Oh, My Aching Back!

Starting Trail Mile 1087.2, hiking south.  Elevation 8342 - 8513

Woke up at 6:00 am, retrieved my bear vault, ate a quick protein bar, then went down to the creek to wash out the socks and underwear that I forgot to do last night.  I will hang them out at my first break to dry.  As I stood up from this task, my back suddenly seized up.  I could not believe the pain.  I tried deep breathing and stretching.  The spasms would not let up all the time I was breaking down my camp and getting ready to hike.  I finally took at handful of ibuprofen and hit the trail.  Looking back, I should have just taken a zero right there in camp and given my back the chance to settle down.  I'm not sure what caused it, but I'm thinking all the jarring with ascending rocky trails the day before may have contributed.
The result is that I hiked in pain all day, stopping often to stretch my back and wipe away the tears rolling down my cheeks.  Midday, I roll out my yoga mat and lay down with my legs up a tree.  I do every stretch I can think of, then just lay there for about an hour with my feet up the tree trunk.  I eventually fall asleep for about 30 minutes.  I feel much better when I wake up, and congratulate myself for taking the time to give my back a break.  I have a snack, take more ibuprofen, throw on my pack and set out again.  Within 10 minutes, the spasms start up again, even worse than before.  I struggle on, taking frequent breaks.

Another peek of Lake Tahoe (still part of the TRT)

Out on another ridge.  At least the trial is not rocky.

Trail winding down the hill is welcome change to climbing.

I try to enjoy the vast fields of wild flowers.  As I cross one such meadow, a woman approaches me and asks if I am Keep Walkin'.  When I confirm that I am, she gets very excited.  She tells me that another hiker had told her she would probably cross paths with me.  She is 70 and she and her husband were planning on doing thru hikes on smaller trails (300 miles or less), starting with the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT).  Unfortunately, her husband recently had a heart attack, so she is going to do the TRT with him acting as her supply guy.  She was just out for a two-day shakedown hike with her new equipment.  She had lots of questions and we had a great chat.  I wish her well.  Shortly after that, I meet an older day hiker photographing the wildflowers.  She expressed how much she loves to see older women out doing challenging things.  Today, I'm definitely having a challenge.

Wildflowers up to my shoulder and it is difficult to see the trail through them.

Out onto another ridge.

Beautiful, delicate wild iris!

A field of iris.

I only have 2 days to get to Sonora pass where I am to be picked up by Marv and meet a girlfriend who is coming from San Ramon to visit on my zero days.  With all my stopping, I've only made 10.6 miles.  There are camping restrictions, and it is another 9 miles to the first place I'm allowed to camp.  I know I'll never make it that far because my back spasms are getting worse and worse.  I haven't had cell service since I left camp.  I check my phone and still no cell.  I look at my app in the elevation mode and see that I have a climb to Carson Pass.  I'm hoping I'll have cell service at the top.  I know I'm never going to make Sonora Pass and that I will have to take time to get my back straightened out.  I'm so upset that yesterday I flew down the trail with no problem and then today I can hardly put one foot in front of the other.  Again, I'm wishing I could have started hiking a couple of months earlier to allow for these setbacks.
1.2 miles from Carson Pass, I finally have cell service.  I'm so relieved, I just sit down and have a good cry.  I call Marv and ask how long it would take him to drive to get me from where he is.  The answer is about 2.5 hours.  I hate to ask him to come so far, but I really don't think I can continue on.  I know I can't make it to the next allowable place to camp.
I struggle on to the Information Center at Carson Pass to wait for Marv to come rescue me.  I talk to many other hikers, some going north and some going south.  I tell the NOBOs about the trail ahead of them.  One couple was out of water, thinking there would be water at the center, but it is closed this late in the day.  I had 2 liters left in my bladder, so I offer it to them and they were extremely grateful.
Marv picks me up and we get back to the trailer before midnight.  Hopefully, a couple of days off the trail will restore my back to normal and I can continue the last leg I have left in California, the High Sierras!