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Taum Sauk to Johnson Shut Ins

November 10, 2018      mirandaehrich

About a couple of weeks ago, I went on one of Missouri’s toughest hikes. We started our hike at Taum Sauk and ended at the Johnson Shut Ins. Now I like to think I am in shape, but boy was this hike hard. It is 14.5 miles long with rocky terrain most of the way. The hike took us 8 hours total including breaks. It definitely is not a boring hike and there are many scenic views along the way. From the tallest waterfall in Missouri, to the Devil’s Tollgate, pine trees and bluffs that overlooked the other mountains in the area. I am going to take you all through my day and give some tips on how to survive this hike if you ever decide to do it!

We prepared the night before by packing our food and filling up our water packs since we knew we were going to have an early morning. Be sure to bring plenty of water for this hike especially if you plan on going during the hotter months. When we went, the high was only 65 degrees so it was perfect weather and I didn’t suck through too much water. We hit the road a little after 6:00am and got to the Johnson Shut Ins around 7:40am. Depending on if you go with a group or not, one person can drop a car off at the Shut Ins and then another person can drive to Taum Sauk to begin the hike or you can catch a ride to TS from JSI from one of the park employees. The ride does cost $50, but we thought that would be easier than bringing two cars.

We got to TS right around 8:30 and began our hike right away. Taum Sauk sits at an 1,772 ft elevation, the highest point in Missouri. It was nice starting here rather than ending here. I don’t think I would have made it up this mountain if we started at JSI. Heading down the mountain the trail is mainly made up of rock. If you have ankle or balance problems, I would recommend bringing walking sticks or breaking in some good hiking boots before going. At the bottom of the mountain is the waterfall. There is a place where you can look at it from the top and from the bottom. There wasn’t too much water flowing from it at the time, but I hear it fills up during the rainy months.

About 30-45 minutes after the waterfall, you will come across the Devil’s Tollgate. It is two volcanic rock formations that the path passes through. Pictures do not do its justice of how cool it was to see this in person. If you are feeling daring too, you can climb to the top. There is a pretty easy path on the other side, you just have to do a little climbing. You’ll notice a stream to the right side of the path. We decided to venture through the trees and check it out. The rocks reminded me of the Johnson Shut Ins and it was fun to just get off the beaten path and explore a bit.

Next started our uphill battle towards Proffit Mountain which had a 1,703 ft elevation. And when I say battle, I mean battle. The picture below was how most of the terrain was going up the mountain. The rocks weren’t this big the whole time, but you can see how rocky it is. I slipped two times during this hike. The first time was going down Taum Sauk and I bruised up my hand and knee pretty good. The other time was during this rocky part and I like to blame these rocks for my hip pain the next day. So take it easy during this part if you’re not a pro.

The minefield we had to walk through multiple times.
Top of Proffit Mountain

The trees were just now starting to change color when we went and to walk through these golden trees with the sunlight coming through made me feel like I was in a Lord of the Rings movie. Most of the time you have to stare at the ground to make sure you don’t twist your ankle, so be sure you take the time to look up every once in a while and snap some good pictures.  Towards the top of the mountain, there are plenty of areas to take pictures and just take the time to really appreciate how beautiful nature is. Since there were many large rocks, we decided to take a break and eat lunch in this area.

After lunch, we ended up on the side of the mountain out in the open. We were able to see the water reservoir, which was pretty neat. During this part, there is an electric fence that runs pretty close to the path so be on the lookout for that. The rest of the trail, once making your way down Proffit Mountain, eased up a bit. It was mostly gravel and dirt, with some occasional bigger rocks. This is where we really started feeling sore and tired. The last 5 miles were the absolute hardest even though the terrain wasn’t as bad.

You can see the water reservoir in the distance.

Once you get to the point in the path where you have to go right or left, GO LEFT. We made the mistake of going right and walked the wrong way and had to walk along the highway to get back to the park. (lol) With that we ended up walking almost an extra mile. And I when I say walk, I mean crawl. We were crawling at the end.

This is a hike I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys hiking. But I think this is a one and done hike for me. It was very challenging, but with good company was a great time. I would suggest going during the fall for a few different reasons: you can see the colors change in the trees, the temperature is cooler so you are not dying, and the bugs were almost non-existent. We did have a couple of ticks fall on us, but non that actually stuck.

