[pct-l] Super Dave's Thru Hike Completion

[Tom Drewenskus]

This is in response to Super Dave's thread on the forum wondering whether I
had made it to Canada.

I'm glad to hear that Super Dave was able to finish his pure thru-hike of
the PCT. I knew he would make it. He is one tough 56 year old who had to
endure considerable foot pain through much of Northern California, until he
got new shoes in Ashland. I really enjoyed hiking with him from Buck's Lake
to Ashland.

I was not so fortunate. I suffered giardia symptoms while in Ashland, and I
was unable to keep anything in me for four days. After two liters of I.V.
and Flagyl I was back on the trail.

While hiking up to Rim Village at Crater Lake, I developed pain in the front
of my lower right leg. I thought it might be shin splints, but I had never
had shin splints before. I did another 13 miles that afternoon, and 29 & 30
miles the next couple of days while hiking off and on with Donuts and Doug
(of New Jersey). I barely made it to Windago Pass (~mile 1880) on the
morning of August 11th, and I could no longer walk on my right leg. It felt
as though I might have a stress fracture.

Donuts came by and I was able to use his AT&T cell phone (amazing coverage
in the middle of nowhere) to call trail angel Lloyd Gust. He drove all the
way down from Bend to pick me up. He was a true angel, as he drove me to the
Bend Hospital. This was at least a 100 mile round trip for him. They took
x-rays of my leg and found no stress fracture. The doctor concluded that I
had Exertional Compartment Syndrome. In other words, I over-stressed my leg
and needed to stop hiking for two months, otherwise I could do permanent
damage.

So, Lloyd took me to a B&B in Bend, and I stayed there for a week in hopes
that my leg would improve. I was elevating and icing my leg constantly
during that time.  The swelling subsided by the end of the week, but the
pain did not. So, I made the decision to fly back to Bellevue, WA on August
17th.

I'm disappointed I was unable to finish my thru-hike with Super Dave, Bernie
& Stacey. I never thought a leg injury would keep me from finishing. I'm not
sure when I will get another chance to take 4+ months off to do a complete
PCT thru-hike. Next year I hope to at least hike the 508 miles of the PCT in
Washington. Congrats to all of the 2009 PCT thru-hikers who were able to
complete their thru-hike.

Tom Drewenskus (aka By The Book) 

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Message: 2
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:29:02 +0000
From: davirginia at aol.com
Subject: [pct-l] Super Dave's Thru Hike Completion
To: pct-l at backcountry.net
Message-ID:
	
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Just saw a thread on the forum speculating on my whereabouts, and thought I
should reply.

I completed my thru hike on September 10th, in the company of Lefty
(Justin), who was completing the Washington section.  I am now safely back
home in Blacksburg, Virginia, enjoying my memories, putting back on my
weight, and dreaming of a hiking adventure next Spring on The Pembrokeshire
National Scenic Path in Wales.  Thanks to all who helped me complete the
PCT!

I was also wondering whether my hiking buddy By The Book made it to Canada
this year?
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry