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Welcome 2023! CAMN wrapped up 2022 with a successful End-of-Year Party with over 40 attendees, lots of great food, shared memories, a full giving table, newly elected officers, and dragonfly cookies! Thank you to everyone who came and shared in the good time, and to those who came early and stayed late to help make it all happen. We look forward to many more chances to get together and serve our community in 2023!
As everyone was planning their First Day Hikes, my partner and I decided to finish off 2022 with a Year-End Hike at Lake Georgetown to hike the Good Water Loop trail for the first time. It is a 26.9 mile trail, fairly flat, a bit rocky but otherwise easy going. The plan was to hike 11 miles in, camp, then hike 16 miles out on New Year's Eve. We were prepared with overpacked (as usual) ultralight packs, delicious camp meals, a brand new tent, and a pack of cards ... for 27 mostly flat miles - easy. The trail was lovely, just the right amount of fellow humans, perfect weather...then a few miles in I rolled my ankle. Not so bad that I stopped hiking, but it sure made it more difficult. We camped that night and in the morning finally decided to hike back out the same way we came, very slowly, to save miles on my still very sore ankle. With all of our preparation and expectations of an easy walk around the park ... one misstep and we had to slow down, adjust the plans, then make the best of it. And we did, it was a lovely trip despite the pain and not getting to accomplish what we originally set out to ... the best laid plans and all. We still took in the views, the quiet, the forced hours with only each other's company, and the great excuse to build a fire and sleep outside. What a wonderful weekend!
This is just a small reminder for life. As we go into the new year, folks often make lots of grand plans, lists, and goals to accomplish. Go for it all - prepare as best you can, get the map, have the best gear you are able, and head out to accomplish it. Just remember, it only takes one little misstep, often completely out of your control, to change everything - but that is okay. It's not a reason to stop or give up, it just means you need to slow down, look around, make some adjustments, then carry on. The end result may not be what you planned, but you make of it what you want. Look forward to all that 2023 has to offer us and all we have to offer it!
Here's to a wonderful, accomplished, happy 2023.
Lisa Audiffred
CAMN President
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