About the Author, Momma in the Mountains: Lifestyle Coach, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Sports Nutritionist. Trail name: Trailblazer
“I’m a mountain girl through and through, raised in the Colorado Rockies. I hike, climb, run, horseback ride, swim, bike, fish, etc: my favorites being anything on dirt. Trail running has saved my life a few times over. I love traveling long distances on foot (ultra running, fast packing, and backpacking) more than any other activity.
I’m also a momma to a sweet little boy who entered this world 3 months early, is autistic (as am I), and has many other special needs. Here again logging miles in the mountains saved (and continues to) my life and sanity. Life with a preemie/special needs kid is a bit difficult but we manage. I love sharing my adventures with my little man. I’ve learned lots of moms want to adventure but are afraid or don’t know where to start when it comes to adding a wee one. I hope in sharing my stories (about life in general and my adventures) that other moms can learn and hopefully realize it’s not that scary (and even fun and therapeutic!).”
To see more posts by Momma in the Mountains, click her name above!
This trip is HUGE. 90 miles with a kid and a dog. 6-7 days carrying 60% of my body weight. You don’t just go do this without some prep.
Your body needs some training. You need to plan food. And make sure you have all the gear you need.
Hospital with pneumonia sucks.
So what happens when you hit a major set back? Out of the blue I got pneumonia and became septic less than 2 months out from this trip. Was in step down ICU and told to expect 3 WEEKS of recovery. I am missing my race that would’ve been epic and fun. I’m on oxygen support and needing extra physical and occupational therapy. That’s a lot. I need a walker to walk. I have 1 month before we leave for CA.
I have 1 month to bounce back so to speak. In the next month I need to get back to where I was a week ago before this stupid illness left me in bed hacking up a lung.
So I how do I keep planning?
I work with my therapists diligently and do ALL my homework. I force myself to eat so my body can find strength. And I work on the rest of the planning that isn’t really physical.
That is, finalize:
-packing lists
-food plans
-routes
-emergency prep
-pack fitting
And making sure my son still stays active and gets in his work.
Set backs happen. You have to try to stay positive. It’s hard but you have to or you won’t get there.
A glimpse into food prep from my last trip.
You should cancel your trip. You have been through a serious illness. It makes no sense to take yourself, much less a toddler on a 90 mile hike in one month. You are at home with oxygen and a walker? You need to take care of yourself.
First off I want to thank you for your concern. I assure you that if I wasn’t already cleared by my doctors I wouldn’t be going. I missed a race from this illness so I could heal, the smart thing. Second I’d like to note that if you read thoroughly my illness was 2 months out from my backpacking trip (but only 1 from a trip to CA not backpacking related that happens ahead of time). I’d also like to note these articles are almost never posted when written. And many articles are never written when the event is actually happening. Also, because I’ve my training I recovered faster than any doctor ever expected. I was completely free of my walker a mere few days later and oxygen shortly after. I’ve been on top of a fourteener, hiking carrying my child, and running at paces many people so t even imagine since being sick. Movement can be very healing, especially for the lungs and I would never do something without back up plans or clearance from all my doctors. A lot can change in a very short time.