90 Days

K and I went for another nice hike on Saturday up to Cohab Canyon on a spectacular fall day in Capitol Reef. The cottonwood trees were in full golden splendor, the day was cloudless and the slanting late afternoon light made me pull out the camera. The hike isn't quite 1000 ft in vertical but in places it is rough and there are a few 2 ft step ups. Before her knee surgery in 2006 and for 2 years afterwords she used hiking sticks. Up until my surgery I was using a hiking cane. We took neither and didn't miss them. I can still feel some soreness but it is better than before.

Yes, I do absolutely plan to ski this winter. Nick and I are all up to date with 20 days between us at Snowbird and I have a Silver Card at Alta. See y'all up there!

Week 12 - Hard to Stay a Curmudgeon!

I received a succinct nudge to check in on hip progress.

I am just about ready to declare that everything about the hip is better than it was before surgery. There's a couple of yoga positions I'm afraid to try just yet before I am sure, but I told myself I would give them a go after 3 months.

Otherwise, there is less general pain. I can sleep on either side for at least an hour before I need to rest my hip by laying on my back for a bit. I can get a sock off and on without pain. Riding a bike 20 miles doesn't cause much residual pain. Hiking up and down hill is definitely easier. This last I became aware of last weekend. Kirsten and did an uphill hike in Capitol Reef along the Fremont River to an overlook at sunset. Compared to the last time I did that hike early this summer my leg felt like someone released the friction lock on my left side. The leg seemed to swing and lift itself and even though I am not in as good as shape as then, the hike was easier.

There is still pain when I first stand up but it only lasts a couple of steps then things seem to get settled in. Friends of ours just brought over some ski poles they picked up for me at the RowMark ski swap. I think that if we went skiing tomorrow (besides being a bit hard on the skis), my hip would feel better than it did the last time I skied last Spring. Even the scar is starting to fade a bit. Modern medicine. I generally enjoy being a skeptical curmudgeon about it, but that is getting harder and harder.