You are absolutely right. I am not as young as I used to be! And honestly hiking with a 58 lbs boat on your shoulder is even worse than actually kayaking. My back is still not 100%, but I saw a doctor 2 weeks ago and have weekly PT appointments (I've had two already). They are having me focus on stretching my hamstrings and working core muscles. My disc didn't bulge and I don't have any fractures. They believe it was/is bruised/pulled muscles where my lumbar connects to the middle back.
They did clear me to kayak. Probably not to the level that I am. But its feeling good most of the time...
Funny you mention lugging the boat around. The first "pop" I felt in my back was at about age 27 taking out of the Cheat River at the Jenkinsberg Bridge long before the 2003-2004 renovations when you had to carry out all the way to the upper parking lot on muddle trails. It was also raining which meant rising waters and difficulties on the river and getting off the river. Miserable river for the occasional paddler. You gotta bombproof your roll before even considering this river at Medium to high water. I swam the last set which is probably when my muscles exhausted themselves and just couldn't protect my back on the climb out. I ended up paying a guy on an ATV to get me and my boat out to there. I'd give anything to redo that day and just jump in one of the rafts instead.
I just looked. CheatFest is this coming weekend.
Last edited by Cadet; 04/27/1504:16 PM. Reason: Outside DB links are not permitted as per forum agreement.
The internet is 90% complaining and entitlement and I hate it because I deserve better!
