My mind is swimming with stories to share with y'all and a shortage of time of which to write. Such is the reality of the trail. You want to share, but it takes time and energy. The reality is you want to put your feet up and relax! I'm a happy, but tired girl. I am taking and enjoying my first day off in the fantastic Trout Lake Grocery Store.
Here in Trout Lake, the people are kind and they cater to hikers. I have a room for 3 for $25. Laundry is free as is the computer. They also receive hiker mail - a box which I mailed to myself is here and waiting and full of treasures like dehydrated Hummous. :) There is a cafe on the corner, that was open at 6:00AM and full of farmers, hikers and fire fighters. It's a 4-way stop in the middle of nowhere. And people are generous and kind. I will have a lift back to the trail courtesy of a volunteer.
So many stories to share! The people I have met, the places I have been.
I have enjoyed an amazing last few days. The scenery in the Goat Rocks Wilderness and the Mount Adams Wilderness has been out of this world. At Goat Rocks - I enjoyed an amazing high alpine ridge walk and Mount Adams, well - it has presence to say the least.
I also enjoyed my first random Trail Magic. In the middle of nowhere, in a beautiful alpine place called Cispus Basin was a PCT Class of 2011 member, trail name The Staggering Norwegian. He had a backpack full of food, just for me and all other thru-hikers. I got fresh Clementines, cookies and Rice Crispies squares. And a hug. And I took some "to Go!" Thanks Staggering Norwegian and friends, you made my day!
I haven't talked yet about the 12:00 Happy Dance. This could take a whole blog entry it has become such fun and I have so many stories of the Happy Dance! What is the Happy Dance? A few days in to my trip, the alarm on my watch started going off at 12:00 in the afternoon. The alarm is not on, but I decided to leave it. So. My alarm chimes every day at 12:00 and I do the 12:00 Happy Dance. It started with Angela and myself and now it continues. It also catches me by surprise every single day. You think I would be paying attention with so little to do every day. But alas, no. I drop whatever it is that I am doing and I do a Happy Dance. Actually, it's a pretty energetic silly dance. Mostly, it's been a solo dance. But recently, I have a few participants. Today, for instance the alarm went off while I was sitting here in the grocery store. "It's the 12:00 Happy Dance!" I proclaimed out loud to the rough-around-the-edges middle aged lady here at the store. She loved it, and even joined in. Back in Cispus Basin, shortly before meeting the Staggering Norwegian I had been chatting with some local day hikers when the 12:00 Alarm went off. "It's the Happy Dance!" I proclaimed dropping my pack and spinning a few circles like a crazed woman. The crowds went wild. Way back in Skykomish, the alarm went off as I was leaving town just as I was crossing the very public town bridge. Happy Dance ensued. Joy. And of course, the Happy Dance has taken place in many, many beautiful places. On top of a ridge with a view of Rainier, yesterday in a flower filled meadow beneith the shadow of Mount Adams and yes, while having a scrub in a snow patch the other day. Oh, Happy Dance. You give me such Joy.
The people - oh, the people! I'm enjoying meeting the Northbound thru-hikers of which I am seeing more and more of daily. I have met some amazing folks of all ages. I met an old fart from Calgary - trail name: Not Dead Yet. He was in his '70's. Yesterday, I met a family hiking with their 6 year old who were flying by. They didn't have time to chat, but she screamed over her shoulder "the kid is going to be the youngest ever to finish!". That kid was zooming. Go kid. Yesterday morning, I had the pleasure of meeting Trail Bait and her mom. I heard someone singing, and round the corner to find see this filthy girl with huge boobs, a backpack smoking a cherry flavor cigarello. She looked to be in her early twenties. I greeted her with "What are you singing, honey?" When she opened her mouth, I knew she was much younger. I met her mom moments later, who introduced herself as Blair Witch and her 15 year old daughter Trail Bait. Mom had her trail snacks neatly stored between her immense boobs. There are all sorts of different people on the trail and most of them are regular people doing an amazing thing!! Hiking 2,650 miles is not an easy thing to do. But it is an can be as enjoyable as you want to make it. The older folks have started to appear - they where a uniform of long sleeve nylon shirt and pants, with big brimmed hats of all styles: safari style. Keeps the sun off and the bugs off. But OMG, I would be hot in that uniform. Most are happy, some are focused, the rare few are ready to be done with their hike.
