Had to switch up my usual loops because of a bum knee, and it turned out great
So my left knee has been giving me grief on any trip longer than five miles lately (just a dull ache, nothing sharp). I was pretty down about it, thinking my days of doing the big 15-mile ridge loops were over for the season. Instead of just not going out, I spent some time looking at the map for shorter, more scenic routes under five miles with good payoffs. Found this little 3-mile lollipop trail to a waterfall I'd always skipped because it seemed too easy. Did it last weekend with a lighter pack, took my time, and honestly, it was amazing. I actually noticed way more stuff, like the different mosses on the rocks and the way the light hit the pool below the falls. It felt more like a relaxed walk than a forced march, and my knee didn't make a peep. I guess sometimes your body forces you to slow down and see the trails in a whole new way.