Pushing It

Pacifico Mountain
7,124' elevation

Okay, this post and the last post probably fall under the category of "don't tell Dr. S." Especially since he told me to stay below 6000'.

But something is still not right. Yes, I am better...but there are still underlying cardiopulmonary problems. I still have sharp chest pain that feels cardiac in nature -- like, have we ruled out pericarditis yet? And it still hurts to inhale deeply -- like, is there still pulmonary edema left over from the cardiac tamponade? And my shoulders and neck still ache in that weird way. And we know I had a low-grade temperature last week when I got infused.

So after climbing Mt. Lewis, I can't decide what exactly is wrong; I just know I'm not completely right yet. But I'm healthy enough that the doctors can't pinpoint what is wrong. So the only thing I know to do is push it. Push it until I'm either stronger and kick whatever is going on, or until it kicks me and reveals itself.

So I thought I'd take it easy and just go for a little drive. (Probably a good thing my friend wasn't with me; her vertigo might've done her in on this little drive!) So I headed out in Big Blue, stopping along the way to get a hot roast beef sandwich "to go" from my favorite crack-seed store outside Hawai'i, Charlie Brown Farms.

Then I headed up Angeles Forest Hwy to Mill Creek Summit. Since it's past May 15th, the forest road up to Pacifico Mountain is now open! A one lane dirt path recommended for high-clearance vehicles only, Forest Road 3N17 wends its way east for many miles, eventually linking up to Hwy 2. But only after it passes many peaks!

Forest Road 3N17. Roundtop and Granite Peaks in mid distance.

Click on any photograph to see larger version.

After nearly five miles of putt-ing at 15 miles per hour over the narrow, rough "road," I made the turn to take me the last couple miles up to the peak of Pacifico. There are campgrounds at the top, so I parked and enjoyed my lunch and the view.

Lunch spot. Rosamond and Rogers dry lakebeds in distance.

Lunch spot. Littlerock Dam in distance.

Looking toward my home.

Looking east.

Looking south. Mt. Wilson rear left.

People were scarce up there; I had the entire journey virtually to myself. There were lots of lizards to keep me company, though. I walked around and explored the summit a bit. A register is reported to be hidden in a rock outcropping -- but the top is strewn with rock outcroppings. I never found it, but I sure enjoyed looking.

Summit.

It was a beautiful place, full of pines and rock formations. I saw trees growing out of rock. I saw rocks swallowed by trees. It was nice just to walk around at the elevation in the pine-scented air.







I hated to pack up and leave, but it was time to head home. I consoled myself by taking pictures of the wildflowers all the way back to Mill Summit.

And, as counterintuitive as it seems; I notice it doesn't hurt quite as much when I take a deep breath now. That's so weird. Well, we'll see what happens!

Lupine and paintbrush.

Lupine.

Mountain lilac.

Snow flowers with a visiting butterfly.

Definitely snapdragon family; probably a monkeyflower.

Okay, I believe it's hot-rock penstemmon!

Straight Up

Mt. Lewis, 8,396'; and Dawson Saddle, 7,901'.

Click on any photograph to see larger version.

Dawson Saddle to the Summit of Mt. Lewis
7,901' - 8,396' (500' elevation change)
1 mi round-trip
(avg 19% grade)

"I'd rather be AMA than MIA." ---hfh

This trek is dedicated to my ET brothers.

I felt so good after I got my infusion Tuesday! And by Thursday, I could take a deep breath with -- for the first time in a long time -- NO PAIN. Still, just watering the plants was wearing me out.

But I was really bummed to wake up Friday hurting again. Inhaling deeply hurt, and my shoulders and neck ached fiercely. My friend from Germany asked if we were going to climb Mt. Lewis like I wanted on Saturday. "Just come over," I told her. "We'll do something."

I wore myself out Friday just watering the plants and fetching fresh water from the creek for the tadpoles we rescued. I slept for several hours in the afternoon and early evening. I didn't feel much better for it, either.

So I still felt cruddy when I woke up Saturday, but I just couldn't stand it. Either I'm better and I need to rebuild my strength VERY QUICKLY before I have to do toxic chemotherapies again; or I'm not over the pneumonia yet (which the altitude will reveal) and I need more antibiotics. So I am going to find out!

I packed my backpack and weighed it -- 10 pounds. If I'm going to get stronger quickly, this is how to do it---carry weight at the higher altitudes. I pointed out proudly that I was within my weight limitations. DH responded by pointing out I'm within the weight limitations but going AMA --- against medical advice.

We headed up for the 2. We were still on Big Pines Hwy when I started feeling very nauseated. Don't tell me I'm having trouble when we're still below 6000'! I looked at the clock. It'd been just long enough since I'd had my morning medication that I could bet that was what was causing the problem. I drove on.

We cheered when we drove past Vincent Gap; the road has been closed there for entirely too long (4.5 years!). It was wonderful to finally see all the work that's been done. And those views!

Five miles of twisting turns past Vincent Gap, we reached the highest point of Hwy 2 -- Dawson Saddle. We parked by the maintenance shed, adjacent to Mt. Lewis.

Mt. Lewis offers the perfect trail on which to start rebuilding: it's only 1 mile roundtrip. Oh yeah, but it's got that 500' elevation gain over only half a mile. Since it's flat on top, that 19% avg grade is deceptive -- try more like 35% on much of the trail! A great trail to try out my new trekking poles (the purple stick just can't do ALL of it). I honestly don't know how my friend did it without any walking stick.

