Today's 12-mile Training Walk

Today's Route

Today was another great training walk with the Warming Hut Hotties. We met at 7:00am at the Warming Hut in Crissy Field. The city was covered in fog. The Golden Gate Bridge could barely be seen. I had assumed that the fog would burn off at some point during our walk, but it never did. We all stayed bundled up in our multiple layers the entire 5 hours that we were out walking.

I actually really love walking in this weather, as I tend to get hot easily, and the fog keeps us cool. It also makes for a beautiful setting - especially while walking through some forested parts of the Presidio. A few of us thought that the Presidio resembled "The Forbidden Forest" from the Harry Potter books. :)


Hotties wandering around the Forbidden Forest

We walked into the Sunset District, over to what I think is the prettiest of all staircases in the city - The Mosaic Stairs. If you've never been, you should check them out sometime. Really amazing and beautiful. I was so caught up in looking at the names on the mosaic tiles as I climbed up that I didn't even realize how far I had climbed until I was almost at the top!


Mosaic Stairs from the bottom


Mosaic Stairs from the top!

We climbed even more stairs up to Grand View Park, which usually has an amazing view of the city. Unfortunately, the city was still covered in fog, and you literally couldn't see anything past the top of the hill.

We walked back into Golden Gate park, and before I knew it, we stepped into the AIDS Memorial Grove. I had read earlier that we were going into the grove today, but had forgotten, and honestly, wasn't quite mentally prepared when we entered.

I absolutely love the AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park. I think it's one of the most beautiful spots in the city. Most people don't know about it. It's tucked away, and a bit hidden. But, once you find it, it'll take your breath away. (as it did to me again, today)

I hadn't visited the grove in a few years. I may not have been since going to a Memorial service for a friend, so I was quite taken when we walked out into it during today's walk.

The Circle of Friends is a particularly beautiful spot in the grove. We all stopped here, and took a few moments to read the names and reflect. I'm so glad that we have this wonderful place in our city, but it still makes me so sad to think of all of those that we have lost over the years.


Circle of Friends



We finished our walk right before 12:30, which was a great pace, given the size of our group. Less than 2 weeks until our big event, and only two training walks left.