I met an old fart on a ridgetop the other night. He was skinny and old and had a lopsided gate. I christened him the lopsisded scarecrow, he looked exhausted and it was getting late quick. We both had made the mistake of continueing down the trail into the early evening - only to find out there was know place to camp along this rocky, steep trail. It was rapidly turning into late evening. "Looks like I'm not the only fool out here!" he laughed. "I'm going to have to get out the headlamp and do some night walking!" We laughed at our predicament. I went to shake his hand and introduce myself and he said, "Honey, you don't want to shake my hand right now - but I'll give you a knuckle bump!" So, we bumped knuckles and went our separte ways. Don't worry Mom - I made it off the mountain in the late evening light and found myself a nice spot in a meadow full of lupines. Sorry, lupines. I didn't mean to squash you but I was desparate.
At the Krackerbarrel Gas Station, in White Pass - I could have sat and watched people all day. I had fried chicken for breakfast, did my laundry and watched as people came and went. It was an amazing collection of tourists on motorbikes, RV's, local white trash and local old farts. These good folks also accept mail for hikers and treat us like gold. I love these kind of places and the people in th
And so it continues! I have come a very long distance in a very short time. My brain and my legs are tired and today, I will give them the first rest that they have had in 19 days. My first day off. Sweet. It was not planned, but this place is so magical and affordable that I would be a fool to not enjoy. I'm going to put my legs up. Get off my feet. I'm off to find a creek to soak my legs in, they a Huckleberry Milk Shake and a burger. Last night, I surprised the fry cook at the Cafe by eating not one, but two burgers. Oh yeah. Life is good.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Howdy from Snoqualmie Pass!
Oh my, how Washington continues to deliver. I bust out 75 miles in 2 and 1/2 days and it's been some of the most amazing trails and hiking that I have ever seen. The last 30 miles of this section were out of this world. For a girl that lives in Banff, that says a lot!
I was questioning my decision making yesterday as I staggered out of the woods, exhausted at 8:30 last night to find myself a bed at the Summit Inn. The best surprise was the shitty-ass trailer out front of the gas station: it was open at 9:00 at night and the guy proceeded to pump me full of the best gourmet chicken, veggie and ginger (huge chunks) Currgy that I've ever had. Then he poured me a couple of glasses of coconut milk and charged me a whopping $7. Oh, America! I love everything about you, but especially your small towns and the people that live there.
My body continues to amaze me, fingers crossed it continues to do so. I'm giving it all awful lot of abuse. I know that there's a strong possibility of injury, but currently I wouldn't change a thing. If I blow up tomorrow it will all be worth it. These are some seriously hard miles! It's one big roller coaster and this girl is love, love loving the epic climbs and monster descents. I really, really, have to repress the urge to run on the downhills - it's a good thing the pack weight and design is keeping me grounded to a walk I love to downhill run and fly down the mountain and trudging with a pack is distinctively less fun and downright slow. :) I've improved: I can definitely pick my feet up quicker on the descent than when I first started. Uphills, well - I love to climb and enjoy the reward when you get to the top. And the rewards here are epic.
I'm lollygagging this morning, but computering, phone calls and life maintenance all take time. They are enjoyable. A large greasy breakfast, feet-up, stretching (ouch), laundry and now some computer time. If I'm lucky I should still get a half day in on the trail. It's a welcome break and my dawgs are killin' me. It's a bit of a heat wave at present in Washington. It was smokin' hot and had to be in the 90's all day. That meant taking special care with lots of shirt and hat immersions in the creek to keep me cool, way more water and even electrolyte tablets. I've got to take care of me! And the wilderness is know place to be pukey and heat strokey.
Yesterday, I ran into a thru-hiker that had jumped on the trail since Lake Tahoe. Super nice guy (they all are, depending on level of delirium they can be downright entertaining). This guy was awesome, because he was a like-minded flower geek and told me to look out for the Carniverous Butterwort. There's quite a few species here that I have know idea what they are and this was one of them. It kept me amused for quite a few hours and I kept talking to myself in a British accent telling stories all about the Carniverous Butterwort. I sound so much better educated when I speak in a British accent. I figure Carniverous Butterwort would be a wicked good Trail Name. I am a delicate flower!
Oh yes, PCT culture dictates that people get a Trail Name. Mostly, it's a name that's given to you from other thru-hikers. I'm holding out for a name. Currently, I'm still Leslie from Banff. I reckon my name should be Southbound. It's self explanatory!
This is going to be a quick 2 part post - photos to come from the I-Touch.
Happy Trails! It's a 4 day jaunt through some beautiful wilderness to my next stop: While Pass.
Leslie
Oh my, how Washington continues to deliver. I bust out 75 miles in 2 and 1/2 days and it's been some of the most amazing trails and hiking that I have ever seen. The last 30 miles of this section were out of this world. For a girl that lives in Banff, that says a lot!
