If there is a silver lining to the gray cloud that is my knee troubles, it's that it levels the playing field with my kids. A few weeks back, my son (Matthew) saw me preparing to go out for North Uncanoonuc, in the the drizzle and fog. He begged me to let him come. Even with no views ("I see lots of fog, Daddy!") it was a wonderful experience for both of us. We saw moose tracks and moose droppings (both fresh). No moose, but s/he couldn't have been too far away.
This weekend, after getting a cortisone shot, and at the 'request' of the orthopedist, I went after something a little bit bigger. I've done both peaks, and all the space in between, numerous times, mostly as training or family trips. This would be the latter. My wife and daughter went to see my wife's grandfather, leaving Matthew and I to go hiking.
With a 4-and-a-half year old, it's all about the journey rather than the destination. It's about collecting rocks, pine cones, inch worms, and flowers. It's counting the different animals, rather than the summits. We saw blueberry flowers, lady slippers, and numerous other small, white, six-petal flowers I don't recognize. In the fauna department, we counted five turkey vultures, two red-tail hawks, a garter snake, and a million black flies. No moose or droppings, but some deer prints were evident in the mud.
Even though the journey was the best part, I'm pleased as punch that he made it all the way up and all the way down under his own power. I let him hold my poles on some of the steeper parts of th descent, because I wanted him down in one piece. Mostly, he slid on his hands, feet, and butt.
In the knee-pain department, there really wasn't any while hiking, which is a good sign. Of late, the pains have come at T+48 to T+72 hours, so we'll see how things go. I have to say the cortisone hasn't really made any difference as what little pain I do have has been in the knee which got the shot.
Tim
p.s. I'm tickled to be able to post in Trip Reports again!!
p.p.s. Wapack trail is in excellent shape. Minor traces of mud. No blowdowns or other difficulties.
This weekend, after getting a cortisone shot, and at the 'request' of the orthopedist, I went after something a little bit bigger. I've done both peaks, and all the space in between, numerous times, mostly as training or family trips. This would be the latter. My wife and daughter went to see my wife's grandfather, leaving Matthew and I to go hiking.
With a 4-and-a-half year old, it's all about the journey rather than the destination. It's about collecting rocks, pine cones, inch worms, and flowers. It's counting the different animals, rather than the summits. We saw blueberry flowers, lady slippers, and numerous other small, white, six-petal flowers I don't recognize. In the fauna department, we counted five turkey vultures, two red-tail hawks, a garter snake, and a million black flies. No moose or droppings, but some deer prints were evident in the mud.
Even though the journey was the best part, I'm pleased as punch that he made it all the way up and all the way down under his own power. I let him hold my poles on some of the steeper parts of th descent, because I wanted him down in one piece. Mostly, he slid on his hands, feet, and butt.
In the knee-pain department, there really wasn't any while hiking, which is a good sign. Of late, the pains have come at T+48 to T+72 hours, so we'll see how things go. I have to say the cortisone hasn't really made any difference as what little pain I do have has been in the knee which got the shot.
Tim
p.s. I'm tickled to be able to post in Trip Reports again!!
p.p.s. Wapack trail is in excellent shape. Minor traces of mud. No blowdowns or other difficulties.
