The long steep climb was worth it for the amazing views from above tree-line.
It took us about 3 hours to summit. At the top we chatted with a couple from Santa Fe, who joined us for a bit of the long hike down. Here is a shot of the trail down, with Mistress in the middle:
But about 2/3 of the way to the bottom, Mistress came up lame. Her old hiking boots had become painful, and her steps became agonizingly slow and ouchy. That was when Slave did what a Slave should do.
"Mistress, why don't you rest a while..... I'll go get that extra pair of shoes in the car. We'll meet somewhere between here and the bottom."
So Slave went into overdrive. Got to the bottom. Retrieved some more comfortable shoes than her hiking boots, and met her about 1.5 miles from the cute German restaurant at the bottom of the 5 mile trail.
Mistress was tiptoeing down the trail when I found her, and was very happy when she slid out of her apparently dead hiking boots and into her more comfortable exercise shoes. She was even tempted to leave them by trail side, and has sworn an oath never to put them on her feet again. I think I know what she's getting for a birthday present.
"Slave.... I owe you one."
I'm sure I will figure a way to collect.
But it wasn't when we got home. All that climbing on a steep and rocky trail, and the long descent fighting gravity took it's tole. I couldn't even get Mistress to accept some much deserved worship.
"My body is sore Slave.... "
But I have a feeling there will be a full recovery by this morning.