I sense the seasons changing, fall is asking to move in. Last night it was 38 degrees. I kept the furnace switched on with a lower heat need and the furnace responded flawlessly. I have been comfortable. There is heat loss thru the doors and windows making my living room colder than the bed room. I have been curling up in bed later in the evening w/ a book. I am still moving around the bed pillow I bought back in Sedona, sure takes up room and requires handling to create open space. Better continue dealing w/ it until I learn more about my shoulder.
I rested yesterday spending it finishing up TrailTrash. Their hike was foiled by massive wet weather system that dumped umteen feet of snow on the trail which was above the snow line. They made it to Snowgrass trail junction in the Goat Rocks Wilderness just before the pile of rocks that was the Dana Yelverton Shelter. She wrote that they got rained on many days once they entered Washington. The trail has become a social experience w/ so many hikers to chose from to make friends. She sure spent many days in comfort off the trail staying in buildings and eating prepared food. No foul, more opportunities and maybe more money to spend than I had. It’s an experience that can not be lessened however a person hikes it under own power whether it is a record short time to hike or the longest. I gifted the book to Lindsey.
During my 1978 hike 4 of us slept in the shelter out of the rain. Many hikers think the Goat Rocks was one of the most spectacular places. I saw only the bottom of low clouds. There were 2 trail choices to make after the shelter: the hard snow traverse of Packwood Glacier w/o an ice ax or the start of the knife’s edge. A slip on the glacier meant a long ride down crashing onto rocks at the terminus. I picked my way thru the rocks. Once there I noticed many trail working tools but no hands to make them work. As I hiked on the weather cleared a bit. I encountered a man on crutches walking towards me. He was responsible for the humans working the trail and they were nowhere to be found as the weather blew them off and they deserted their camp. Further on the trail offered a choice of a side hike to the top of the White Pass ski lift and a ride down to the pass or the several miles of trail hiking to same destination. I was cold and wet so I chose the lift ride. The lift was running which I did not know when I made my decision. A phone and instructions for a ride were posted at the lift shack. I called and waited a long time for an answer. Soon a man appeared riding a chair up. It was Dave Mahre, the operations manager, and father of the famous ski twins. He was warm and dry and talked while my lips turned blue from cold. I rode my first real ski lift going downhill staring at the steep slope. Dave let the 4 of us to crash in a bunkhouse. I stayed there 2 days waiting out the rain.
Hiking the trail is a lifestyle where you make primal choices, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Choices made might have a direct effect on your safety, there is no thought about whether this color matches my eyes or I chose not to invite someone to a party. Reintroduction back into society and civilization is overwhelming. A person is changed having depended upon their decisions having been tested. Back in the world life seems petty. Until you get back behind the wheel.
So, I might be facing a decision about my lifestyle when I learn more about my shoulder. Should I put my house on wheels so I can feel the rocking? I know it will be small but spacious compared to my less than 100 sq ft space I inhabit today. Imagine walking into my own inside bathroom, turning on the hot shower w/ unlimited water, and able to leave the lights on.
Tomorrow is MRI followed by DR review next Wed.
My Spokane “dance card” is getting filled w/ people to see and things to do. Buying expensive pot legally. With pot being legal should it still be called a “drug”? Alcohol is legal and is a drug but is not labeled as such.
11:00 and it is 57 degrees. Going to go for a ride wearing a long sleeve jersey. Maybe knee warmers are not needed.