Hiking for two

Last winter, I tried ice climbing and had a blast. At the time, I didn't know that I was pregnant. A few weeks later, I went on my first winter hike determined not to let my pregnancy change my activity levels. I was in for a rude awakening. Between the morning sickness and fatigue, my stamina was not what I was only a few weeks earlier.

Pregnancy isn't an illness, but I was surprised at how much it changed my body week by week. I'm still determined to be as active as I can be. However, that desire is now tempered with the knowledge that I:

-need more water to stay hydrated

-will tire quicker

-will be heavier each week (with a growing belly)

-will experience changes in balance

-will need longer to recover when I push too hard

The Jax Outdoor club has already gone on 2 hikes (Flying Mountain and Beech Mountain). Next week, we are scheduled for Beehive, but I will be leading a hike up the back way. I'm also going to forgo Jordan Cliffs and Precipice out of an abundant of caution. It's not that I don't think I could make these hikes. It's that if I were to fall and something happened, I would worry about my decision to put my little one at risk.

Pregnancy is all about risk management. Some risks I am willing to take and others I chose to avoid.

In a few days, my husband and I are headed back to the Long Trail for our annual progression northbound. I've managed to get my pack weight down around 30 pounds. We've planned for shorter days and more food. 

I'm still a little nervous about not being able to hike as hard or far as I want to. Yet excited to share the trail with my developing little one.