4/4/20, mile: 179.4, elevation: 8114 ft.
For the past two days, my right knee has been really bothering me. It’s pain that is very similar to what I had in my left knee a couple of months ago. No injury or instant pain, just a slow progression that makes it hard to walk my normal gait. It’s especially difficult when I first get up (like a midnight pee). I have full range of motion and no noticable weird pain at certain points, it just comes on at weird times. I attribute it to an enflamed tendon that is also causing inflamation in the knee, which in turn puts pressure on a nerve. Sometimes, when my knee pops (like a cracked knuckle), some of the pain is relieved. It’s reducing my speed and adding to my worry. I’ve been taking Aleve to help with the inflamation, but what it really needs is rest and ice.
I set my alarm early and was on the trail by 0700. Radish and Mom caught me soon enough, but we bunched up again at the now well-known rockfall blocking the trail Some do-gooder has added some rope to assist hikers to get around this thing without taking off your pack. Without the rope, this would be a tricky and time consuming obstacle.
Six miles into the day, the trail leaves the eastern facing slopes and turns west along the north faces…which means snow. The last three miles of my day took about 4 hours. The previous tracks didn’t follow the trail, so it went up and down. I tried different lines, but the snow was getting too soft to support my weight so I started to posthole. And I was getting tired. I am not making miles and the clock is ticking. The last mile or so was mostly downhill, but it was more sun exposed and was getting softer. Since I was approaching a well-visited trailhead, I started seeing day hikers, including Tawny and Mark. Thanks for the conversation and encouragement, you both really picked up my spirts.
I arrived at Saddle Junction around 2.:30 or so and to areas that were free of snow. The next camp was 1,000 feet higher and most likely in snow. Oh and the trail is snow covered just like what I just descended..which is to say it’s likely mushy now. I’m just too tired to make this happen today. I found one of the dry spots and pitched camp.
I must be getting punch drunk. In trying to melt snow for water (while saving fuel), I put snow in my partially full water bottle and wait for it to melt while I walk, then filter it later. Except this time I put snow in my “clean” water bottle. A simple screw up, but now I have to clean things as best as possible…and hope. And then I was rushed for dinner since it was getting windy and cold again…under-cooked rice is not appetizing.
If I’m going to complete this mountain traverse, tomorrow will be a long, tough day. On my side: I’ll start early so the snow will be hard. A good portion of the trail today will also be on a steep southern exposed face, so it should be mostly free of snow. And if I start early enough, the firm snow will hopefully last through Fuller Ridge, one of the more notorious sections of the trail due to the amount of snow that lingers and that most people end up completing it in the afternoon, so it’s a slushy postholing nightmare. Against me: my speed and the timing of the weather. Halfway through this section, there is one last bailout point where I can walk back down to Idyllwild if I don’t think it will happen or if the weather comes in early.
Will the trail provide?
Well what an exciting adventure and meeting lots of fellow hikers. Hope your knee gets better. Sounds like you been pushing it pretty hard and are going to be forced to take a slower pace. Hang in there and am always looking forward to seeing your daily posts! Stay safe and healthy Ron!
HI Ron sounds like your having some physical issues, just wondering if Hypoxia could be part of your problem in that in some cases it can cause arterial blockage. Just a thought since it seems as though you have been pushing pretty hard The last couple of days. Stay well my friend.