I was questioning my decision making yesterday as I staggered out of the woods, exhausted at 8:30 last night to find myself a bed at the Summit Inn. The best surprise was the shitty-ass trailer out front of the gas station: it was open at 9:00 at night and the guy proceeded to pump me full of the best gourmet chicken, veggie and ginger (huge chunks) Currgy that I've ever had. Then he poured me a couple of glasses of coconut milk and charged me a whopping $7. Oh, America! I love everything about you, but especially your small towns and the people that live there.
My body continues to amaze me, fingers crossed it continues to do so. I'm giving it all awful lot of abuse. I know that there's a strong possibility of injury, but currently I wouldn't change a thing. If I blow up tomorrow it will all be worth it. These are some seriously hard miles! It's one big roller coaster and this girl is love, love loving the epic climbs and monster descents. I really, really, have to repress the urge to run on the downhills - it's a good thing the pack weight and design is keeping me grounded to a walk I love to downhill run and fly down the mountain and trudging with a pack is distinctively less fun and downright slow. :) I've improved: I can definitely pick my feet up quicker on the descent than when I first started. Uphills, well - I love to climb and enjoy the reward when you get to the top. And the rewards here are epic.
I'm lollygagging this morning, but computering, phone calls and life maintenance all take time. They are enjoyable. A large greasy breakfast, feet-up, stretching (ouch), laundry and now some computer time. If I'm lucky I should still get a half day in on the trail. It's a welcome break and my dawgs are killin' me. It's a bit of a heat wave at present in Washington. It was smokin' hot and had to be in the 90's all day. That meant taking special care with lots of shirt and hat immersions in the creek to keep me cool, way more water and even electrolyte tablets. I've got to take care of me! And the wilderness is know place to be pukey and heat strokey.
Yesterday, I ran into a thru-hiker that had jumped on the trail since Lake Tahoe. Super nice guy (they all are, depending on level of delirium they can be downright entertaining). This guy was awesome, because he was a like-minded flower geek and told me to look out for the Carniverous Butterwort. There's quite a few species here that I have know idea what they are and this was one of them. It kept me amused for quite a few hours and I kept talking to myself in a British accent telling stories all about the Carniverous Butterwort. I sound so much better educated when I speak in a British accent. I figure Carniverous Butterwort would be a wicked good Trail Name. I am a delicate flower!
Oh yes, PCT culture dictates that people get a Trail Name. Mostly, it's a name that's given to you from other thru-hikers. I'm holding out for a name. Currently, I'm still Leslie from Banff. I reckon my name should be Southbound. It's self explanatory!
This is going to be a quick 2 part post - photos to come from the I-Touch.
Happy Trails! It's a 4 day jaunt through some beautiful wilderness to my next stop: While Pass.
Leslie
Friday, August 10, 2012
First Thoughts on the PCT
Good Grief I've got my work cut out for me!!
Day 1 officially blew my mind. The scenery out here in Washington is most definitely comparable to my home in Banff. It's wild, immense and yes, even a little scary in the dark woods. :)
My plan went out the window on Day 1. The idea was to start slow and ease myself into it. But Angela and I started hiking and we kind of hike fast...
Next thing you know we've gone 30 Miles. Damn!! So much for taking it easy. We tagged the Canadian border and I started my hike Southbound on August 1st.
First thoughts...
It's been lot of years since I've been backpacking. It's hard work and it hurts a lot in the beginning. Feet are getting used to 12 hour days, neck, shoulders, hips. The smell, oh the stink!! Yes, I sweat all day, my running shoes are already rank, we call it The Funk. Living in the dirt is well, dirty. But the scenery!!! Oh my. This is some wild, big and crazy beautiful corner of America. I had no idea.
Saw the first Northbound Thru-hikers on Day 3, My first bear on the same day and had a whirlwind visit to Stehekin.
There's a lot of scrubbing my Unmentionable Bits with snow to keep clean. Fortunately, I haven't been busted by any other random hikers yet!!
I've lost shit. Meh. Didn't need it anyways. I call it lightening my load. My dad used to say they I'd lose me head if it wasn't screwed on. But, he also used to say that I have a piano tied to my ass!!
Angela has been great company. While standing on a very small patch of dirt, on a very snowy and foggy Red's Pass we sang a stirring rendition of Kenny and Dolly's Islands in the Stream. She also averts her gaze when I scrub my Unmentionable Bits with snow. :)
There's plenty of good people around. OK-we did go a day and a half without seeing Anyone. But, when we did they were good people's!! I successfully borrowed 2 pairs of Microspikes from random strangers to get us safely over a snowy pass. See? Good People's. They are getting their spikes and a wee Prezzie in the mail.
