Keeping one’s body hydrated, especially when in hot temperatures and participating in an outdoor activity, must be a priority. And I should know better as I live in the desert! But in vacation mode, I was not paying attention to how much water-rich foods or fluids I was ingesting. Also, I was visiting friends living at a higher altitude than my hometown. With my faster breathing in the thinner, dry air and my sweat evaporating from my skin exposed to sun and wind, my body was dehydrating as I hiked.
My backpack carried a full water bladder, yet apparently I soon discover, it was not enough water for this 5 mile hike. Knowing the early symptoms of dehydration, unfortunately because I have had serious dehydration events in my past, I quickly took note of headache and fatigue setting in.
My hiking buddy and I turned back on the trail, stopped in shady spots, and I sipped from her water container a couple of times. We eventually made the decision to cut away from the main trail and hike a social trail to a road. I know the forest service wants everyone to stay on the main trail, but this shortcut would be a half mile less of walking as we returned to our vehicle down the road.
So how did this happen to me? I had water in my backpack and was sipping it while on the trail. Days prior to this hike at a higher altitude than home, I should have been sure to be hydrated then and not wait to the day of the hike to hydrate. Lemonade, milk, water, juices, water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables all would have helped. I soon realized, a colonoscopy and illness the week before probably left me dehydrated. The bottom line was I did a lousy job being hydrated for this hike and I should have known better!
So the moral of the story…stay hydrated every day… carry plenty of water on a hike… know the symptoms for dehydration and return to a safe place to get hydrated. Be ready to hike on another day safely!
Lemonade, a delicious fluid, to be part of my hydration!
Always pack basic first aid needs when you travel.
First aid courses were always part of my education. Medical kits were always an item to be packed in my luggage. Every two years I renewed my basic first aid courses, CPR and AED. I always wanted an inkling of what to do when a Cadette Girl Scout gashed her upper thigh in the Adirondack Mountains on a backpacking trip with me or a hotel employee had an epileptic seizure. Many situations allowed me to appropriately react and care for others … and sometimes myself.
My latest incident/accident: left foot onto the step stool leading into my van. Right foot in the van. Stretch, lunge my arm out and put the bottle in its designated spot. Return my left foot to the spot I thought I left it at … and all of a sudden … I slipped and fell backwards!
With left leg on the step stool, butt on the ground, my head hitting the ground behind me, and no idea what my right leg and arms were doing, I was not in a good situation! Everything happened so fast! I used my arms to push my upper body up into a v-shaped sitting position and said, “That happened fast!” As my Apple Watch vibrated, I heard a guy in a van exiting the campground ask if I was okay. Waved him off, “yup, okay”. Tapped my watch and chose the “yes I fell and am okay” option.
I then discover a cut on my lower left shin to add insult to injury. Fortunately the prior day I bought ice for my RTIC cooler so I rotated an ice pack every 10-15 minutes on my shin and the back of my head. This travel day was a short drive to enjoy horse farms in Kentucky … or maybe not …
I never step back out of the van, except this once! That’s so frustrating when one thinks time is being saved and now this is tying up hours I had no intention of spending my time this way. Actually it eventually amounts to days as I have a concussion. I know I have one, even though this is my second one in my life, because my brain is not functioning like usual and bright lights are awful! No black-out so I could at least be happy about that.
Head injuries are not a time for Advil, which I typically carry in my medical kit. Until sure of no internal bleeding, Tylenol is apparently the drug of choice. I bought a Tylenol packet of 2 pills, for an arm-and-a-leg price, at the camp store. I cancelled all plans for the day and rested. The drive was a short distance for dinner and to buy a bottle of Tylenol. My next day I moved on to another campground, a short drive. There also I rested.
Whiplash kicked in. After beginning to calm the bang on the back of my head to some degree, I discover what people have always described as whiplash. Wow, it was almost as though my neck could not hold, what is it 8 pounds, my skull… or is that the weight of a gallon of water?!
I notified my partner and family so they knew my situation. Not that anyone can do anything for me, except keep a long-distant tab on me I guess. I always feel so much more connected these days than when compared to my backpacking days of 50 years ago. Then others would learn of the good and bad when I emerged from the woods at the end of a week or so. Technology really has allowed us to remain connected, even as I write this at a campground in West Virginia with sketchy wifi.
Yes, I have made it all the way from Kentucky to West Virginia. Today, 4 days since my fall, is another rest day as I am not quite 100%. I am enjoying the sunshine with sunglasses on. The quiet with few people here, no vehicular noise and only the chatter of birds. I was so glad when a tufted titmouse moved on as it was calling forever and every 3 – 4 seconds. My plan has been to close my eyes for an hour every 4 hours or so with hopes my brain continues to relax. A smelly ointment continues to soothe my neck and tomorrow I will be back on the road. Will take breaks from driving as I know I will not be miraculously cured by tomorrow.
By the way, the bottle that was so important I put in its designated place was my now clean and empty pee bottle! Any other bottle I would have tossed in and not been concerned about; however, a pee bottle must always be where it is supposed to be … one should never have to hunt for their pee bottle!
P.S. I would encourage all to take at least one first aid course in your life. One of the best ones I took was a wilderness first aid course. That was really interesting out in the woods and learning how to respond to emergencies. We all don’t need that, but a basic first aid course is a good start.
