Hi I'm new!

[SHANEA]

Also, you need to take the altitude adjustment into consideration.

 :D It's not the altitude, it's the attitude :!:  :D  :P

[happyhiker39]

It's not the altitude, it's the attitude

Yep, that's what I hear.  I have a slight fear of being in altitude because of a negative experience I had in NM a few years ago.  I probably have more mental hurdles to overcome than physical ones, but I'm a determined woman and feel driven to conquer the fear.

[aggiemom]

Hello HappyHiker!
 My son & I just returned from BIBE last night.  I'm a mid 40's mom in decent shape (I thought) and I will tell you honestly that Pinnacles & Emory Peak trails kicked my a$$!!!   I will be investing in a stairmaster or similar device before attempting that again!  Or we will try ascending by Laguna Meadow.  We had a great time anyway. I regret that we have just now started to explore BIBE.  Have fun!

[randell]

Hello HappyHiker!
 My son & I just returned from BIBE last night.  I'm a mid 40's mom in decent shape (I thought) and I will tell you honestly that Pinnacles & Emory Peak trails kicked my a$$!!!   I will be investing in a stairmaster or similar device before attempting that again!  Or we will try ascending by Laguna Meadow.  We had a great time anyway. I regret that we have just now started to explore BIBE.  Have fun!

They are SUPPOSED to kick your a$$.  If they didn't, it wouldn't be much fun.

[aggiemom]

I agree!  I believe in "use it or lose it". We had a great time & achieved some personal goals at the same time.  Even waded barefoot across the freezing creek to get to Santa Elena Canyon.  It was awesome!

[chisos_muse]

I agree!  I believe in "use it or lose it". We had a great time & achieved some personal goals at the same time.  Even waded barefoot across the freezing creek to get to Santa Elena Canyon.  It was awesome!

There's alot to be gained by hiking up there....when you come back down and know that you've done it and experienced it, it's a great feeling!

The REAL kicker is doing it with a 50lb pack! :shock:

[dave2]

Greetings, Happy Hiker. I'm in my mid 50s, love the park, but had decided I was too old and slow to make it to the rim.  Last year a friend at work made the hike to the Rim and assured me I could do it to. I finally made the hike last May. It was worth every step.  I suspect you can also make the hike. Just go slow and carry enough H2O.  See you in the park!

[happyhiker39]

Thanks Dave2, that is very encouraging.  Despite my apprehensions, I'm really excited about going.  I've been pouring over pictures in the forums and can't wait to get out there and take some of my own!

The last time I was in the desert, (somewhere in Arizona while driving back from California to Texas), I felt like a kid in the candy store.  I had never seen such scenery like that before, and it felt other worldly to me.  I'll never forget the feeling of awe it gave me and how I was just DYING to get out of the car and start hiking and climbing. Unfortunately I wasn't really in a position to do so at the time or I might have done just that! My fiance thought I was nuts. He is one of those "just doesn't get it" types. That's ok, I love him anyway. :)

[Mark D]

If you don't already have them, I recommend going to the Muse's website, bigbendbookstore.or g, and buying the Trails Illustrated map and they also sell a collection of old BB publications (roads, unpaved, roads, trails, etc.) for about $10. The hiking guide by Parent is also ok, although I think some of the members at this site, BBChat, could write a lot better trail guide.

URL corrected by Moderator.