Hiking is a great exercise for those who like to switch things up instead of going to the gym. You work multiple muscle groups, the inclines get your heart rate up, and you burn quite a few calories. Taum Sauk and Johnson Shut Ins offer many other trail options as well if you are not up to doing this long one. Many seasoned hikers and campers will actually split this trail up in two days and camp in one of the camping areas offered on the trail. This trail challenged me physically and mentally, but I am so glad we did this year. Mother nature is so beautiful and most of us do not spend enough time in it and appreciating it. I hope everyone is able to enjoy a good hike in their lifetime and if you ever need a hiking buddy, I will gladly accompany you.

If anyone has any questions about this trail and would like to know more, feel free to ask!

 

XOXO

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Miranda Ehrich

Miranda Ehrich

"For what it's worth: It's never too late to be whoever you want to be.

I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start over."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Just a fresh cut to make me feel a little normal a Just a fresh cut to make me feel a little normal again. 

Thank you @allisonmrough for always making me feel pretty. 💕
6 months ago, I almost died in this very spot. It’s crazy to me it has been half a year since this has happened. This is a huge milestone, but also is hard to think about since I am still having some issues. Issues I might continue having for the rest of my life. Issues that could end up being a permeant disability. Issues that could mean I will be in pain every day for the rest of my life. And the PTSD is real y’all. Numbingly real. 

A split second is all it took to change the trajectory of my life forever. A split second to rip the rug out from underneath me. A split second and all the plans for my future are gone. I actually landed right in front of my apartment complex where I was going home to take care of Luna. I was so close to being home.

I have grown a lot from this experience. I have learned so much about myself. I have fought for myself. I have cried. I have lost hope. I have pushed myself through pain, sweat, blood and tears. 

But I survived. I. Survived. I wake up every single day and sometimes have to remind myself I almost died. I almost had my leg amputated. I almost had the possibility of being unresponsive due to my brain injury. I almost ended up with a colostomy. I almost lost organs. I almost ended up with a stent in my carotid. But I fought and I survived. I have to remind myself that yes things are very difficult right now, the PTSD is unbearable at times, but there could have been one of those alternatives that would have made life even more difficult. I could have even died.

Life is precious y’all. Just because you wake up today, doesn’t mean you’ll wake up tomorrow. You might not get that chance to take that trip, tell that person you love them, move across the country, start your dream career. Life. Is. Precious.

My battles continue every day but my scars, my pain, my sadness all remind me I am stronger because of what I’ve gone through. I have a story to tell others. I have a story to tell myself. 

I am strong. I am worthy. I am capable. I am determined to find my way back to happiness again.
The thing that most people don’t understand abou The thing that most people don’t understand about people who have lived through something traumatic, is the silent battles they face everyday. I am happy to share my physical progress and I am happy to have come this far, but the reality? I’m just so tired. The daily struggles with pain, the PTSD, the anxiety, the depression, the nightmares, the sleepless nights, the hopelessness, the resentment, the financial burden- it’s a lot. Most people don’t see this part of my recovery and journey either. 

The process of accepting my new reality is very much a struggle. Coming to terms with the pain, with the way my body looks, with the new extreme fatigue, with what overall happened to me is a slow journey. My life will never ever look the same and some of things I wanted for my life will never be able to happen. These are things I have to accept to move forward. The trauma becomes part of who I am, whether I want it to or not. I went through this exact same grieving process when I was diagnosed with MS so at least I have some experience, but having a near death experience sure does shake things up in one’s life. 

I’ve gotten better at being present in the moment and trying to find small moments of happiness. It’s not a lot but it’s a start. I am looking forward to the day when my life starts to feel okay again and for now we’ll keep slowly moving forward. 🖤
Happy Earth Day. 🌎 It’s crazy to see how much Happy Earth Day. 🌎 It’s crazy to see how much my life has changed since I made the decision to move to the sunshine state almost 2 years ago but I am grateful to still be here to enjoy this beautiful planet for some more time. 🖤
Well well well, look where hard work gets ya. 😎 Well well well, look where hard work gets ya. 😎 I will also say I did not gracefully get down from here but I am slowly but surely getting my strength back.
I heard scars were in fashion this year. *not pi I heard scars were in fashion this year. 

