Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Therapy

For most of my adult life people around me have urged me to go into therapy. You climb rocks? You need therapy. You climb ice? You need therapy. You have this weird obsession with lightweight gear - maybe you should see a therapist. Gonna hike for how many miles???

Of course there are many other reasons I've been told I should seek therapy over - relationships, my penchant for good times where music is being performed, an unnatural attraction to dolphins.... wait - that was Troy McClure! I like dolphins, just not in that way - they make tuna fish taste better! Anyhow, everyone who has ever urged me to seek help will be pleased to know that I have taken the plunge.

Yes, I am officially in therapy.

My doctor is a striking young man in Glendale who has a very adept assistant who was able to tell where my problems were just by watching me bend over. Now I know what you're thinking... but it's not that cool.

No, I have long fought with lower back pain you see. I finally came to the decision that I should employ any means available to me to prevent a trip ending episode 100 miles from nowhere by seeking the help of a physical therapist. While they cannot tell me what is wrong, even after a bunch of x-rays of my back, they gave me exercises to help strengthen my core which will hopefully stave off any flare ups come July 28th.

My name is Christopher and I have back problems.

But that won't stop me!!!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

So it's official...

Got word today from Chuck that the request for permits has been processed - for some reason I thought it would take much longer, but we now have a Put In Date: July 28, 2011!!!

It seems so far away right now. In reality there is much to be done however - getting less fat and less lazy is #1 on the list, gathering my Unbelievably Lightweight Crap together is right up there too. In a perfect world (where I have access to unlimited funds) I would be carrying a pack that weighed less than 15 pounds but if I can get in  under 20 pounds I will be satisfied. That's a base weight mind you - food, water and the odd bottle of corn liquor will add to that of course, though with the amount of resupplies we have planned I hope to carry less than 30 pounds at any given time.

Note to self: Eat better and learn to use that fancy dehydrator Cali just bought!

Note to self #2: GO HIKING, DUMBASS!!

So yes - things have gotten more serious now that there are real world dates to be reckoned with. The permit we have been granted lists the following:
 
Entry Date: 07/28/2011
Entry Trailhead: Happy Isles->Sunrise/Merced Lake (pass through)
Exit Date: 08/24/2011
Exit Trailhead: Whitney Portal

Along the way we will be joined at various times by esteemed guests like Kristofer and Cali with hopes of seeing the DiFiori's and Wendie at least once!

Excited? You betcha! 

Sunday, February 6, 2011

And then there were 3

My resolve to post at least something everyday has been degraded as you probably already know. What you may not have known is that I planned to update this blog on a daily basis.

So we're even.

Actually, We Are Three now.

While I was away front pointing up waterfall ice in Colorado, the highly esteemed Reverend Di Fiori was diagnosed with an on going case of Plantar fasciitis. (Yes Rich, that is an NCBI link you see there - it was the first thing to pop up on The All Seeing Oracle.)

This is a malady I hope to never contract. I have met myriad people who have been affected by it's singular charms and I can honestly say I want to keep as much distance between my tender tootsies and it as possible. The tale of Rev. Russ' battle with the condition is full of hopeful woe. Training hikes with a paltry 12 pounds on his back virtually crippled him. You see, this particular pain in the heel causes normal people to feel there are red hot splinters of glass being shoved into their heels with every step.

While pain killers make a trip to the can a bearable thing, 9 out of 10 Doctors agree that a 200 mile hike with the condition might not be the best idea. Especially since healing (no pun intended) time ranges from weeks to years depending on the subject affected.

My own personal loss due to The Rev's departure is almost too much to bear. I had hoped to glean an entire semesters worth of Evolutionary Biology from him as the miles unfolded. Now I am stuck listening to Rich whine about how his very expensive lens won't bring the Bighorn Sheep into focus between bouts of Chuck regaling us with tales of pulling donkeys out of steep walled canyons.

Wait. That's not 100% true.

I look forward to filling Rich's pack with rocks as he leaves only footprints and takes only pictures, and look forward to the security of having Chuck's EMT training along for the duration. Their stories are welcome - even if I've heard them before!

What was I thinking???

But to the Reverend Di Fiori - I wish you a speedy recovery and good health in the future. If the fates conspire to bring us together at some point on our odyssey, we shall all be richer for the occurrence. (Doubly so if Sara chooses to come with you - I have many, many questions about the Sierra Crest I am sure she could answer!)

Heel well Sir Russ.

Christopher


But to Reverend Di Fiori - I wish you a speedy recovery and the best of health! I am sad tt