We've gotta make this happen.
The knee is becoming an issue again. The hyaluronic acid injections I had last about six months and are starting to wear off. I try to get a new series of injections while we are traveling in Portland, but I cannot do that away from my primary care orthopedic surgeon and without a lengthy insurance company approval process. I'm determined to make it work whatever way is possible. I take chondroitin pills, I wear a knee brace, I take ibuprofen, I do physical therapy, I try to keep the knee in shape. I find a Portland orthopedic surgeon who agrees to give me a Cortisone shot which should get me through the hike. I need to make this work. I'm not ready to say thru hiking is behind me and advance quietly into the golden years in a rocking chair. Not yet. I saw hikers in their fifties complete the PCT, but hikers in their 60's drop out. Have I crossed over the line? Am I on the decline? Some hikers keep going into their seventies. Where is my cutoff?
Snow is an issue this early. But I really need to make the knee a non-issue. It killed last year's hike. Time is not on my side. I need to hike this year. Cortisone might mask the problems, or maybe it will give a temporary reprieve. Either way, it is a window. I will hike.
