The Oreos Kept Me Going

Spencer and I have been wolf den leaders ever since we moved at the end of July last year. We did a planning night where we got some good ideas from the scouts on what activities they would like to do.

Finally, we got around to hiking the Y last Thursday.

For those who don't know-- this is a 1.1 mile hike up the Y Mountain with 13 switchbacks. Which basically means you're zig-zagging your way up the mountain.

The elevation difference is 1,074 feet once you get to the top, which was making this California girl huff and puff the entire time!

We had six scouts come with us, along with a few other adults besides Spencer and I. My doctor recommended me getting 20-30 minutes of light to moderate exercise each day. But once morning sickness had hit full swing, it's an accomplishment to get out of the house once a day... much less exercise.

I hadn't hiked the Y since 2015... It's been four years. So to say I was nervous for this was a bit of an understatement. I had already had a headache (which I tend to already get when I change elevations), and my nausea wasn't going away.

At 7 p.m. we get to the beginning of the trail and we start our ascent to the top! I was trying to go at a steady rate, but I was in the middle to the last of the pack.

I noticed that one of our smallest, newest cubs who had turned 8 not even two weeks ago was somewhat by himself but in between two adults. I slowed my pace and started to talk to him.

As the hike progressed, Spencer and I were the last ones in our group with him. I used to be able to hear or see the other scouts, but they were long gone.

I picked up my pace, hoping that we all could be at the top at the same time and take a picture.

While I didn't want to leave both of them behind, I felt like the longer rest breaks made me not want to continue at all. I sucked it up and continued my journey up the mountain by myself.

By the the 6th and 7th switchback, I wanted to give up, sit on one of those benches, and text everyone to leave this fallen soldier behind! I was much too tired and my headache was not getting any better.

But, I persevered, for the Oreos! Spencer and I had them in my snackpack for everyone at the top. I couldn't let any of the scouts down, even though they didn't even know about the Oreos!

I got more hope with each switchback achieved. I didn't care that everyone else in front of us probably thought I was ridiculously out of shape (albeit probably worse than I expected). I was determined to finish this hike!

I got to the top, stoked to have made it with minimal cramping (my doctor said that if I started to cramp up while exercising I should stop). I had made it in about 1 hour and 10 minutes!

The scouts were VERY excited to get the Oreos! It was fun since I had also brought pretzels and the scouts and I were switching snacks from our snackpacks.

The scouts began to descend from the Y as they had been to the top a lot longer. We didn't get the picture I was hoping for, but I did win brownie points loading up the scouts on sugar! I waited for Spencer and our youngest cub to get to the top. Once they arrived I continued to eat more Oreos with them.

One of the cute things that the cub scout told Spencer while hiking was that I'd be pregnant soon. If only he knew!

Pro tip: Don't hike the Y while pregnant and out of shape. Your ankles, calves, thighs, and hips down will extremely hurt after (and you struggle to walk)  and you can't take ibuprofen. 2/10, do not recommend.