Some may call me crazy or too old, at 67, to be leaving my home before day break, rain or shine, snow or subzero temperatures, to be with nature. Well, I never cared much about what others thought, I enjoy the outdoors, period. Decades of images captured while trekking in some of the most remote parts of the Appalachian mountains on the east coast and the Rockies in Colorado is proof it was worth it.
Each year that goes by, I take account of physical and mental capabilities, then adjust my activities accordingly. After knee surgery in March, 2011 - torn lateral meniscus - hours of prescribed PT and individual daily workouts, I was back on trail in May. It resulted in a drop of completed trail miles from previous years to 155.6 that year.
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| Atop Bears Den rock formation, Virginia, A.T. |
In 2012, the mileage was back with 239.3 miles completed. Of that, 44.5 miles were done on snowshoes. The big gainer was a week backpacking in the Never Summer Wilderness, on the western slope of RMNP.
Despite the continuing reduction in stamina, added focus needed to maintain balance and added concentration on my footing, the year of 2013 ended with 287.8 trail miles completed. Snowshoeing that year dropped to 20.5 miles. The year was memorable in that the 2,000 trail miles completed occurred in July, during a day hike in Jim Creek outside Winter Park.
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| Hiking with grandsons at Hidden Mesa Open Space. |
Registration for upcoming spring hikes has past. Beginning in April, I will be on trail a minimum of one day a week through May. I have enjoyed being a member of the High Country Hikers group based at the Aurora Center for Active Adults (ACAA), I enjoy the challenge their hikes provide. Maybe the most gratifying aspect of the group is the camaraderie among group members.
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| Journal entry time on Appalachian Trail, Virginia. |
Yoga remains a staple in my routine. It's a long drive across town to Scheitler Recreation Center, at I-70 and Sheridan Avenue, but it's worth it. All class members live with Parkinsons, so instructors tailor poses to accommodate students. It has provided me with a group of friends I otherwise would not have obtained.
The March calendar is jammed packed with things to do. Of the 31 days, only 6 are void of any activity. I am sure that number will get to zero soon. Weekends are reserved for family activities. In particular, our two grandsons and their love of sports.
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| Glacier Gorge, RMNP. |
The oldest is 14, and plays hockey in Centennial. March will find him transitioning to baseball. He will fill a spot on the roster of a Cherry Creek League team, plus he will tryout for the High School freshman squad. That means Nana and Papa will be making trips to Ft. Collins, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and many venues in between over the next few months.
The younger is 11, and a member of his middle school wrestling team. After school matches will find us there cheering him on. He to enjoys baseball as well, and will play in his age group for the Cherry Creek League. In addition, he will play lacrosse. Not one to allow much if any down time, he has found a new love...playing the viola. We have attended a concert at his school and a special event called Stringathon where hundreds of inspired middle school aged youth are able to display their talent to friends and family in a performance.
Between these two boys, we have been to most every middle and high school gym or auditorium in the Denver Metro area. It looks like that will continue for the next few years. Suppose I should be tracking road miles traveled as well as trail miles.
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| Snowshoeing to Sand Beach Lake, RMNP. |
Weekday mornings are reserved for workouts at 24-hr Fitness. The routine includes 40 minutes on the treadmill, with various degrees of incline, at a 3.5 mph pace. That exceeds what I consider routine on trail in the backcountry. There, I average 2.5 to 3.0 mph on day trips and multi-day backpack adventures.
Research has been completed into the experiences of my great grandfather (dad's side) had as a member of the 76th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, Keystone Zouaves during the Civil War. The result is a 132 page account of the unit he was a member of, the battles including Ft. Sumpter, Secessionville, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Ft. Wagner, in which he fought. After surviving it all, on the return to Pennsylvania, to be mustered out of service, aboard ship off the South Carolina coast, in a deadly storm, details of his harrowing experience to survive being tossed into the Atlantic, he was later found naked on the beach and rescued.
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| Stream crossing in Butler Gulch. |
While snow falls and winds swirls outside, I found satisfaction in devouring a good book. There are two elements of the written word that most interest me...mystery and American history. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading works by Michael Connelly, Deborah Crombie, David Baldacci, James Patterson and Steve Martini.
Although her text may be well over 400, or 500 pages, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American biographer, historian, and political commentator, Doris Kerns Goodwin has written some exceptional stuff including: Team of Rivals, the political genius of Abraham Lincoln. It was a book I could literally NOT PUT DOWN.
At this writing, I am devouring Necessary as Blood, by Deborah Crombie.
In addition to physical exercise, I find exercising the brain by reading brings me an added degree of satisfaction. Living with Parkinson's Disease requires constant recognition of ones limitations. A self-prescribed dose of decision making, planning, reading, writing, updating the checkbook, and driving are the activities I found to slow progress of PD in my body.
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| Backpack trip in Never Summer Wilderness. |
Thanks to the Parkinson Association of the Rockies (PAR), for providing the expertise to create this blog in 2011. Since going live in August of that year, it has been a huge part of my daily life. This blog provides me the opportunity to write about my passion for the outdoors. My love of photography has been a good fit. Images of the backcountry...where many readers never get to go...adds a element of color and clarity to an otherwise mundane script.
It is an enjoyable experience each time I sit at the keyboard. Until such time that PD causes my brain to be unable to communicate with my fingers, there will be a story to write.
April is Parkinson's Awareness month. If you live with someone or know someone with PD, a three-part article has been posted describing the personal challenges I am facing. Return to the home page, click on any year, then on April to get a list of articles.
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| Backpack trip, Continental Divide Trail, Southern San Juans. |
For anyone interested in getting outdoors, enjoy nature, and support PAR, I will be hosting a fund-raising hike in April to support PAR. Check this blog often for details.
What's ahead? I am taking recommendations for the next installment of Inspiring Profiles. You may want to check out the first two posts in this interesting column. The first was posted October 22, 2011. The second came out on February 20, 2012. Go to the home page and look the far right of the page fore the archives, then click on the year and month required.
Enjoy your journey!