Speaking of Good Peeps my Washington running buddies Eric and Michelle brought me treats and I got a quick visit here in Skykomish. They also gave Angela a ride back to civilisation after 8 fun filled days on the trail. What a great way to start the trip!! Now, it's most me heading out by my lonesome tomorrow. Excited. Just a little bit scared. But, ready for the adventure!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Day 1 officially blew my mind. The scenery out here in Washington is most definitely comparable to my home in Banff. It's wild, immense and yes, even a little scary in the dark woods. :)
My plan went out the window on Day 1. The idea was to start slow and ease myself into it. But Angela and I started hiking and we kind of hike fast...
Next thing you know we've gone 30 Miles. Damn!! So much for taking it easy. We tagged the Canadian border and I started my hike Southbound on August 1st.
First thoughts...
It's been lot of years since I've been backpacking. It's hard work and it hurts a lot in the beginning. Feet are getting used to 12 hour days, neck, shoulders, hips. The smell, oh the stink!! Yes, I sweat all day, my running shoes are already rank, we call it The Funk. Living in the dirt is well, dirty. But the scenery!!! Oh my. This is some wild, big and crazy beautiful corner of America. I had no idea.
Saw the first Northbound Thru-hikers on Day 3, My first bear on the same day and had a whirlwind visit to Stehekin.
There's a lot of scrubbing my Unmentionable Bits with snow to keep clean. Fortunately, I haven't been busted by any other random hikers yet!!
I've lost shit. Meh. Didn't need it anyways. I call it lightening my load. My dad used to say they I'd lose me head if it wasn't screwed on. But, he also used to say that I have a piano tied to my ass!!
Angela has been great company. While standing on a very small patch of dirt, on a very snowy and foggy Red's Pass we sang a stirring rendition of Kenny and Dolly's Islands in the Stream. She also averts her gaze when I scrub my Unmentionable Bits with snow. :)
There's plenty of good people around. OK-we did go a day and a half without seeing Anyone. But, when we did they were good people's!! I successfully borrowed 2 pairs of Microspikes from random strangers to get us safely over a snowy pass. See? Good People's. They are getting their spikes and a wee Prezzie in the mail.
Speaking of Good Peeps my Washington running buddies Eric and Michelle brought me treats and I got a quick visit here in Skykomish. They also gave Angela a ride back to civilisation after 8 fun filled days on the trail. What a great way to start the trip!! Now, it's most me heading out by my lonesome tomorrow. Excited. Just a little bit scared. But, ready for the adventure!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Middle of Nowhere in a Tent
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Happy Trails!
It's the beginning of a Great Adventure.
We're heading out today, for the Pacific Crest Trail. I start today!!
I'm hopeful that I can keep in touch with y'all through Facebook and the blog. I also realize that when I hit a trail town, I'm going to want to eat, sleep and shower. :)
I hope you all get out and enjoy your own adventures and please, come share along in mine! I'm stoked to hit the trail. Ciao for now!
Happy Trails,
Leslie
We're heading out today, for the Pacific Crest Trail. I start today!!
I'm hopeful that I can keep in touch with y'all through Facebook and the blog. I also realize that when I hit a trail town, I'm going to want to eat, sleep and shower. :)
I hope you all get out and enjoy your own adventures and please, come share along in mine! I'm stoked to hit the trail. Ciao for now!
Happy Trails,
Leslie
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Breathing, Buzzing and Busting it Out
As the title of this post indicates, I'm reverberating with excitement.
All-of-a-sudden-like: my Grand Adventure! It's here! I'm hitting the trail! For 4 months!!
I've spent the past few months getting my body in order. My body was angry. We had to do a little re-building from the ground up. It's taken awhile to re-establish our relationship, but I like to think I'm new and improved. Ater being injured for an extended period of time, I'm still learning to trust my body. But, I'm feeling strong as well as cautiously nervous. Like I said, I'm still learning to trust.
The prep has been a little crazy. The past few months have been a little crazy. While I'm not a girl who is proned to stress, I've had to remember to breath. :) Inhale! Exhaaaaale. My work will be rewarded. Patience, Grasshopper. But really, I've missed being out on the trails in Banff. I've spent way to much time inside this spring. Baaaa, the gym. I try to love it, but I hate it. I've missed the trail. I've certainly been out there marching around the woods with my pack on, but I haven't quite had the number of epic adventures that I have grown used to. It's a good thing I've got a major adventure right around the corner because I'm so ready for quality time on the trails.
So. I hit the trail in a week!
I'm a self-confessed lousy organizer, so I'm as ready as I'll ever be. All that is left is to get on the trail and get walking. Last weekend, I packed up my re-supply boxes, looked over the maps and trail towns and got really, really excited. Reading all about the trail towns and the places in between gave the trail a little more shape in my mind. I've got all sorts of things and places and people to look forward to visiting out there. But, I'm focusing on one step at a time and one foot in front of the other. I think my Ultra mind set will serve me well. While I'm certainly know expert, I've learned some valuable lessons with my many, many miles spent on the trail. But, really - this is brand new territory for me. While there have been backpacking trips in my youth and fast-packing trips in recent years, this is a different beast. I've got plenty to learn. Hopefully, fingers crossed - the body will provide. Either way, I'm going to have fun trying. I'm buzzing with anticipation and excitement!!
