Raising a Girl with Grit: a step-by-step guide

[Sue Z]

Do you have any insider tips?

Wow, a lot of knee-rehab veterans on this forum! FWIW, here are a couple of things that helped me after I shattered my knee while skiing (when the experts said I was ready):

The PT facility had a warm pool, waist deep, for walking in. With the bouyancy of the warm water, the other participants and I were able to throw down our crutches and walk, backwards and forwards, through the added resistance of the water, strengthening the muscles, speeding recovery. No pain, felt great. The sessions also included some core and upper body water exercises in the water, to help the whole body recover. I felt that the warm pool delivered the most bang for the buck. I probably could have done it on my own after the first session, and saved some $$.

Toward the end of PT, I felt that all of the usual exercises - bike, elliptical, quad machine - while great for walking on level pavement, were not readying my muscles for walking on an uneven trail. The solution: They had a contraption that looked like a partially deflated volleyball with a flat platform on top. Balancing on that platform helped bring back my ability to hike.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Jen]

Thanks for that great advice, Sue!

[liketohike]

I see I have some catching up to do here:-)...Jen, great report so far!
reading the mri impression, I still can't believe all the findings knowing how much hiking you did afterwards...you're quite tough!!..wish you the best for surgery and recovering afterwards!

[PeteE]

[quote="mattB"]I'm still working on my TripReport, but thought I'd drop in these two pieces of evidence, since they're pertinent to this thread at this point!

These are just topo maps I annotated a bit.




Hi Matt and Jen:

I don't mean to bugger up your thread but I believe this is worth noting.

The topo map Matt pictured above does not agree with the "paper" 1994 Mount Hefty 7.5 minute Quad I have in my hand.
And my paper map agrees with my hike to Mt Hefty last Friday.
On my map, the purple marked trail "could have gone this way" does not exist.
The trail we followed goes up along Colts Creek. I have drawn it in as best I can in red.
The lower left Blue "X" is the cairn that's .8 miles from the Kelly Hump(Blue circle).
That's where TR18 leaves the Kelly humped FR114A at the cairn.
We parked at the kelly hump--Blue circle. It was just 50-75 yards past the place you parked.
The Blue "X" up and to the right is the trail junction of TR18(Colts Creek trail) and TR15.(Thoma Lookout trail)

pete

[Ear Mountain]

Pete et all,
I think it was a good idea to post the info about the map problems. This is very common in Montana's National Forests. Most of the 7.5 minute too maps have not been updated in a long time. The older maps often have trails that were rerouted since the map was done. Also some trails may have existed only in the imagination of the map maker. I see this all the time in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. Fortunately in the Bob there are two relatively new sets of maps that clearly show the existing trail network correctly.

[indiana hiker]

Pete, Hope I didn't add to the confusion. When I stated we followed the map marked, could have gone this way, I thought that was the trail we followed. I just thought on the map it looked closer to the parking area than it really was. The trail we used was the one you also used. It followed the creek. Sorry if I confused anyone.

[PeteE]

IndianaHiker:
I sent a PM to you.
You're good. Never worry about posts like that.

EarMountain:

Thanks, and yes, I have run into map mistakes like that before too, but probably not nearly as many times as you have
Another thing that people should be aware of along that line...

"Jerks" to say it politely, sometimes shoot signs to pieces, take them down, and/or point them in the wrong direction at junctions.

It's always a good idea to check with the district ranger station for corrections when you are in doubt.
And sometimes, depending on who you talk to, they won't know anything about the particular trail you want info on.
This issue was a real pain back before GPS's came along. However, you can't always trust your GPS data either.
DO NOT slavishly follow your GPS.
Learn to navigate without all that stuff is my own opinion---fwiw.

pete

[FuzzySideDown]

Jen!.... Great hiking with you and Maia The Machine and the rest of the gang. Quite possibly our most fun Glacier trip yet!
Hope that knee is getting better...
Cheers!
FuzzySideDown

[Jen]

It is always more fun hiking with other chatters and you and Blanka were no exception! It was great to meet and hike with you both. We need to pick a date for the midwest meetup!

[FuzzySideDown]

What's everybody doing tomorrow?

FuzzySideDown!

[Jen]

I have to work.

Wednesday?

[liketohike]

how about November 3rd?

[Jen]

how about November 3rd?

I have Jury duty but I am pretty sure they don't mind if you just don't show up?

[liketohike]

hmm, shoot! you'll have a busy week!
maybe they'll tell you they don't need you...

[Jen]

I have a call into my doc for a note for the judge. Fingers crossed!