Some Lessons Learned, What's Next and P90X

The backpack trip was a success even though it seemed touch and go for awhile.  Shauni's blisters were a problem, but she pushed on through and we got to the end without a need for any kind of alteration or, gods forbid a rescue.

As always, I learned a few more things about multi-day hiking and hopefully I will remember them and put them to use.  First of all, tie your bandana in a loose knot on the pack strap.  I never even noticed that it was gone until we were taking a break and I reached to use it.  Also, it never hurts to carry at least two.

Also, I learned from August that weight is what you make of it.  If you want to carry something and can, than do.  I decided to stop sweating the small stuff.  I usually overpack anyway, but now I have some validation to my theory.  I can usually handle between 30 and 40 pounds without too many problems, so I won't sweat it when I'm up in that zone.  Of course, cutting weight still would allow me to make everything easier, but I won't debate about some gear choice as much as I think I have to from now on.

So now it is time to start thinking about what is next.  When I was reading Stat's updates, he mentioned doing an Aqua Blaze and a new plan was hatched.  I'm thinking about hiking south from Front Royal to Rt 211 and then riding a canoe back north to Front Royal on the Shenandoah River south fork.  It is very doable and I have started to make the calculations.  It would be nice to get a few people to come along, but the idea is there and I continuously refine it as I find out more information.

I also have a few other options like another 40 to 50 miles up in PA or to continue south from my southern most point at Snickers Gap to Front Royal, finishing the Roller Coaster.  The options are still many for now, since I have only completed 4.7% of the trail.

Since I have been steadily sliding into fat mode, I decided it was time to get back into a slimmer shape.  I can hike all day, but I would rather do it at a lower weight.  Lisa, Shauni and I have started the P90X program.  We are one week in and feeling the good soreness that comes with a new workout routine.  Hopefully we will continue for the whole program, but I will go as far as I can as long as it stays fun and I keep getting results.  

Appalachian Trail Hike - Snickers Gap to Harpers Ferry

Last Wednesday, my daughter Shauni, her boy friend Alex and I packed up our backpacks and headed towards the Appalachian Trail and spent three days hiking 20 miles from Snickers Gap to Harpers Ferry.

There were a few challenges, but we were able to get the hike done.  I love being out there.  It calls to me continuously.  Every time I enter a piece of woods, I look for a white blaze and want to strike out and keep going.

You can read the details at: http://www.trailjournals.com/jefe

I plan to get back to the trail as often as I can and add to my miles.  Some trips may be on parts of the trail that I have been to before, but that is the beauty of the trail.  You hike it where you want to.  There are some places that I am growing to like, but I plan to explore many different parts of the trail before I am done hiking.

Keep on Hiking...

Jefe

Harpers Ferry to Snickers Gap - AT Section Hike (Plan)

My next hike on the amazing Appalachian Trail will take place in a little over a week.  My daughter, Shauni and her boyfriend, Alex will head out with me to Harpers Ferry after dropping a vehicle near Bear's Den on Rt 7 in Virginia.  We will head south on the trail by climbing up to Loudoun Heights at a fairly steep angle.  Once on top of the ridge, will follow it south until we enter the "Roller Coaster".  We will do a few hoops of that before coming down to Route 7 at Snickers Gap and the end of our hike.  The plan is three days of hiking from around 6 to 9 miles each day.  I like keeping the plan fluid.  I created around 6 or 7 scenarios for the hike and we will probably wind up doing some hybrid of a couple of them.  We will hike to our abilities and stay flexible to each situation.  I can't wait!

I am getting excited once again.  Every time I step onto that amazing foot path and see the first white blaze, my heart speeds up and a smile draws itself across my face.  I love being on that path, with everything I need on my back and nothing but time to kill and miles to go.

Keep calling me AT.  I will be back on you, doing the miles before too long...

Blackthorne Inn Retreat

Last Sunday, my bride and I headed to Northern VA and checked into the Blackthorne Inn outside Upperville, VA.  We arrived and checked in.  Our room was down the road a bit past the pond in an old remodeled stable.  It had a beautiful large fire place and was very nice.  We opened a bottle of wine and enjoyed the afternoon on the patio overlooking a field.  The weather was perfect.

We went down to the pub for a few drinks and came back later for a wonderful dinner.  The owners are actual Irish people and the decor was very nice.  We watched a rugby game in the bar and one of the patrons had to explain a lot of the rules to us.  It was fun.