What's the plan?
Well, Keith will be driving Angela and I out to Hart's Pass in Washington next Monday and Tuesday. Yay! Finally! I am PCT bound. Whoop! Whoop! I'll start my hike on August 1st with Angela who is going to join me for the first few weeks. The Amazing Ms. Angela is a fine trail companion and amongst other things is a PCT Class of 2009 Alumni. She's successfully hiked the PCT before from Mexico to Canada.
Hart's Pass trail head is a gravel road in the middle of nowhere and it's the closest spot to the border. From there, we will hike 30 miles Northbound to Monument 78 and the Canadian border. Then, we'll turn around and walk the trail back to where we started. We get to do this "bonus loop" because the US Government doesn't permit people walking across the border at random wilderness crossings. Understandable. You've got to cross at an official border crossing. And I don't want to get shot. So, I'll do a bonus lap to the border, tag the border and turn around. It's supposed to be quite the gorgeous and ass-kicking 30 Miles, so I'm looking for ward to start it despite how strange it seems to be doing it this way.
Aaaaah, Washington! The first state on my Pacific Crest Trail journey. I long to explore your steep mountains, your vast green forests and your moss covered slopes. The Cascades are huge. I've never explored them before and it's a rather intimidating start even for this mountain girl. The trail is tough out there. The snow is still leaving this corner of the world and I suspect I'll have wet feet all day every day. The creeks are still raging and a few bridges are washed out. It's going to be a challenge right off the start. I'm very glad for Angela's fine company. Having company for the first couple of weeks will be a wonderful way to start my journey. And then I'll be on my lonesome....
It's non-stop big mountains all the way to the Columbia River Gorge - and I imagine lots of dark, green, thick bush. And mosquitoes. 'tis the Season. Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and the bugs don't carry me away. I suspect, when I roll into Cascade Locks and the Columbia River Valley I'll be a tired, dirty, happy girl. I also think my timing is going to be serendipitous for meeting many of the Northbound "herd" of hikers! So, perhaps there may be a bit of socializing to be done in this little trail town. It will be most definitely a welcome day-off.
In my mind, I've mapped out each section of Washington. The mail-outs, the stops and the brief places of civilisation in between are all little things to look forward to. But, the trail....oh, the trail! This is what I'm most looking foward to discovering. Magical new places. And, the Pacific Crest Trail is loaded with them. For a girl like me who likes nothing more than spending long days on the trail - it really is my idea of a dream holiday. I can do this thing that I like to do day after day, after day!! New places, new people, new scenery, new trails. Every day, all day. It's a dream trip for me, fer sures. I'll be out there for months!! How exciting is that!! And if I stop having fun, or my body explodes, or I miss my husband - it's quite simple: I'll stop. With no regrets. Because really, it's all about the adventure. Whatever the adventure beholds, I'm ready and welcoming. It's time for this girl to bust it out.
All-of-a-sudden-like: my Grand Adventure! It's here! I'm hitting the trail! For 4 months!!
I've spent the past few months getting my body in order. My body was angry. We had to do a little re-building from the ground up. It's taken awhile to re-establish our relationship, but I like to think I'm new and improved. Ater being injured for an extended period of time, I'm still learning to trust my body. But, I'm feeling strong as well as cautiously nervous. Like I said, I'm still learning to trust.
The prep has been a little crazy. The past few months have been a little crazy. While I'm not a girl who is proned to stress, I've had to remember to breath. :) Inhale! Exhaaaaale. My work will be rewarded. Patience, Grasshopper. But really, I've missed being out on the trails in Banff. I've spent way to much time inside this spring. Baaaa, the gym. I try to love it, but I hate it. I've missed the trail. I've certainly been out there marching around the woods with my pack on, but I haven't quite had the number of epic adventures that I have grown used to. It's a good thing I've got a major adventure right around the corner because I'm so ready for quality time on the trails.
So. I hit the trail in a week!
I'm a self-confessed lousy organizer, so I'm as ready as I'll ever be. All that is left is to get on the trail and get walking. Last weekend, I packed up my re-supply boxes, looked over the maps and trail towns and got really, really excited. Reading all about the trail towns and the places in between gave the trail a little more shape in my mind. I've got all sorts of things and places and people to look forward to visiting out there. But, I'm focusing on one step at a time and one foot in front of the other. I think my Ultra mind set will serve me well. While I'm certainly know expert, I've learned some valuable lessons with my many, many miles spent on the trail. But, really - this is brand new territory for me. While there have been backpacking trips in my youth and fast-packing trips in recent years, this is a different beast. I've got plenty to learn. Hopefully, fingers crossed - the body will provide. Either way, I'm going to have fun trying. I'm buzzing with anticipation and excitement!!
What's the plan?
Well, Keith will be driving Angela and I out to Hart's Pass in Washington next Monday and Tuesday. Yay! Finally! I am PCT bound. Whoop! Whoop! I'll start my hike on August 1st with Angela who is going to join me for the first few weeks. The Amazing Ms. Angela is a fine trail companion and amongst other things is a PCT Class of 2009 Alumni. She's successfully hiked the PCT before from Mexico to Canada.
Hart's Pass trail head is a gravel road in the middle of nowhere and it's the closest spot to the border. From there, we will hike 30 miles Northbound to Monument 78 and the Canadian border. Then, we'll turn around and walk the trail back to where we started. We get to do this "bonus loop" because the US Government doesn't permit people walking across the border at random wilderness crossings. Understandable. You've got to cross at an official border crossing. And I don't want to get shot. So, I'll do a bonus lap to the border, tag the border and turn around. It's supposed to be quite the gorgeous and ass-kicking 30 Miles, so I'm looking for ward to start it despite how strange it seems to be doing it this way.
Aaaaah, Washington! The first state on my Pacific Crest Trail journey. I long to explore your steep mountains, your vast green forests and your moss covered slopes. The Cascades are huge. I've never explored them before and it's a rather intimidating start even for this mountain girl. The trail is tough out there. The snow is still leaving this corner of the world and I suspect I'll have wet feet all day every day. The creeks are still raging and a few bridges are washed out. It's going to be a challenge right off the start. I'm very glad for Angela's fine company. Having company for the first couple of weeks will be a wonderful way to start my journey. And then I'll be on my lonesome....
It's non-stop big mountains all the way to the Columbia River Gorge - and I imagine lots of dark, green, thick bush. And mosquitoes. 'tis the Season. Fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and the bugs don't carry me away. I suspect, when I roll into Cascade Locks and the Columbia River Valley I'll be a tired, dirty, happy girl. I also think my timing is going to be serendipitous for meeting many of the Northbound "herd" of hikers! So, perhaps there may be a bit of socializing to be done in this little trail town. It will be most definitely a welcome day-off.
In my mind, I've mapped out each section of Washington. The mail-outs, the stops and the brief places of civilisation in between are all little things to look forward to. But, the trail....oh, the trail! This is what I'm most looking foward to discovering. Magical new places. And, the Pacific Crest Trail is loaded with them. For a girl like me who likes nothing more than spending long days on the trail - it really is my idea of a dream holiday. I can do this thing that I like to do day after day, after day!! New places, new people, new scenery, new trails. Every day, all day. It's a dream trip for me, fer sures. I'll be out there for months!! How exciting is that!! And if I stop having fun, or my body explodes, or I miss my husband - it's quite simple: I'll stop. With no regrets. Because really, it's all about the adventure. Whatever the adventure beholds, I'm ready and welcoming. It's time for this girl to bust it out.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Perspective and the Art of Bicycle Maintenance
>>This was written 3 weeks ago. Life's been busy!<<
Perspective. It's an easy thing to lose track of.
I've had a rough couple weeks. There's nothing more upsetting to an active person than the loss of their mobility and I've been injured. I've got a nasty case of Anterior Compartment Syndrome in the front of my lower legs, nasty pressure in my shins. For now, the treatment has been rest, icing, acupuncture, stretching and getting the swelling under control. I have had 21 days on my butt and last week, my depression was compounded by the gorgeous weather we were having here in Banff. Oh Woe Is Me.
The worry was (and still is) that this might be injury that might stop me dead in my tracks on the Pacific Crest Trail and that was upsetting. Keith was away enjoying 6 days of amazing road riding in California and glorious weather. This was probably a good thing because I would have been lousy company in this state of mind. It takes a lot to get me down, truthfully it's an extremely rare event. But, this injury had me worried and that got me upset and stressed.
When I talked to Keith in California he said "Things could be a lot worse. You could be Janna-Cate or Lori". Naturally, this is not what I wanted to hear but was a very fair and timely comment to put things in perspective. My friend Lori has just spent the past 2 weeks in intensive care in the Mayo Clinic after getting brain surgery for a large tumor in her head. Her surgery was terrible beyond words and recovery has been excruciatingly painful. My friend Janna a young mother of 4, is currently struggling with an undiagnosed illness which is leaving her with MS like symptoms, pain and chronic fatigue. Imagine, if you were to sick to take care of your kids with no idea of how to improve the situation. Now that's brutal. Me, I've got a silly athletic injury. WTF was I thinking?
Naturally, he was right and this was just the thing I needed to hear. Things could be much, much worse. The dark clouds lifted as I shifted my perspective. Hell, yeah things could be worse. My current injuries are small potatoes. They will go away, I'll get better and life will go on. Maybe I'll go on a long hike, maybe I won't. But, I'll be fine either way.
I was feeling better emotionally when I went back to work on Monday morning. My perspective had changed, the moping was done and it was time to make a plan and focus on the "What can I do" instead of the "What can't I do". And then, I got a phone call that changed everything.
It was nearing the end of my work day when the phone rang and I got one of those phone calls that nobody wants to get. "There's been an accident" said my friend Beat phoning from distant California. "There was an emergency call and all I know is that Keith was hit by a motorcycle". I took a breath, stayed calm and thought: No need to worry, until you know the details.
I soon discovered through a few phone calls, that Keith was in an ambulance in transit. I couldn't get any details until he arrived at the hospital, wherever that was. I knew he had been riding his bike in Yosemite, on Tioga Pass Road far from cell service and far from ambulance service. This could take awhile, so stay cool. I ate a bagel. I had a cup of tea. I kept phoning the hospital. I stayed cool. The woman at the hospital on the other end of the phone was awesome. When I told her my story she said: Call me as often as you want, honey. When his name appears on my screen, we'll get you an answer. And so, I waited. I phoned. I repeated.
After close to an hour and a half, Keith's name miraculously appeared on a computer screen in a hospital in Sonoma, California. Immediately, I was put through to the nurses station. I told the nurse I was looking for a status on my husband and she said "I've got him right here, would you like to talk to him?" which surprised the heck out of me. And just like that, Keith was on the phone and giving me some needed answers.
The first thing he said was: Hi honey! I get to get a new bike! Then he said: But I think I broke my back. In fact, I'm rather sure I broke my back. But guess what? I can wiggle all of my fingers and toes and my helmet barely got a scratch! But, apart from that I'm fine. I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
Jill's account of this adventure gone awry is here.
Her thoughts following the accident.
>>I'm taking up this story many weeks later. 3.5 weeks have gone by. We've been busy. Keith is healing. Actually, Keith is healing incredibly. We weren't sure what to expect, but his progress has been rather amazing to say the least. He is going to be just fine.<<
So, the story is this: it was a crazy fluke of an accident. Keith and Jill were just biking along when he got hit from behind, by a large and heavy Harley Fat Road King. All he heard was a loud "Nooooooo!" seconds before being hit. Jill, was in front and did not get hit. The driver of the bike, lost control, dropped the bike and it slammed into Keith and his bike from behind. It hit his back wheel first, which simultaneously launched him up into the air and broke his back. He bounced off the asphalt, where he came to a stop and suspected that he had broken his back. Jill was carrying a SPOT beacon, there was no cell service and the emergency 911 call went through the Spot Call Centre. It took a long time for the ambulance to come, because he was on a road in the middle of the mountains and far from a town. He lied on the asphalt so long that he got a sunburn.
At the hospital, he got incredible treatment and found out that yes, he had broken his back. He's got a compression fracture of the L-2 Vertabrae. He spent 24 hours in the American Health care system. Fortunately, we had insurance. He got another ambulance to a hospital in Modesto where, he got a good nights sleep. The next day he saw specialists, got and MRI, got a back brace and a walker and got sent home. I suspect that Jill had a very stressful 24 hours. Indeed, a traumatic and stressful 24 hours. I'm so thankful for her being there, to take care of my man. It was weird to be here, unable to do anything.
And so it is.
I've read that a little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.
Keith has been recovering now for 4 weeks today. He is a pretty amazing guy. His perspective is, and continues to be that he's the luckiest guy around. He's got a broken back, yet he's almost downright giddy. He's been a good patient. He hasn't complained once. He's healing fast and furious.
And he gets a new bicycle.
Perspective. It's an easy thing to lose track of.
I've had a rough couple weeks. There's nothing more upsetting to an active person than the loss of their mobility and I've been injured. I've got a nasty case of Anterior Compartment Syndrome in the front of my lower legs, nasty pressure in my shins. For now, the treatment has been rest, icing, acupuncture, stretching and getting the swelling under control. I have had 21 days on my butt and last week, my depression was compounded by the gorgeous weather we were having here in Banff. Oh Woe Is Me.
The worry was (and still is) that this might be injury that might stop me dead in my tracks on the Pacific Crest Trail and that was upsetting. Keith was away enjoying 6 days of amazing road riding in California and glorious weather. This was probably a good thing because I would have been lousy company in this state of mind. It takes a lot to get me down, truthfully it's an extremely rare event. But, this injury had me worried and that got me upset and stressed.
When I talked to Keith in California he said "Things could be a lot worse. You could be Janna-Cate or Lori". Naturally, this is not what I wanted to hear but was a very fair and timely comment to put things in perspective. My friend Lori has just spent the past 2 weeks in intensive care in the Mayo Clinic after getting brain surgery for a large tumor in her head. Her surgery was terrible beyond words and recovery has been excruciatingly painful. My friend Janna a young mother of 4, is currently struggling with an undiagnosed illness which is leaving her with MS like symptoms, pain and chronic fatigue. Imagine, if you were to sick to take care of your kids with no idea of how to improve the situation. Now that's brutal. Me, I've got a silly athletic injury. WTF was I thinking?
Naturally, he was right and this was just the thing I needed to hear. Things could be much, much worse. The dark clouds lifted as I shifted my perspective. Hell, yeah things could be worse. My current injuries are small potatoes. They will go away, I'll get better and life will go on. Maybe I'll go on a long hike, maybe I won't. But, I'll be fine either way.
I was feeling better emotionally when I went back to work on Monday morning. My perspective had changed, the moping was done and it was time to make a plan and focus on the "What can I do" instead of the "What can't I do". And then, I got a phone call that changed everything.
It was nearing the end of my work day when the phone rang and I got one of those phone calls that nobody wants to get. "There's been an accident" said my friend Beat phoning from distant California. "There was an emergency call and all I know is that Keith was hit by a motorcycle". I took a breath, stayed calm and thought: No need to worry, until you know the details.
I soon discovered through a few phone calls, that Keith was in an ambulance in transit. I couldn't get any details until he arrived at the hospital, wherever that was. I knew he had been riding his bike in Yosemite, on Tioga Pass Road far from cell service and far from ambulance service. This could take awhile, so stay cool. I ate a bagel. I had a cup of tea. I kept phoning the hospital. I stayed cool. The woman at the hospital on the other end of the phone was awesome. When I told her my story she said: Call me as often as you want, honey. When his name appears on my screen, we'll get you an answer. And so, I waited. I phoned. I repeated.
After close to an hour and a half, Keith's name miraculously appeared on a computer screen in a hospital in Sonoma, California. Immediately, I was put through to the nurses station. I told the nurse I was looking for a status on my husband and she said "I've got him right here, would you like to talk to him?" which surprised the heck out of me. And just like that, Keith was on the phone and giving me some needed answers.
The first thing he said was: Hi honey! I get to get a new bike! Then he said: But I think I broke my back. In fact, I'm rather sure I broke my back. But guess what? I can wiggle all of my fingers and toes and my helmet barely got a scratch! But, apart from that I'm fine. I'm the luckiest guy in the world.
Jill's account of this adventure gone awry is here.
Her thoughts following the accident.
>>I'm taking up this story many weeks later. 3.5 weeks have gone by. We've been busy. Keith is healing. Actually, Keith is healing incredibly. We weren't sure what to expect, but his progress has been rather amazing to say the least. He is going to be just fine.<<
So, the story is this: it was a crazy fluke of an accident. Keith and Jill were just biking along when he got hit from behind, by a large and heavy Harley Fat Road King. All he heard was a loud "Nooooooo!" seconds before being hit. Jill, was in front and did not get hit. The driver of the bike, lost control, dropped the bike and it slammed into Keith and his bike from behind. It hit his back wheel first, which simultaneously launched him up into the air and broke his back. He bounced off the asphalt, where he came to a stop and suspected that he had broken his back. Jill was carrying a SPOT beacon, there was no cell service and the emergency 911 call went through the Spot Call Centre. It took a long time for the ambulance to come, because he was on a road in the middle of the mountains and far from a town. He lied on the asphalt so long that he got a sunburn.
At the hospital, he got incredible treatment and found out that yes, he had broken his back. He's got a compression fracture of the L-2 Vertabrae. He spent 24 hours in the American Health care system. Fortunately, we had insurance. He got another ambulance to a hospital in Modesto where, he got a good nights sleep. The next day he saw specialists, got and MRI, got a back brace and a walker and got sent home. I suspect that Jill had a very stressful 24 hours. Indeed, a traumatic and stressful 24 hours. I'm so thankful for her being there, to take care of my man. It was weird to be here, unable to do anything.
And so it is.
I've read that a little perspective, like a little humor, goes a long way.
Keith has been recovering now for 4 weeks today. He is a pretty amazing guy. His perspective is, and continues to be that he's the luckiest guy around. He's got a broken back, yet he's almost downright giddy. He's been a good patient. He hasn't complained once. He's healing fast and furious.
And he gets a new bicycle.
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