*not pictured: my 50 other scars lol*
Also convinced myself my surgeon knew I was a Harry Potter fan and he intentionally gave me this scar for that reason only. ⚡️
Thought this day would never come. First time walk Thought this day would never come. First time walking in 94 days. 

“And just as the Phoenix rose from the ashes, she too will rise. Returning from the flames, clothed in nothing but her strength, more beautiful than ever before.”

Still I rise. 🖤
I’m not going to lie, I have had some pretty low I’m not going to lie, I have had some pretty low days. Days where I am angry or sad in my lack of progress. Where I wish this never happened. Confused why bad things constantly happen to me and I have to fight so hard to even stay alive. I even on these low days sometimes wish I didn’t survive my accident. 

But you know what? These feelings are normal. I have learned to feel what I need to feel, cry when I need to and the next day I pick myself up and tell myself I can do this. I won’t let my depression and anxiety consume me and stop me from regaining my full potential. 

The support I receive from my family and friends is what keeps me going. The random texts I receive of people telling me I’m so strong, that you admire me, that I will get through this is the reason I fight so hard. Thank you to the people who check on me, who let me rant and cry to you, who come see me, who remind me of my worth and what I am capable of. You guys are the reason I am smiling. 

I have constant internal battles I am fighting throughout this journey and no one can fight them but me. No one can fully take away my pain, no one can make my recovery go faster, no one can take on this burden. But you guys remind me I have something to fight for, something to live for. 

Mental health is so important to talk about. I feel it’s important to share my journey with the highs and lows so others know they are not alone. Life is difficult, not everyone gets ran over by a car but we ALL go through something that is hard to navigate. Have your bad days, have your bad moments but find something to fight for. Remind yourself you’re worth it, show yourself some compassion and know that you can overcome anything.
I should be dead. I survived a near death experi I should be dead. 

I survived a near death experience and I still have moments where I can’t wrap my head around it. The things my body has gone through in the last 6 weeks is incredible. Having MS and being immunocompromised already put me at a disadvantage for healing, but my body is working in overdrive every single day to heal. It’s exhausting to have your body trying to regrow itself. It’s exhausting to be in so much pain everyday. It’s exhausting to go through something so traumatic knowing it’s going to impact you the rest of your life. I’m just so tired. All. The. Time. 

What I went through, what I am continuing to go through is something I can’t even begin to describe. I feel I have changed and am a different person now in some ways. I am still grieving but also have moments where I am so numb I can’t feel anything. Losing your ability to walk for months, watching your muscles waste away everyday, nothing being able to ease your pain and having surgeries that will impact you for the rest of your life is just terrible. 

I am grateful for my surgeons. The right people where there at the right time and saved my life. They didn’t expect my outcome to be what it is and I am glad my body put up such a fight. I was told my ICU nurses were phenomenal and advocated for the best care for me. A nurse even played @illenium for me as I was being extubated and getting cleaned up. I am grateful for my family who hasn’t left my side and am always asking for what I need. My sister has become my full time caretaker and has sacrificed a huge part of her life to care for me. I am grateful for the friends and even strangers who reach out to me, asking me how I’m doing and encourage me to keep fighting. 

The first 48 hours I was in the hospital, I was in and out of emergency surgeries and it was unsure if I would make it or the state I would be in when I woke up. I am very fortunate to be where I am today. I am very fortunate to be alive. There is a lot to be grateful for but I still am angry that I am even in this position to begin with. 

**more in comments**
Taken hours before my life was changed forever. I Taken hours before my life was changed forever. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to watch your loved one get hit by a car but Dominic hasn’t left my side since this has happened. 

He was the one to check my pulse after I got hit and the one that advocated for an ambulance to be called as I was bleeding out. He immediately notified my sister and got my family down and stayed at the hospital until my sister got there. Then cared for Luna until I was out of my emergency surgeries until she could get picked up. 

I don’t remember a single thing from EDC but I’m glad we went and I’m glad you have the memories for both of us. Thank you for saving my life. Thank you for pushing me to heal and do better even on my days I’m so depressed I don’t want to do anything. Thank you for loving me and choosing me everyday. This isn’t easy for either of us but everyday am grateful for you. Love you baby and can’t wait till you can take me out dancing again. 💕

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