Bob Bolton - May 2, 2004 11:16 pm - Voted 10/10
May's blazeRadek,
Looks like the May blaze of balsam root is in full swing on Dog Mountain. Wish I could have joined you today, but my torn quad still can't handle that much steepness, although I did hike to Tunnel Falls yesterday with no problems. I'm also doing leg strength training at the gym now, so it shouldn't be too long before I'll be ready for mountains again. Can't wait!
Bob
rpc - May 2, 2004 11:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: May's blazeWhat happened Bob??! How did you hurt your quad (torn??)? Had no idea. Really sorry to hear that - particularly a tough time now that summer seems to be approaching. What's your estimate on when you'll be back to 100%?
We hiked up Defiance today in some very warm weather. Had nice views of Dog and Wind along the way and yeah, the flowers are REALLY popping up quickly! Beautiful time for the Gorge.
Thanks for stopping by Bob and we wish you the speediest of recoveries!
radek
Bob Bolton - May 3, 2004 12:54 am - Voted 10/10
Re: May's blazeYeah, I haven't talked about it much here at SP. On March 13 three of us snowshoe climbed Round Mountain, the most topographically prominent peak in Washington that I hadn't yet climbed (5,320-foot elevation with 540-foot key saddle for 4,780 feet of prominence). These photos of Baker and Glacier Peak were shot less than an hour before the injury. Anyway, I had forgotten to take my electrolyte supplement the night before and that morning, and for some reason there was none in my pack. The conditions were rather difficult, and I started getting quite fatigued, which for me always means cramps unless I have my electrolyte therapy available. On the descent I slipped and tripped and dived head-first down the slope. When I bent my right knee to create a landing platform, the outside quad refused to go there, so it partially tore just above the knee. I found a way to slowly work my way down the mountain with my right knee locked, and we got to the groomed road just after dark. Before the rescue snowmobiles arrived we probably hiked another mile or so, then I got to ride about four miles in a rescue sled. I've been able to walk on it for some time, and have done over 11 miles two weeks ago and 13 miles yesterday, but up and down stairs is still problematic, so I'm still avoiding steep trails. I saw a specialist last week, finally, and he ordered an MRI, which was done last Friday evening, so this week I'll find out if it will heal adequately to stabilize my kneecap without surgery. It only pops when I'm going down stairs with full weight on the injured leg, and it could simply be due to the weakness. I'm doing strengthening workouts at a gym, so that problem may just disappear, but the MRI should tell the story. This has been an extremely frustrating spring - the best spring weather I've ever seen here, and I can't run or climb. Then if that's not enough, my first big trip was postponed due to a critical project with a June 30 deadline. :-( I guess it's probably good because my leg may not have been able to handle 84 miles and 28,000 feet EG for eight days in early June! I've also decided that Shuksan is too early, so I'm backing out of that plan. I'm still hoping to do Shasta in early July, but with my fitness level down from usual at this time of year, that also seems a bit agressive. Will see. Thanks for your concern!
Hi Shirley!
Bob
Brian Jenkins - May 3, 2004 1:21 am - Voted 10/10
Re: May's blazeOh Bob, that sucks! I was looking forward to the Shuksan climb with you. Hope your recovery goes quick and you're back out there soon. Maybe we'll have to have another SP outing at Bridgeport for a "healing" brew or two (or three).
Bob Bolton - May 3, 2004 2:00 am - Voted 10/10
Re: May's blazeSounds like a great idea Brian. My wife will be leaving town on May 13 for 3 weeks, so maybe while she's gone I could get to another SP "club meeting" at Bridgeport! :-) I'll probably be working weekends in June, so Shuksan may have been impossible even without the injury. But with the injury I wouldn't have been ready anyway. We'll have to plan another trip sometime this summer. I'm working on the 100 highest and 2000-foot prominence lists in Washington and Oregon, which provides plenty of targets! And by the way, Brian, nobody has completed the Oregon 100 highest list yet, according to the Mazamas. A Washingtonian named Ken Jones is stealthily working on the list, but has a long way to go. Terry Richard may be working on it too, not sure. You should try to beat them! :-) Here's the list.
Bob
Brian Jenkins - May 3, 2004 11:57 am - Voted 10/10
Re: May's blazeIf nothing works out before September, I still was hoping to do Black Peak with you sometime in September. We had kind of talked about that one at Bridgeport. Anyway, something to think about.
Good luck on the recovery and let's talk more over some brews in a few weeks!
Bob Bolton - May 3, 2004 10:01 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: May's blazeMy buddy Duane has done Black, and he says he'll go back there with me. I'm thinking June would be perfect while there's still snow over all that talus between Heather Pass and Wing Lake. This would not be as difficult a climb as Shuksan, but might still be a bit much for my leg. Maybe we could look at mid-July. I really want that peak, especially for the awesome view of the north face of Goode. September may wind up being my major vacation month. Duane and I are heading for the Sangres in Colorado for over a week around Labor Day. Then with the postponement of my early June trip, we'll probably do that one in late September. So Black may not fit in too well that month. July and August might work fine, however.
I'll learn the MRI results tomorrow, which should indicate how this summer will go. If it needs surgery, I hope it can wait until late fall. But I really don't think it'll need surgery, and that when the healing is done I'll be able to build up my fitness level again in time for the Bonanza climb in August.
Do keep in touch!
Bob
rpc - May 4, 2004 12:37 am - Hasn't voted
Re: May's blazeBob,
that is one epic story!!
Really sorry to hear about your injury. Laying off your injured leg is probably the best idea though I do understand how that can really suck (Shirley partially tore her achille's tendon last summer.....no climbing for over a month at the height of the alpine season). Take care of it and get it healed right before pushing yourself.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery from both of us!
radek
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