It has been 3 weeks since I injured my knee. The day it happened I barely took notice of the event. I was pushing and turning my plane back into a parking spot at a fly-in with my EAA chapter. As the plane was almost where I wanted it there was a slight pulling feeling in my right knee. Since it was only another few inches I just ignored it and finished the task and forgot about it.
The next day I was hurting. Standing, which I do for 8 hours at my Postal job was okay, but sitting was painful. Walking caused enough discomfort that I almost completely stopped taking my daily walks trying to give it time to heal.
I began feeling better and was only experiencing slight discomfort. Maybe getting out and doing some hiking would loosen things up...
So, off I go heading for Colvin and Blake. I take my time and walk carefully, avoiding any situations where my knee would experience any twisting pressures. At every obstacle, or point where I had to maneuver, I proceeded with slow and deliberate movements. I could feel my knee but thought I was doing just fine.
A couple miles up Lake Rd the trail turns up and follows Gill Brook. This creek could be a destination of its own. There are many small falls over interesting rocks and plunge pools that reflect the green of trees or blue skies.
I liked the converging lines in this shot. Tree branches, the rocks and water all leading into the center of the frame.
I may be wrong on this but I think this is the Flume. Standing on a rock in the middle of the stream I zoomed in to crop out everything but the water and the gorge walls to give the feeling of looking into a cave.
Leaving the stream bed the trail turns up between these trees. The roots appear to be drawing me into some sort of trap where the trees will reach out and capture me as in a sci-fi movie
Further up the trail the walk turns steeper up the side of Mt Colvin. At one point the trail was steep enough that I didn't feel comfortable going straight up the rocks and instead followed another path that avoided the most difficult section.
Just a little too steep for me with camera in hand
Though I've encountered difficult sections in past hikes they usually only require a quick plan, a deep breath and then continue on. Barely 15 feet from the top of Colvin I come to a point that brought me to a complete halt. A section of rock about 7 feet in height that is almost vertical. Someone has leaned a dead pine against it as a ladder to assist in the climb. Too tippy for me to comfortably use. However there is a rock wall just to the right with several small hand and foot holds. I try several times to get myself up to where I can reach a hand hold on top but can't quite do it. It is starting to seem that my 46er adventures are going to end right here! I can hear voices and leaning back I can see the shoulders and arms of people just above me on the summit. A father and 2 kids. I have to do this! A few more tries to work out the hand and footwork and I pull myself up onto the rock. It really wasn't that bad, only in my head it was.
Me atop Mt Colvin
Looking NE from the summit of Mt Colvin. Lower Ausable Lake below. Giant is in the far right. My hike started in the distant valley below at the white dot between the branches of the pine tree.
The Great Range from Mt Colvin
Blake Mt in on the left with Upper Ausable lake below looking SW from near the summit of Colvin
Purple mushroom
Ladder between Mt Colvin and Blake Mt
View from Blake
Walking back along Lake Rd I was passed by several emergency vehicles heading up the road. I checked a couple time online over the next few days but was unable to find out what had happened.
The following day when I woke I was barely able to walk. My knee was really stiff and sore. Driving home it hurt to touch the gas pedal in my car. Thank God for cruise control! This continued for most of the rest of the summer. It won't be until early October until I feel ready for another hike.
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