Learning to Lollygag in SEKI

[Adam White]

This is a trip report from a trip to SEKI from August of last year.

This followed a trip to Yosemite in July. On that trip, I sprained an ankle, and developed some chest pain. The chest pain was not a new thing; it had become a pattern.

So, the high-level goal of this trip to SEKI was just to get up and enjoy mountains without chest pain, and without aggravating my stubborn ankle. Mostly, that just that meant slowing down–but I tried a few other things, too.

The entire trip report is here. As usual, I apologize for the little ads that show up: the blog is not monetized in any way. It’s just free, but of course nothing is free, so then there are the ads.

As usual, SEKI did not disappoint.

Here’s some eye candy to spice up this otherwise dull post:

There’s a reason Kings Canyon is a National Park

Along the Cirque Crest

A room with a view

Another room with a view

On the slopes of Arrow Peak

Meadow pornography

Typical Sierra grandeur

A rare–but not unheard of–sight at 8,000 feet

[Matthew / BPL]

dat meadow 😍

[Aaron D]

Excellent report!  I thoroughly enjoyed it.    Great thoughts about being “saturated with gratitude”.

[Bill in Roswell]

I hear you Adam. Past two summers had major health issues, had to cut back activities. But I got into naturalist studies, bird watching, nature drawings, trail maintenance, native american archaeology, star watching and more! There is so much to do when not hiking all the time. It took me a while to accustom to the change. My health continues to improve but my long trip days may be past. Thanks for sharing the reminder that being in nature is the main thing. That soothes the soul.

Is that tent a Protrail?

[DWR D]

Adam… nice trip report… great pics…

If you haven’t already, ya might want to get that chest pain checked out.

I had some chest pain on a few hikes… would come and go… ignored it… and ended up with a free helicopter ride and in the cath lab getting 3 stents… had it happened on the trial I could have been toast…

DWR D

[Adam White]

@matthewkphx I thought of you when I included that meadow photo in the post!

Thanks for the kind words @ardavis324-2-2!

@roadscrape88 Yes, I keep all that in the back of my mind. There is a lot I can do to enjoy myself in the Sierra. Forcing myself to go slower from time to time is helpful in convincing me that I really can enjoy those activities.

Yes, it’s a Protrail Li. It’s been great! It was somewhat of an impulse buy this year when Tarptent had them in stock. I do not regret it!

@dwr-2 Yikes! I hear you. When I first developed these chest pains (in 2016), I did a pretty thorough check with the doc–stress tests, ECG, x-ray, etc. Nothing abnormal was found; they diagnosed viral pleurisy (basically, a cold). Interestingly, I have never experienced this at sea level, and I certainly am stressing my aerobic system at sea level–XC mountain bike racing, ultramarathons, hill interval sprints, etc. I don’t shy away from working myself to the point of getting the dry heaves! In some ways, that doesn’t matter; the fact is: twice this year while at altitude, I developed chest pain.

Since those two trips, I’ve taken four more Sierra trips (including this one) and the chest pain didn’t recur. I did go slower on all of them, like I did here. I’m not so arrogant as to think that the lack of recurrence (or the issue-free stressing at sea level) means I’m also not going to end up on a helicopter at some point (or worse). But, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I have treated it with an amount of respect that seems commensurate. If I’m wrong… well, name a BPL subforum after me or something :).

[Erik G]

Great report and great pics, as usual. SEKI is just fantastic, so much to explore there. Thanks for sharing!

[Alex Wallace]

Good stuff – thanks for sharing.

“[A]ll of the food groups are here: cheddar, Slim Jims, Fritos, peanut butter, and chocolate. Imma be fine.”

Truth.

[Adam White]

Thanks @fox212 … I obviously agree! SEKI is where my heart is.

@feetfirst Thanks! Yeah, eat what works. Period.

[Author]

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