As usual, when life becomes more predictable, I fall away, and have no reason to communicate.
OK -- Still undetectable after one year. Whee. The only sour note in this is that my t-cell count seems to be stuck at about 250, and worse yet, my CD4 percentage is about 9%. But, can I complain. Haven't been sick. The worse I can say is that at times I am tired. Can I blame it on AIDS, or just the usual Oregon winter? Just wanting to sleep.
Catching up.
Had an eventful summer. Tried a couple of climbs with the Mazama's (the climbing club in Oregon). I tried Mt. Hood in May on my own, got up to the Hogsback by about 7am. Beautiful day -- but it was the weekend, and so many people trying to make it up the pearly gates, that I decided as a solo climber not to compete with all the groups there. My legs were also giving out -- and on the way developed excruciating tendentious. At home that night -- could hardly walk. But, by the next day, feeling better, and several days later, recovered, so decided to do it again, this time with the Mazamas.
It was a nice group, a collection of newbies and oldbies, and then people like myself -- but the weather was pretty hairy. Freezing rain, followed by sleet, then snow -- and by the time we got up above the Palmer Snowlifts at 7000 feet, the winds were kicking up pretty good, and visibility was down. Several people turned around, as the leader, Dan Shuster, decided to go on ahead. I fell behind the others, but finally made it up again to the Hogsback. It seems that this week I would have thought I was on a completely different mountain.
And as soon as I joined the rest of the group of 8 or so, the wind really kicked up, with gust of about 75mph. Our only choice was to hunker down to keep from being blown around, and to try to keep warm. People were shivering. I was ok, except for my hands, which were freezing -- better gloves next time. Dan felt that on the summit there could be 100mph gust, so an attempt was not a good idea. We found a break in the gust and headed down. Though it was an aborted attempt, and I wish I had was stronger, I enjoyed the comradery of the group.
I didn't make any climbs in June. Ended up this was a bust of a year for climbing. The weather was not cooperating, and many groups had to abort their efforts. I had wanted to head to Mt. Adams before leaving for Australia, but a busted head gasket on my truck prevented that, although Robby, Robin, and I did hike up to 10,000 feet on Rainier on July 4, Robby's 50th birthday.
After a busy month in Australia for the International AIDS Society conference, and then some traveling, as well as Scuba diving, made it back in mid- August, when I took my Dr., Diana, her husband, Mark, and Marti, the RN at the clinic up Mt. St. Helens. I enjoyed the climb (my 5th?) up to the rim. Each time it seems easier for me, but I could appreciate their struggle, for this was their first mountain. (Marti had climbed Mt. Hood as a teenager). I could hear them swearing on the way up, but by the time we were back down, they were hooked, and we've been talking about an Adams trip next summer.
I didn't take any pictures, but did do this video. Not too great, but it'll tell you something about the trip.
Finally, the week after the Mt. St. Helens Climb, went on a final climb for the summer -- my nemesis, North Sister. Again, this was a Mazama climb, with a extra full contingent of 12 people. I found out that Ken Bueller from last year was going, so felt his support in making another attempt after the previous summers fiasco on North Sister. But this summer was not meant to be. The leader, although very likable and competent, had never tried this particular route so late in the year, and we floundered on the rock and scree, and ended up decided by late morning that any feasible way up onto the saddle would be much too dangerous with such a large group. Although I had kept up well with the group, I was one of those voting to come back down, realizing that even a successful attempt would probably mean not getting back to our vehicles until midnight.
Next year? Maybe try to again. I'm mostly concerned about my knees. Been trying various training to try to strengthen the tendons, etc. I will continue climbing as long as they let me.
Listen to this article
No comments:
Post a Comment