Rsser's accident.

Yeah! Long drop takes on a new meaning ;-}

Well the reality is that 90% of the time is hard slog.

It's all either up or down in that terrain. An hour's climb up and a minute of turns down the slope.

Hut temps drop to lower than minus 5C overnight. Got the gear and have slept at minus 14C in the Snowies. Leather ski boots at the time froze; bindings had some moisture too and also froze and wouldn't hold in the mornings.

In some ways this is a last shot at things I didn't know about when young and now regret. Not really on the edge, except for having to crank up the cardio fitness big time and wondering whether it will serve :?

I love wild places and the way that the wind blows through you as if you weren't there.

Good move Ern :2tsup: the mountain air will be good medicine and the spirit of adventure good for your blood :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Meissner, the first climber to ascend Everest without oxygen, also dropped into a crevasse and managed to haul himself out.

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Was that the time he was alone?
Must have been "invigorating".
I always read "Touching the void" with a mixture of admiration and dread.
Crevasses are awe inspiring but take a terrible toll.

Mind you I'm as jealous as hell you're doing it, when I went to the Fox glacier there was no ice climbing available that week (can't remember why), I was trying to cure my vertigo. Having a target must focus your recovery so well. Good luck with it.

Chris

Thanks Chris, yes it's both a target and a reward.

Springwater, eloquently put.

Touching the Void is an amazing story I agree. Would have hated to be the guy who had to let his mate go. And then see your mate appear in camp. would you say?? 'Put down that rock mate'? ;-}

Not sure about Messner; whatever it was, he was as mad as a cut snake.

Fox and Franz Josef glaciers have acquired a bit of a bad rep since a couple of folk were killed by falling ice last year if memory serves. All the glaciers down there are getting shorter and some more dramatically than others!

We'll be up at the neves, the headwalls and above thankfully.

So much for the putative last post. Anyway, it's been good to share some good news after so many distressed posts.

Had the weekly review today and the right paw can now squeeze 52kg. Onwards and upwards!

Finally found out the tech term for the dulled/tingling palm: parasthesia. It still limits how hard I can push the rehab.

Contacted an alpine gear supplier asking for an ice axe the same length as Mallory's. No luck. 'What is Mallory? We don't sell them; contact the distributor.' :wink:

Also trying to get travel insurance. LOL. Pre-existing medical conditions. Check. Climbing mountains with ropes and/or guides. Check. Smoker. Check. Ever sought treatment for depression. Check.

Hey ho.

All sounding pretty good Ern. 52kg sounds OK :o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Also trying to get travel insurance. LOL. Pre-existing medical conditions. Check. Climbing mountains with ropes and/or guides. Check. Smoker. Check. Ever sought treatment for depression. Check.

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Are you taking an Axe with you... check :doh:

Do you like your travelling companions... ???

Cheers,
Dave

LOL.

They could add: would you eat dog liver if nec. to survive?

Answer: Yes, but I may be some time.

;-}

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Had the weekly review today and the right paw can now squeeze 52kg. Onwards and upwards!

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If that improves any further I'll have to watch out for the hand crushing handshake...:U

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It may be a long shot for insurance but try the BMC BMC - Membership Services
they were the only ones who would insure us over 6,000m cycling in Tibet.
There may be an Australian equivalent if they are unwilling to cover you being based in Aus. Good to hear the recovery is well on progress.

Chris

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Also trying to get travel insurance. LOL. Pre-existing medical conditions. Check. Climbing mountains with ropes and/or guides. Check. Smoker. Check. Ever sought treatment for depression. Check.

Hey ho.

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:D Bugger the insurance, it's only about odds anyway :2tsup:

True.

But last trip I had to cancel cos of the broken wrist and hadn't organised it yet. Dropped a bundle. Trip before I trashed a knee. 3x unlucky?

Hand therapist says we can now move to reviews every f/night.

She seems to think I'm doing enough self-punishment ;-}

Clocked missionary position on Sunday for the first time in 6 months.

Just in case you were interested :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Clocked missionary position on Sunday for the first time in 6 months.

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Definite progress there Ern.....:U

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Hand therapist says we can now move to reviews every f/night.

She seems to think I'm doing enough self-punishment ;-}

Clocked missionary position on Sunday for the first time in 6 months.

Just in case you were interested :rolleyes:

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Too much info.:U

Yeah, sorry.

It's just that at each review the therapist asks 'is there anything you still can't do with your hand?'

I'd never mentioned this limitation. Not easy with a young attractive therapist.

Who might actually reply in a way to make us both blush ;-}

:rolleyes::D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Clocked missionary position on Sunday for the first time in 6 months. :rolleyes:

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Missionary position :? ...whats that ?... (mental image of black frocked bloke in jungle village kneeling with hands raised to the sky)...is that what you're doing?....does it help?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

It's just that at each review the therapist asks '
;-}

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You don't need a therapist rsser, you've got us (the forum).
6824 veiws and 335 posts :rolleyes: bound to be some wisdom in there somewhere:rolleyes:
and cheap at half the price :D

Well, I've posted my satisfaction at moving from Muslim to Christian position with clean-ups in the little room.

Just thought I should add another progress note to my transition.

If holding my arms up in a black frock in the back yard before a crucifix could've provided instant wrist rehab I would've tried it. And sod the neighbours. What's the prob with floor length frocks I ask you.

Woohoo!

The bike started almost instantly today. Took it for a slow circuit of the back yard. No dramas.

Scrubbed the rust spots off the chain. Scrubbed the bug splats off the waterproof jacket. 2 seasons' worth. Damn drought.

