Date: 2012-04-25
From: Wilbur Dam Road

To: Wilbur Dam Road
Miles today: 0.0

I was up early this morning ready to finally be back on the trail. It rained hard all night and was still raining this morning. Three of us were shuttled to Wilbur Dam Road. I was heading North and the other two were doing a slack pack South back to the Hostel as I had done yesterday. We arrived at a little after 8:00 and miracles or miracles it quit raining. My first three miles were up hill but there were a lot of switch backs so it wasn't too difficult. My left knee hurt some but not that bad. Suddenly after about 1.5 hours my right knee started hurting just like the left had a week ago. What is going on? It quickly started getting worse and I became a little worried. After about 30 minutes it was really bothering me and my left knee had given out a couple of times even though it didn't hurt that much. I stopped a few times to rest and thought that might help but it didn't. I finished the uphill and was now on a section that was mostly level or downhill for the next 34 miles all the way into Damascus. At the beginning I had even thought I might be able to do two 18 mile days to get to Damascus. My fall back plan was a 10 mile day followed by a 16 mile day and then about 10 into Damascus. It looks like the 18 mile day is out of the question. As I walked along this level stretch my right knee just kept getting worse. I stopped for a rest and questioned if I should go on. There would be no easy way to get off the trail between here and Damascus. I don't want to get trapped up here on a mountain and I also don't want to damage my knees. After much consideration I decided to call Black Bear and have them pick me up at Wilbur Dam and take me back to the Hostel. The three miles back were no piece of cake. They were mostly downhill and that is the worst trail for bad knees. I had to keep my right leg stiff to keep it from hurting. I felt like Chester from the old Gunsmoke TV program. It was not a fun trip down. Right on time the shuttle arrived and I went back to the Hostel. My plan is to go home and have my knees evaluated. I really don't want to do this but it seems to be the most logical thing to do. I rested my knees for three days and it didn't seem to correct the problem. Some have suggested that because of my left knee problem I might be favoring it and causing problems with my Right knee. That makes sense to me but what do I do about it. At any rate I thought I would take a shuttle tomorrow to Johnson City and then catch a bus to Gainesville, GA which is only 15 miles from my home. I went online and found that the 4.5 hour drive to Gainesville would take 20 hours by bus. I need a plan "B". I had emailed Jarhead about my problems and he responded immediately that he would come get me. What a great friend he is. Thank you Jarhead. Next I called my Dr's office and he will see me on Friday morning. I have a package at the post office in Damascus so I called them and they are going to return it to sender and at no charge. Things are coming together. I hope this can be resolved with some medication and maybe a little more rest and I can be back on the trail in a week or so.This afternoon and evening the knees are a little sore and tender but not like on the trail. I think the weight of the pack and the constant pounding have just taken a toll on my knees. Hopefully just an overuse injury. Stay tuned.