The Dangers of Short Hikes
During my "retirement" (as I have dubbed my two month break between jobs) I did a lot of hiking which was positively wonderful. One Wednesday I was sitting at home, the sun was shinning, and it was set to be a beautiful day. It suddenly occurred to me, I can do anything I want! So, I got up and drove 40 minutes to a popular hike in the area (Little Si, for those in the area). It was 5 miles, a nice recovery hike after the 12 miler I had done the past weekend. It's easy to see why it's a popular hike. I summited, ate my lunch at the top, and then started hiking down. Somewhere in the decent I turned my knee just right and wrenched it so badly that it took me nearly twice as long to descend as to ascend.
I went crying to my physical therapist who told me I was off hiking for a while and to take it easy on my knee. Two and a half weeks later I begged him to clear me for another hike. He said ok, but "no more than 8 miles and 2000 feet in elevation gain." I was so determined to listen that instead of hiking we just went to the tide pools and scrambled over rocks and such. It couldn't have been much more than 2 miles.
I was proud of myself.
I think he was relieved I didn't push the matter.
I'd like to go back to the part where I had hiked 12 miles 3 days prior with no incident, and then, on a dumb little 5 mile hike and I twisted my knee so bad I could hardly walk. There is no justice in the world. When I groused about this my PT shook his head and said, "that's how it always happens. People rarely hurt themselves on the big stuff." Tragically, this is not comforting.
I went crying to my physical therapist who told me I was off hiking for a while and to take it easy on my knee. Two and a half weeks later I begged him to clear me for another hike. He said ok, but "no more than 8 miles and 2000 feet in elevation gain." I was so determined to listen that instead of hiking we just went to the tide pools and scrambled over rocks and such. It couldn't have been much more than 2 miles.
I was proud of myself.
I think he was relieved I didn't push the matter.
I'd like to go back to the part where I had hiked 12 miles 3 days prior with no incident, and then, on a dumb little 5 mile hike and I twisted my knee so bad I could hardly walk. There is no justice in the world. When I groused about this my PT shook his head and said, "that's how it always happens. People rarely hurt themselves on the big stuff." Tragically, this is not comforting.
posted by granola girl at 6:46 pm
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