnell, can be scaled by climbing up some steps. I would like something a little more adventurous, but not too serious.
The highest point in my state, Guadalupe Peak, is nice. I hiked part of the way up, set up camp, hiked the rest of the way up, and hiked back down to the camp in one day with a friend. So, it doesn't require fancy climbing gear or even backpacking gear but can be done as a day hike or--as we did--as a car camping trip. I'd like something like that, but I'd rather go some place I'd never been.
There's nothing anywhere near me. But do I want to go to Mt. Rainier?
No, I've decided I want it to be a road trip. And I want to rent a van or something so a bunch of people can fit in. So what's decent driving distance?
Yesterday, I finally found a hill I think I might like: Signal Hill, the highest point in Arkansas, in Mount Magazine State Park. This is on Mount Magazine, near Paris, Arkansas. Never heard of it? Me, either, until yesterday, when I thought I'd do a little research.
We could go in October when the leaves are turning. We could stop in Hot Springs and look at the bath houses. We could take a scenic train ride.
But here's another question. Camping? Or something fancier but more expensive? There are some totally gorgeous lodges on Mount Magazine with wrap-around porches, hot tubs, fire places, kitchens, washers and dryers. The biggest one holds only six people, but maybe that's enough. It's over $350 per night. Maybe at least one night.
This plan reminds me of an eight-person backpacking trip I took to the Grand Canyon, where I decided that eight people was a very good number of people. Of course there's the problem of having to couple up, and I don't make friends only with couples.
Well, there's plenty of time to iron out the details as I won't be fifty for over five more years.