Geek Habitat

This morning, I joined Justin and his friends from work on an morning hike up the Summit Trail at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area in Fredericksburg, Texas. The weather was uncommonly kind to us, providing overcast skies to prevent sunburns and a steady wind at the summit to keep us cool. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Justin’s crew and sharing one of our favorite parks — and the nearby Airport Diner and Hangar Hotel — with them. The experience was made even more memorable since it let me thoroughly test out my “new knee,” and the knee performed flawlessly. No acute pain, and not even any swelling to nurse when we returned home. Not bad considering it was my first hike in nearly 8 weeks, and really my first “surgeon-approved” hike since surgery on February 4th, 2005. My first post-surgery hike was two months ago — 4.2 miles at just 10 weeks post-op, fully 6 weeks sooner than my orthopedic surgeon (OS) would have liked. He hadn’t specifically forbid me from hiking, but that hike was enough to remind me the knee was still in the very early stages of healing. Today? It felt almost like new, although wearing the hinged brace provides a constant reminder to take each step carefully.

While hiking up the Enchanted Rock dome this morning, Justin reminded me our last visit to the park was shortly after my knee injury, but just prior to my MRI revealing the complete ACL tear and menisci tear(s). I remember that being a very painful hike, which explains why it was also my last one prior to going in for my knee surgery! When Justin mentioned his weekend plans to hike the Summit Trail with the work gang, I was a bit apprehensive my knee would holler on the trek up the granite dome, and be downright awful on the gravity-defying hike back down. I’m pleased to report neither was the case; my knee felt nearly perfect during the entire 1.8-mile hike today, albeit a little unsteady due to my still-lagging quad and hamstring muscles in the post-op leg, and the fact it’s been 5 months or so since my last hike involving any real elevation change.

Anyway, it was terrific that my return to hiking was shared with such a fun group in one of Texas’ most unique and beautiful State Parks. I’m tickled to know my knee is continuing to heal up and do well — hiking up “ERock” is not too shabby for 17 weeks post-op as of this past Friday, if I do say so myself. Now if I can just keep my klutziness in check, I’ll be backpacking in no time!