Big Steps!

WOW!

What a
breakthrough!

I've taken some
mammoth
strides
since
last week's blog.

It started on Monday when I was doing my daily hike in the canyon behind my home. My eyes were peeled for the Rocky Mt. Big Horn Sheep which like to congregate at mouth of the canyon.

Instead, I was greeted by a couple of fellow hikers and we made our way up the rocky trail. Yep! Lots of ROCKS with a steady incline.
To give you an idea of the trail, take a look at this shot taken of my daughter, her horse and Yours Truly back in the 1990s.

Okay, it's 12 years ago! But it's still MY canyon!

When we got to my This-Is-As-Far-As-I-Go Place, my friends invited me to share their picnic. How serendipitous!

The MEAL, the REST, the PLEASANT CHATTER put fuel back into my tank and I decided to accompany my friends for a few more steps.

Each bend we took, I wanted to go a little farther, because the FALL COLORS were filling my soul. (The shot on the left was taken of the hikers who shared their picnic.)

Before I knew it, we'd crossed over the river 5 times using the 5 bridges built by energetic boy scouts. The 5th bridge represents a climb of 2000 feet from the trailhead.

By the time I was back down to the 'Big Horn Sheep Hangout' at the base of the canyon, I'd hoofed it FOUR miles.

I felt like a kid with my hand in the cookie jar! I'd done something just a bit sinful, in light of my recent Spinal Surgery Maxima! My only consequence = a little nerve pain during the night.

I was ELATED!!!

The next day, I made plans to hike Mt. Timpanogos. Late September is the IDEAL TIME to hike this mountain. This shot was taken from the roof of my home in the early spring.

Notice how bare the peaks are during the fall . . .

I invited the same hiking buddies you saw in the photo with the autumn leaves. (They had fancy pedometers that could tell us our altitude as well as walking distance. Besides, I like them.)

These shots were taken at the Timpooneke trailhead.
NOTE: my dog wasn't thrilled
about doing a photo opt at that moment.

After a mile or two, the view opened up . . .


As we got farther along, the trail got steeper.

Sometimes, the rock formations formed a perfect stairway.

Notice ABOVE that I use my trekking poles.
I am NOT allowed to fall.
since those spinal fusions cost a PRETTY PENNY!
* * *
Higher up, we came across several
spectacular waterfalls packed with vibrant green moss.
No boy scouts had constructed bridges at THIS altitude,
so we picked our way across the streams coming down the cliffs.

Finally, we reached the glacier basin.
over 10.000 FT. ALTITUDE.
5.5 MILES UP
. . . and another 5.5 miles DOWN!

ELEVEN breathtaking miles in one day!
What a MILESTONE for this post-surgery patient!!!

(I solemnly SWORE to my physical therapist that I'd go no farther than the glacier basin and that promise I KEPT. Furthermore, it was ENOUGH. I was thrilled TO THE MAX.)

The last time I did this hike was 15 years ago, when my spine was about 30 degrees curved, not a whooping 65 degrees, as it was before my surgery. In 1993, I took this photo of my son from ALMOST the same location where I stood just two days ago.


With a large curvature, muscles fatigue quickly, working extra hard to hold up a crooked spine. Pain ensues. Movement is limited. By the mid 1990s, this hike was totally out of my reach.

Now, barely four months out from getting "reconstructed", I can do FAR MORE than I could possibly do for years and years.

Dear Scoliosis Friends: I realize my recovery is somewhat remarkable. All that PILATES and YOGA helped. However, the vast majority of "scolis" find that AFTER SURGERY they have a better crack at life, whether it's climbing mountains or washing a huge pile of dishes at the sink. For those of you with twisted spines, please look at these photos and consider the chance to do things you NEVER DREAMED were possible because of your crooked spine. (If you haven't noticed, I'm becoming a Spinal Surgery Evangelist.)

FINAL NOTE: After eleven miles of climbing Timp, I experienced NO nerve pain. Just tiredness. The next morning, I felt great. Maybe I should hike Timpanogos EVERY DAY!