Henry Coe

I moved to this little town nearly two years ago. Right next door is Henry Coe State Park. Two weeks ago, I finally hiked in it. To make up for lost time, I made a return trip on Saturday.

The first hike was supposed to be a six-mile loop, but turned out to be eight miles long. A mathematical mistake accounted for the two missing miles. We took the loop in a counterclockwise direction to finish the steepest section first, going downhill. We completed the inevitable climb through a series of switchbacks near the end.

The second hike was advertised as ten miles long, but became twelve after we got lost went exploring. We traveled in a clockwise loop, so the steep climb came last. It felt like we regained all 1,800 feet of elevation in the last mile or so. My legs weren't happy, but secretly, I didn't mind a good challenge.

On both hikes, we had to cross the Coyote Creek. The water level was low enough to balance atop slippery stones the first time. However, on Saturday, the creek had risen due to recent rains and had submerged the stones. Instead of turning back, we rolled up our pant legs, removed our footwear and waded through calf-deep water.

The good news is the freezing water quickly numbed my bare feet. The bad news is that as I stepped out of the water, a severe stinging sensation replaced the numbness. The good news is my socks never felt so warm once I put them back on.