The next day marked our 24th anniversary.  We had a nice breakfast in the pub and later headed to a winery for a free tasting which was a part of the package that I had purchased on Living Social for one of Lisa's Christmas presents.  The tasting was nice and the winery was cool.  It was pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, but it was set up well.  Really just a house on some land where they sold their own wine from grapes grown on the property.

After a little nap, we headed to the AT for a short day hike.  We found the well hidden driveway to the trail head parking and headed for the white blazes.  We walked along up and down through a forest that has sprung to life in this nice spring weather.  It had been cloudy all day, but it cleared up some as we hiked along.  Not too hot or cold, but I sweated pretty well as we hiked along.  We took the blue blaze trail to one of the PATC Cabins, Myron Glaser.  It was a nice cabin and we may want to come try it out some time.

We headed back up the trail and back to the car.  Dinner was a four course deal this time (part of the package) and was very good.

Early in the morning, I heard rain hitting the roof, but all was well inside the room.  We got up and one more large breakfast and headed home.

It was a good time.

AT Overnighter

Ginger and I headed to Northern VA and hit the AT for a short hike with an overnight stay near the Sam Moore shelter.  The walk out was beautiful, but this is the roller coaster and some of the hills were extreme.  We took nice breaks at the stream crossings and arrived at the shelter to find a college class and boy scout troop.  I found a nice tent area and set up.  As dinner was finished the expected rain storm arrived and the rain forced us to the tent for a while.  After the storm passed, we hung out by the large fire the scouts had made and talked to the other hikers.

Ginger sleeps scared and kept growling throughout the night.  Around 6 it started sprinkling again so breaking camp and breakfast was hurried.  We hit the trail and headed back to the car.  It rained off and on lightly as we hiked out, but I was more comfortable keeping myself warm by hiking instead of sweating in my rain gear.

We checked out Bear's Den on the way out and headed home.  A great needed AT fix, but it only stirs up more Jonesing for the trail

Node Negative

I took a nice two weeks off after my surgery and received my pathology results when they took out my stitches on Tuesday.  The node biopsy came back negative.  So it is back to close full body skin checks ever 3 to 6 months and some follow-up visits with the oncologist, but I'm hoping that we beat this fucker back once again.  I'm sure it will never be gone, and may be what eventually kills me, but I will fight it to the end, collecting scars along the way.

Under the Knife

Yesterday was a few firsts for me.  I had my first IV, my first anesthesia and my first (and hopefully last) sentinel node biopsy.  It was along day, but hopefully we have done what was needed to stop this melanoma again (at least for a while).

We headed to Bethesda early around 0500 and arrived in good time and found good parking.  I spent four hours in Nuclear Medicine as they injected some radioactive stuff in me and waited to see which way my lymph system moved the shit.  At first it wasn't appearing to move by after several pictures and procedures, they had the data they needed to proceed.  This was the most painful part of the day.  Keeping my arms above my head, even laying down, and not able to move at all to get comfortable became very painful.  After the last procedure, both my shoulders were completely numb.

Back to the APU then to the Pain Center.  Here I was prepared for surgery.  An IV was put in and I was given a block in my arm and armpit.  The block was weird.  As soon as it went in, I lost all feeling and use of my right arm.  It felt as if my arm was resting in my lap, but it was actually falling off to the side.  Weird.  The Intern tasked with setting up my IV was very nervous.  He was actually shaking as he tried to get the needle in my vein.  I am always a challenge when getting stuck.  I felt sorry for the young lad.

To toe OR and after a few breaths into the mask, I was gone.  I came to feeling as if someone was lifting my legs every 30 seconds or so.  It was actually a compression system that kept my blood flowing out of my legs.  I had just a little pain in my armpit and my arm was still a little numb.  After a while I was moved to the APU and Lisa came in.  I recovered nicely after a small bout of nausea as I moved into the chair.  Ginger Ale helped and I munched on my first food of the day, graham crackers. 

I took my required pee, got dressed and we were headed out sometime before 1900.  Quite a day.

We got home and I camped out on the couch while my baby babied me.  I fell asleep after eating a sandwich and went to bed with a few welcome Percocet. 

I slept ok and am doing well today.  I'm trying to schedule my follow up appointment now where I get the pathology results and they check out my incisions.  It looks like they only took out a small piece of my tattoo and they didn't cut out Brandi's name. 

Let the healing begin...