Hiking Log Entry # 8 – The Last Hikes of the Year

“Only where you have walked on foot have you truly been.”
-Messner

I took a few months off from writing – working and holidays and other things filling both my hours and my headspace. But since I was able to complete my hiking goal for 2025 (yay me!!), I want to document my last hikes of the year – the ones that brought me to 20 miles, and beyond.

This was our second stop and our first trail in Joshua Tree National Park, and it was a great introduction to the Mojave Desert ecosystem. After passing through a gap in some large boulders, the trail opens to a small valley with breathtaking views. It then loops around the valley, with plenty of boulders to climb on (if you are so inclined) and interpretive signs with information about the native plants and animals. Legend says the valley was once used by cattle rustlers as a hideout, and this was easy to imagine!

This is an easy little trail that winds through Joshua tree woodlands and spectacular rock formations, including its namesake – a large rock perched precariously on a massive boulder, and shaped just like an old newsboy cap. I especially loved seeing different species of cactus, and various desert flowers blooming in the rock crevices, vibrant and rebellious.

I didn’t go on any other hikes during our road trip, and my plan was to challenge myself with a 3.3 mile trek to Sunset Rock in Chattanooga. With a 469 ft elevation gain and a “moderate” rating on my trusty AllTrails app, I’d be crushing my 20-mile hiking goal in a blaze of glory. Alas, injury struck, and laid waste to my best of plans! Less than a week after arriving back in Chattanooga, I suffered a grade 2 hamstring tear, and it was a few weeks before I could really walk again. And forget walking on an incline, let alone stairs!
So, after giving myself some space to heal, I made a new plan. Barry and I took a day to bask in the beautiful autumn weather, and I found a very flat, very easy hike that was doable post-injury.

Fall Creek Falls State Park has several trails, most of which include steep inclines, stairs, and rock scrambling. This one though, starts right off the main road and provides a lovely stroll along the lake. The trail goes all the way to the lodge, but we turned around at about .75 miles and headed back to avoid straining my hamstring and prevent further injury. It was a beautiful and peaceful little walk, with crunchy leaves and fresh breezes, and the occasional splash of fish jumping in the lake. We found a nearby picnic table for lunch, and all in all it was a perfect way to end my 2025 hiking adventures.

I began my year loving the idea of hiking, and I’m coming to love the practice of it. Twenty miles and eight states later, every opportunity I took to commune with God, nature, and my fellow travelers is now a treasured memory. Embracing solitude, pushing my boundaries, and actively unplugging are all practices I will carry with me into 2026.

I’m not sure yet what my goals are for this new year (I still have about 9 hours to decide lol!) but I know hiking will be included in them somehow. Hopefully these logs will inspire you to connect with the earth, spend time with your loved ones and maybe even understand yourself a little better, all through the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other.

Remember, your view can change, in just the space of a step!

Til next time, shine bright friends!
~Dawn🌻