We set off, virtually straight up the mountain, from the west side of Dawson Saddle (elevation 7901'). The leg muscles were protesting they had atrophied, but at least that awful BURN from the lack of oxygen was no longer a problem for me. My lungs, however, were protesting; and it wasn't long before I was feeling nauseated again. We stopped for water and to catch our breath. But I noticed the burn was going away; my lungs were getting the workout I desired.

Straight up.


Snow flower...on the mountainside.


Weathered stump.

We each sat down once on the trail on the way up; it could be that slippery and steep! We also had to stop to rest more often than I'd like; oxygen debt plagued me every so many yards. We took a bit of an extended break at one semi-flat spot not far from the top.

After that, it wasn't long before we reached the rounded top of the mountain, and headed up the ridge to the highest point. No cairn or summit register, but thanks to whoever put the flag up at the summit!

Summit of Mt. Lewis, 8,396'.

We explored the different points at the top, then settled in for our picnic lunch. Soon, a glider from nearby Crystalaire was swooping by, wagging its wing at us as we enjoyed the whoosh of the air rushing over it.

Sentry over our picnic spot at the top.


A wing wave from the glider pilot.


Mts. Baden-Powell and Burnham from Mt. Lewis.

Throop Peak from Mt. Lewis.

Looking toward Mts. Hawkins and Islip from Mt. Lewis.

Mt. Williamson from Mt. Lewis.

The entire way up, we'd enjoyed the unusual cloud cover and milder temperatures. I'd only felt one raindrop. But now I felt about a half dozen. Time to pack up the picnic! We were all packed and ready to descend by 2:36 pm.

The rain came down in fat splats as we headed down the mountain. It was still not raining enough to make the ground wet, but enough we were no longer staying completely dry. We hit the steepest part of the trail, and the rock and dirt were so loose that we each ended up sitting down hard in the same exact spot. But with no further mishaps after that, we quickly reached the bottom of the trail and the warmth of BB.

By 3:06 pm, we were driving the rest of the newly opened road down to Islip Saddle. We turned around there and drove -- moseyed -- back toward home, stopping to take pictures. We found a waterfall and climbed it, which further worked my legs. Rain fell on us off and on, usually not enough to matter.

If it helps you with perspective, my friend (by the greenery) is 6'4".

By the time we hit Big Pines Highway, though, the rain was really starting to fall. The wildflowers we were so enjoying photographing were closing up. So we finished up the last of our "want" pictures just as the rain really started soaking us and the temperatures were getting downright cold.

The sun illuminates the distant El Mirage dry lakebed.

Definitely snapdragon family; probably a monkeyflower. But I can't find the exact one.

A yellow/cream lupine.

Golden yarrow.

Lupine growing out of the rocks in the highway cut.

Western wallflower.

Rattlesnake weed.

Mojave thistle.

Prickly poppy.

Beavertail cactus.

We headed north on Largo Vista toward the 138. Right then, a huge flash of bright blue-white lightning snaked down and hit a pole ahead of us. I cringed as the expected LOUD crack of thunder followed a split second later. I slowed, but luckily the lightning did not bring down the pole or the wires.

Thirty minutes later, I was safely home and my friend was headed on her way. And boy, did I enjoy that good long soak in my garden tub!

Life is good; we'll see how I hold up. But honestly, I feel stronger for having done it.

Anticipation

The good news continues! The bone scan showed no change; the three remaining lesions are stable. And I finally got an infusion of the monoclonal antibody, only my second one this year. Yay! Go, antibodies, go!

I will now be receiving smaller doses more frequently---once a week. No vacations for me!

I also had an echocardiogram today, which I passed. No signs of effusion! Hallelujah!

I still had a temperature of 99 deg, and still have some pain when I inhale deeply, so we are skipping the toxic chemotherapies for now. Fine with me!

But after being ill so long, and with all the tests looking good and Highway 2 finally open all the way, I am positively chomping at the bit to get out there in the world again. I'm thinking: Mt. Lewis. Real soon.

WooHoo! WooHoo!

Good News Comes Around Again

I FINALLY got 5 hours of sleep last night -- and didn't have to take a pain pill! And I can finally inhale without my chest feeling like an elephant is sitting on it. Oh, Hallelujah! The cardiac pain is gone and the pulmonary pain is significantly improved.

It's still morning, and already it's a GOOD day. I am SO EXCITED to report that Highway 2 is now OPEN between Vincent Gap and Islip Saddle! It has been closed for more than 4 years, due to 16 massive slides in a 10-mile stretch back in the 2004-05 rainy season and many complications since. That saves us a couple hundred miles in drive-around!

And, I saw my heart surgeon this morning. After I thanked him for saving my life, he told me I've got the absolute creme de la creme in my team of doctors. It shows, huh? 'Cause I'M STILL HERE!!!

The heart surgeon cleared me to begin receiving infusions and chemotherapies AND to go climbing at the higher elevations AS SOON AS the pulmonologist says my lungs are all better. He did tell me not to push it for now. Could he see in my eyes how much I want to sneak out this afternoon and drive the 2 from Wrightwood to Islip Saddle (or perhaps beyond)??

Okay, I guess I'll behave. For now. My gratitude to EVERYONE who has been praying for me; those prayers made all the difference in the world!