HILLS HURT, COUCHES KILL hiking log

Still snowing at pass level out here. Hiked up and over to the backside of Stevens Pass. Powder turns at the top, slush turns at the bottom. Doggo did good despite her hips getting sore. 4k ft climbing, around 6-8 miles total

 

Great pics. Looks like doggo is enjoying

 

Yep, she was shimmying on her back and being silly as usual







When it's just us she does pretty good as long as I go slower and wait for her to catch up going downhill.

When I go out with my buddy and his dog they like to chase each other and her hip pain will flare up. She yelps and whines for a bit and then seems to recover for the rest of the hike. Makes my heart sink when I see her in pain but I don't really know what else to do. She looks so happy when we're outside, I just let her be and keep an eye on her

 

She’s beautiful! Many of my dogs have had arthritic pain as they got older. Very sad to see. Talk to your vet about the numerous pain treatments out there. You’ll be surprised by what all is out there. For example my dog as he got older suffered joint pain after hunting pheasants. Thought he was going to have to retire from hunting . I saw a vet orthopedic specialist and he tried injecting hyalironic acid into his joints. It was like miracle. There are dozen of other treatments too. I even tried acupuncture which also helped. I know the pain in your heart.

 

Sauk River

 

Hiking does indeed hurt...here's my painful experience from a couple months ago...

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-some-wanderings.84336/page-11#post-27019091


Safety in backcountry hiking/explorations has been mentioned by other members here on TW and it cannot be understated how important this is. I’ll be adding gloves in my pack from here on out and I have carried my Garmin Inreach Mini for a couple years. Prior to my Inreach I always left an itinerary with multiple people whom I would contact immediately when reception came back to my cellphone. These people have intimate knowledge of SAR and would diligently initiate the process. I should go back to this plan of action for future trips in addition to the Garmin.

Back to the story…I made it halfway up the incline of dark patina boulders and was standing on a lower rock/boulder surrounded by other rocks. Turning at the hip to my right, evaluating the route, my right knee gave out. The sensation of pain and instability led me to reach out to a sharp rock to my left which cut my hand. Fortunately I had a rock to sit back on. All at the same time I reached down and felt my patella on the outside of my leg (lateral aspect) and immediately pushed it back into place where it belongs. In my mind, my entire lower leg had been displaced to the side as well. Upon follow up with a doctor that I’ve worked with for more than eight years, he explained it is a common misconception with this type of injury that the individual thinks the entire leg is displaced/dislocated. I got my bearings and focused on breathing to overcome the trauma which had just happened. I took my binos, camera, and pack off. I had an ace wrap in my pack but no pain meds. So, I wrapped the knee and began the plan to get back to the truck which was 1.25 miles away.

My girlfriend was along for this trip. She’s another RN with much more nursing experience than me. My return to the truck from the wash would have been much more of a challenge without her help. To make an already long story shorter, I am in the initial two-week post injury period and hopefully this injury is resolved soon…because I’ve got stuff to do! Safe travels!

 

Ouch! Glad to hear you made it out ok

 

@ETAV8R , have you always had a trick knee .

 

Thank you.

Nope never had an issue before. My doctor doesn't suspect it will be a repetitive problem but one never knows.

 

Yesterday on the Sauk River I had to jump in and help my buddy rescue his dog. He has a young lab/retriever, probably just over a yr old. She always wants to wade into lakes and rivers and paddle around, it becomes a problem when the water is moving swiftly. Sure enough, she starts getting swept downstream toward a log jam.

The river is only waist/stomach high at its deepest but the rocks are slippery underfoot and the current is no joke. My buddy jumps in after her, fully clothed. By the time he gets to her she's fully submerged getting dragged into/under the log jam. He's able to get hands on her and gets her head above water, but he keeps slipping on the rocks and going under, dropping her again and again. The current is even stronger out where it's deeper, now they're both in danger of getting swept under.

I tell my kiddo to stay put and don't move, I jump in and make it to them in about 15 seconds, felt like a full minute. I pick up the dog with both arms, my footing is better and I'm able to throw her up onto the log jam where she can scramble back to shore. My buddy is completely soaked and shaken up, we help each other back to shore and it's all good..

Warmed up with some coffee, quietly scolded the dog for a few minutes, changed clothes and left

Yeesh

 

@b_r_o , good story Bro ! a happy ending , you are a hero !

 

@ETAV8R Glad you made it back.

 

So glad all 3 of you survived and mostly unscathed. That could have had a very bad outcome. Just a couple quick points. I was an avid backpacker for 30+ years (I no longer backpack due to a bad back and partly due to age). I’ve hiked all over the Sierras and the Bear Tooth wilderness in Montana and other places also. I use to backpack often solo. One time in the Marble Mountain Wilderness I came upon a solo hiker with a broken ankle. It’s desolate area no one else around. Had I not happened upon him he may not have survived. He couldn’t walk on his own. After that experience no more solo backpacking for me, ever. Your friend and his dog may likely have died if not for you Bro. God bless you for being there for he and dog. Just something to think about.
Second, everyone when hiking in the wilderness whether by yourself or with others, should carry a PLB (personal locator beacon). Won’t go into it but PLB’s are lifesavers. When I was young I thought I was invincible, was I ever wrong. Now a days even a day hike in the woods I carry my PLB.
Lastly any dog that goes afield with me is well, I mean really well trained. I’ve had Labrador retrievers for 40 years, all hunting dogs and all trained to the max. If I tell them sit, stay, down or call them to me or other commands they react instantly. In hunting situations and trips afield a well trained dog can make the difference between life, death or injury of the dog and the person. Just something to consider.
Believe me I’m not lecturing anyone. Im just trying to give the benefit of my zillion years as an outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, backpacking, hiking, boating etc. etc.
And again Bro so glad you all made it back safe. Be safe out there.

 

Car camped Friday night at a remote campground in the Daniel Boone National Forrest. Packed 15 miles Saturday and 15 Sunday as part of the 2022 Sheltowee Trace Trail Challenge.

The group camped at Turkey Foot Campground Saturday night, another remote campground in eastern Kentucky.

Trail was wet and muddy.

 

Pineapple Pass at dusk
8 miles/ 2,000ft climbing/ 3 hours

 

It's been a bit since I've gotten out during daylight hours! Recreational hike with some friends.

Thimble peak (in the distance) when viewed from an outcropping near Rose Peak. Catalinas, Tucson, AZ


A view in the opposite direction.


Panorama


Rose Canyon Lake. It's an artificially dammed body of water way up, around 7,000 ft up. This is a great place for helicopters to get water during the forest fires.

 

Mt Teneriffe, 10 miles, 4k ft climbing, 4 hrs

Falls



Kamikaze Trail



No view at top

 

Great pics as usual. The pic of the waterfall is special. Very professional

 

Up near the top of Mt. Lemmon today - Tucson, AZ seen down below. Monsoon season is afoot and the clouds can hold that merciful rain we all need here.

 

those are some dam good cell phone pics. I'm going to "assume" your in Colorado somewhere, nice pics though. Would like to fish the lake in the 2nd photo.