Hiking
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ACL Recovery – Hiking Hurricane Mountain 5 Months Post Op
Sunday marked another huge ACL recovery milestone…a mountain summit! Hurricane Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in the Adirondacks and I figured it would be the perfect mountain for first real hike post op. Jordan and I met some friends at the 9N trailhead at 10:30 am on Sunday and off we went. I remember the trail being in great shape—not too rocky and not terribly steep—good conditions for my first real hike with elevation. I was nervous at first because I thought I might be getting in over my head. But the trail was wonderful. I just took it slow and hiked at my own pace. I felt…
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ACL Recovery Log – 4.5 Months Post Op
Well, it’s been a while since my last update! At the end of June, my PT office closed and I had to find a new facility to finish out my rehab. I started going to a place in Albany that has an alter-g, an anti-gravity treadmill. The treadmill is great for rehab since it removes some of your body weight to take the impact off your joints. I imagine it’s what running in space feels like! Every time I go to PT I get to do a run/walk session on it. This will hopefully make my transition into regular running easier. My new place is pretty nice, but I do…
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Our Honeymoon to Arizona: Hiking the Grand Canyon
Last week Jordan and I went on our honeymoon to Arizona! We got engaged in Antelope Canyon in 2018, so we had to go back to one of our favorite spots. This time, we went to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff, and Sedona! We flew to Phoneix and then drove the ~4 hours to the Grand Canyon. We got there just in time for sunset! We were lucky enough to be staying right in the park, in a lodge right on the South Rim, so we had a fantastic view from our window. It was incredible! The next morning, we got up and had breakfast at El Tovar restaurant, next to…
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Leaving Rainier and Biking in Bellingham
I know it’s been a while since my last post! I’m going to continue telling you about my trip to the PNW. Next up: the final day at Rainier National Park and arriving in Seattle! For the final morning in Ashford, my sister and I drove back into the park and made another trip up to Paradise. It was a bit cooler and a little more cloud but we could still see the mountain! On the way back down, we stopped for a little hike to Carter Falls. Part of the trail crosses over Paradise River and offered spectacular views of Rainier. After the hike, we drove ~2 hrs to…
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Hiking Rampart Ridge and Exploring Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park
We arrived to Mount Rainier National Park early, as we heard the entrance could get crowded. I was doubtful it would be crowded this time of year! Half of the park was still closed for the winter. At the lower elevations, though, the sun was shining and everything was GREEN! We parked at the Wilderness Information Center at the Longmire Entrance to the park. We asked one of the Rangers what hike would be best to do, and she suggested the Rampart Ridge Trail, which was connected to the Trail of Shadows. Trail of Shadows was an easy little hike through the forest around a pristine meadow, which offered a…