[pct-l] Numbness

[dwilsonsprint4 at earthlink.net (Don Wilson)]

Good point.  Although we are in good shape and hike a lot in our native
Tucson, we did hike a lot of early miles. We weren't really trying to push
it hard, but we felt good and the days were long (late June). We were in
Reds Meadow in 3 days - something like 17, 19 and 23 miles on our first
three days. Could be that was a contributor - although the rest of our
bodies were fine - save for a few blisters on my wife's feet. I think the
numbness kicked in after we left VVR a few days later. I'll consider that in
the future and see if mileage seems related.

Thanks,
Don



----- Original Message -----
From: <CMountainDave@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, November 07, 2003 8:53 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Numbness


> You say you are 43. Were you pushing it like you were 20 something after a
> year or two off? Was it your first long backpack in some time? I have had
> localized numbness in my lower arms that was due to prolonged muscle
strain. like
> carrying a 5 gallon load for several hundred yards
>   I think if you go for the same mileage per day in the debilitating
Sierra
> as you do in say the San Gabriel or San Bernardino Mountains, you are
risking
> injury. I think I averaged 4 to 6 miles per day less in the Sierra as
anywhere
> else on the PCT. To do all those major, major passes not steep per se, but
> relentlessly, outrageously, long one right after the other has to be
> backpacking's version of the Tour de France. A 5000' gain with a pack in
one day is a lot,
> especially when followed by another high elevation gain and then another
and
> on and on.
>   The lost mileage meant longer mileage days further down the trail and
> canceled layover days. It basically meant hiking from Ashland onward
without a full
> day off
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