It's been nine months since I've put a post up. Lots has happened since then, and I have been wanting to provide an update so here we go...
September 22, 2023 - Two Pines Hill, Bragg Creek:
After hiking Tent Ridge (the wrong way around 😆...) earlier in the day Sam and I decided to go up Two Pines Hill on the other side of Bragg, knowing the leaves were just past peak colour, and soon enough would all be on the ground. We weren't disappointed by the beautiful views and colours with the sun slowly setting in the background.
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| Two Pines Hill Looking West |
September 29, 2023 - Short Springs State Natural Area, Tennessee, USA:
Our good friends Audrey and Gerry convinced us to take a trip with them to Nashville, Tennessee in September. Of course I tricked everybody into letting me plan a hike day. 😂 After doing a bit of research we decided on Machine Falls Trail in the Short Springs State Natural Area. The bonus was that Lynchburg, Tennessee, home of the Jack Daniels distillery, was only 25 km away. The plan would be to hike the falls in the morning and then go to Lynchburg for BBQ lunch and a tour of the Jack Daniels facility. Some old high school friends of ours happened to be in Nashville at the same time agreed to join us for the day, which was amazing! We were all able to do some great catching up.
The walk ended up being very nice, and everybody seemed to enjoy it. The falls themselves were a spectacular sight!
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| Machine Falls |
November 5, 2023 - The Knob, Sheep River, Kananaskis:
With winter fast approaching, as well as the closure of Kananaskis winter gates we wanted to get out and enjoy a good hike while we could. One of our favourites in the Sheep River valley is the Knob which Amanda and I have done several times. Audrey and Gerry agreed to join us and we had a really nice morning. The weather was starting to come in once we got to the summit, so we didn't waste too much time and tried to beat it back to the trailhead.
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| Summit Selfie From The Knob |
And Then This Happened...
After a year of ignoring what my back was trying to tell me, it finally caught up with me. In mid-December on my days off my lower back was so tight that I could barely stand up. By the time Thursday came around and it was time to go back to work I was sure I would get better any day so decided it would be OK to go. A couple of days into my shift I could feel my left leg from buttock to toes starting to feel sore and tingly/numb. I wasn't sure what was happening but was still sure it would clear up. Over the next couple days things deteriorated to where my whole leg was on fire. It was a pain I have never felt before or imagined in my life. I couldn't walk, and I could barely stand. Getting from my office to our site vehicle, or from the vehicle to my room in camp was more than I could bare. I left work a couple days early and everything in my life changed for the next 2-3 months.
After a few days at home I figured out that sitting and laying prone were the only two positions I could comfortably be in for short periods. I ended up having to put a chair in the shower and it was still a struggle. I couldn't stand at the sink to brush my teeth. Sleeping through the night was out of the question. I tried ibuprofen, naproxen, and Robaxacet, but got no relief. I used a TENS machine. I started seeing chiropractors, physiotherapists, my GP, a sports medicine doctor, an acupuncturist, and one trip to urgent care.
This ended up being one of the toughest times of my life. I started working from home. I didn't know if this was the new normal for me, which would mean never hiking again. It was mid-winter and there was no way I would be cross-country skiing. Despite all of the support around me I felt pretty alone.
It is a long story but through lots of pushing, friend and family support, and learning how to navigate our mediocre health care system, I was able to get a diagnosis and start working towards a solution. Slowly my symptoms started to improve. By late February I could walk to the end of my driveway and back. Early March I felt well enough to go back to work at site. I continued to extend my walks and activity and gradually got to a place where I could do 10 km of road walking. The next step was one I had been thinking and worrying about since December - getting back onto the trails and into the mountains. First up was a little trail just down the road from us. It felt so nice to be back in the trees. My back handled the uneven terrain and mild elevation well, so next up would be a trip into Kananaskis.
March 12, 2024 - Powderface Creek/Prairie Link/Prairie Link Trail, Elbow, Kananaskis:
This was my first long hike back in the mountains since my back issue surfaced. I was nervous to start but it didn't take long to set myself at ease. I didn't realize how good it would feel to be in the trees and around the mountains again!!
After completing the ~12 km loop I headed for a hot (standing up) shower 😂, and some nice easy back stretches. I have said it many times before in these blogs, but the psychological benefit of being active outdoors is unmeasurable. I was reminded of that in a big way during this walk and was feeling happier than I had in the previous few months!
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| Happy Hiker!! |
March 25, 2024 - Prairie Mountain Loop, Elbow, Kananaskis:
Next up was a longer hike with elevation. I decided to try Prairie Mountain but added some extra distance going down the backside and taking the long loop out to the road via Prairie Creek, Prairie Link, and Powderface Creek Trail. It would end up being a 16 km day with ~800m elevation gain - a good test to see if was going to be able to do the TGOC crossing in May with Ben and Sam, that we had been planning since last October. Besides being very tired at the end of the day, it ended up being a big milestone in my recovery. It was also a turning point for my concerns that hiking might be something I was no longer able to do.
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| Beautiful Shoulder Season View From Prairie Mountain |
April 5, 2024 - Pike Creek/ Iron Mine Trail, Vancouver Island:
Sam and I headed to the BC Lower Mainland in early April to visit the boys for a few days before their end of semester. While in Victoria we took off one morning while Ty was at class. We drove past Sooke to a spot Sam had found online and did some coastal hiking. We have not done much walking on the coast, and we were both amazed at the beauty of it. Every corner we turned revealed stunning views. We both really enjoyed it, and got a great workout at the same time. I hope to do some more of this type of hiking in the future!
In early May, Sam, Ben, and I crossed Scotland from Morar to St. Cyrus on foot. Please check out our blog for that adventure here.