Tried the new helmet on. A bit tight but the foam should pack down. Or my head might return to normal size.

Tomorrow we'll head out to meet up with the scheduled club ride start. A few minutes bullshitting and I'll head quietly back home. About an hour.

Matches the therapist's prof'l advice re functional rehabilitation :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Tomorrow we'll head out to meet up with the scheduled club ride start. A few minutes bullshitting and I'll head quietly back home. About an hour.

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Yeah, just turning up is 90% of what's required. Not sure who said that (or words to that effect), but reckon it's about right.

Have fun showing off your war wounds!

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They'll be more interested in the quality of the bike repairs :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Well, I've posted my satisfaction at moving from Muslim to Christian position with clean-ups in the little room.

Just thought I should add another progress note to my transition.

If holding my arms up in a black frock in the back yard before a crucifix could've provided instant wrist rehab I would've tried it. And sod the neighbours. What's the prob with floor length frocks I ask you.

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It didn't work for corporal Klinger either Ern. :D:D

No, what a hoot Klinger was.

Well I survived the outing. Beautiful crisp sunny morning.

I just assumed that anything on the road was out to get me. Esp. 3 roos crossing at a gully. 3 dead ones lying on the road shoulder a testament to the danger.

Came home and iced up the aching paw. Have to unlearn the paranoia grip.

Hah, just completed the marathon of getting travel insurance for NZ.

What a joke.

All the paperwork for pre-existing medical conditions. GP has to do the assessment, but do I see the GP for soft-tissue injuries or joint rehab? No.

Anyway, it's done and it cost a pittance cos NZ has a no-fault accident insurance scheme (includes travellers from o/s) and reciprocal Medicare arrangements.

Had excellent service from YHA Travel, as I started with them online, being a member, and the Team Leader in Melb. couldn't have been more helpful. Dunno what their cut was but the premium for 2 1/2 weeks was all of $97.

Wrist's excluded off course, so I'll just remember to fall to the left :D

Just remember the side-show operators instructions Ern..... please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Wrist's excluded off course, so I'll just remember to fall to the left :D

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Seems to me that some sort of support that locks your wrist movement wouldn't be too much of a hassle when skiing :think: do weight lifting gloves do that :think: ten pin bowling gloves :think: or there's always the full face plant :-:D

Face plant should slow me down nicely.

The hand therapist will make a small thermoplastic splint to stabilise the thumb; that'll reduce the arthritis that predates the wrist fracture..

But if it comes to an insurance claim, the underwriter will want a professional opinion that the problem had nothing to do with the wrist. I'll need to be skiing with a GP or Physio at all times :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

.....just completed the marathon of getting travel insurance for NZ.

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....:2tsup:

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Good grief, I emailed the guide company about what the av. vertical ascent might be on a day tour out of one of the huts, and the answer was ..


1000 m

Hmph. Time to crank up the fitness training big time.

I've done 1200m in a day twice but in much younger days.

Pity the snow is so carp here in Aus ATM.

My daughter-in-law and her father 'summited' Kilimanjaro on Sunday. Evidently they both found it the most demanding climb they have done. 4,600 m of ascent, 1300m on summit day which was scheduled to be a 16 hr day.

They had been in training for months before they left for Africa, in addition to being quite fit anyway. Got tired myself just hearing about it.

So, better you than me, Ern, and all the best with the fitness programme

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Sooo, Ern, are you running down on Saturday with you pack on?:D

I think he should put some roller blades on and use some poles to simulate the skiing action :D.

It may come to that; strap the DVR XP on the back as well :rolleyes:

Will go up to Falls Ck next week. Walk up Wombat's ramble, ski down, walk up etc etc. Not enough natural snow to ski yet. Need to do it with skis since each leg will be pushing about 4kg of boot/binding/ski.

Last year my son emailed me a single frame cartoon, of the Big G sitting in heaven at his 'puter. There was a special key on the keyboard, labelled the Smite key and he was hovering over it.

I figure he hit it twice when I'd wandered into view.

Last week I did the fitness training in the snow and built up a fair amount of stamina. And the wrist coped well with several hours of poling a day, though another nerve got irritated by it. Nothing that couldn't be worked around acc to the hand therapist.

But after 3 days on a lousy mattress and a longish drive home, I could barely walk the next day. Acute lower back pain.

Yesterday the plane for NZ left without me, and the physio and I are spending a lot of time together.

We may be able to get it sorted by Thursday which is about the latest to make the prepaid glacier ski tour but I'm not hopeful.

This time travel insurance was organised in time and I've been studying the PDS closely. It's somewhat ambiguous. There may be a battle looming over the $2.5k that's at stake.

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Actually I'm an agnostic. If I was a believer I'd be having doubts now about the divine plan for my life.

Bugger.... and here's hoping it all works out OK.

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Wow, life is certainly throwing you some curve balls at the moment Ern, what a b*gger.

Hope you can still make it somehow.:2tsup:

I think the lesson must be 'book at the last minute', when I'm out of His peripheral vision :rolleyes:

Well, the back's still giving me curry and NZ is just a memory.

I hope to make the next booked trip which is next week with the YHA ski group; we stay at Dinner Plain for a few days in order to ski at Hotham. A day on the lifts, a day skating between the two towns and a day touring back country. Which is the best of all; nothing like the wildness and splendour of being out on a remote spur with no sign of other humans.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

Well, the back's still giving me curry and NZ is just a memory.

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Brugger!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rsser

......a day touring back country. Which is the best of all; nothing like the wildness and splendour of being out on a remote spur with no sign of other humans.

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Agreed, and the silence in the back country after a fresh fall of snow is bliss.

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