Happy Monday my friends. This last weekend was insane with work chaos. And I happened to be the manager that had to deal with it all. But, I did get something good out of it. My friends and I went on a hike Sunday, and it was an experience. Let me tell you a bit about it and share some of the beautiful scenic photos I took. This is the Pine Point Self Guided Trail.
Pine Point Location
The trail that we chose was the Pine Point Self Guided Trail that would take us to Pine Point Rapids, and if we chose the full loop, Acorn and Viburnum falls. It’s an 8 kilometer (5 mile) scenic loop located in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park. As you can see from this map, it’s alongside the Whiteshell River. The hike is a mixture of manmade and natural trails and can be used all year long as it has cross country skiing trails in winter. There are areas for picnicing as there are spots with firepits and picnic tables. And there are plenty of places for beautiful nature photography, or a good backdrop for your next selfie.
Pine Point Rapids Trail Difficulty
You can choose which path you want to tackle first. My friends and I chose the one that went along the river. I will say, I do not think this is a beginner hike, but it’s not a crazy difficult one either. There were some challenging spots on the trail for me, but I have a weak ankle and two knees that have had previous injuries. So any uneven terrain is difficult for me. Definitely make sure you go at your pace and if possible, pick a trail that doesn’t challenge as much. Some spots I watched my friends jump off one ledge to the other. I either found a different path or sat on my bottom and got down. There was one really steep spot where I just had to remind myself to go at my pace and that it was okay if I didn’t keep up.
Beautiful Scenery
There was actually so much beauty. And we didn’t see as many people as we expected to see. Which honestly, when you just want to enjoy the company of your friends and nature, is totally fine. Every time I was about to grumble about the difficulty of a spot, I was silenced by the view. And the river was quite calm away from the falls and rapids; it was just so peaceful. Except the angry squirrel that kept yelling at us. As someone who has seen the beautiful mountains, the ocean and crystal clear waters of Fiji, and the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand, it can be quite easy to forget that my home in Manitoba has beauty as well. I just need to go and find it.
After Effects of Pine Point
I am sore! There’s no way around it. The hike is not just cardio, but you need to use your muscles and mine are currently in protest. And, to make myself sound older than I am, so are my knees and ankles. But I do not regret it at all. Hiking is something that I enjoy and I wish my body could handle more of it. Hmm, maybe over winter I should train my body so that I can do more hiking next year. Plus, I have said on more than one occasion that I should get into regular workouts and take better care of myself. Now is a good time to start, right?
Recovery
I think with how tired and sore my legs are feeling, I’m going to do some yoga or stretching today after my blog. It’s really important to stretch and I know this. Plus, I think my chiropractor will be upset with me if I say I went hiking and didn’t do any aftercare so now I’m all out of place. I meant to do some stretching after my hike, but I was so shot that I just wanted a shower and then to flop somewhere. So, it’s on me that I’m as sore as I am. And we will see if I can get myself into some sort of challenge for health and fitness in the next while. What are some ideas that you all have for a fitness challenge? Or, should I bring back my series where I eat and workout like a certain celebrity? Share some ideas and, well, anything can happen if I try.
