back in the saddle again

A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.

Gina Carey

This Saturday, I’ll fly out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to walk the Teton Crest Trail. My cardiologist has given me the green light and we have a plan to try and head off any other weird racing heart beats that come to call.

This time around, I’m setting my self up for success by going slower, taking more days to explore, using beta blockers and avoiding unpleasant and unhelpful people. I also have some nifty vagal nerve maneuvers that could help reset the beat if it decides to go haywire again and an Apple watch which can record an ECG for Dr. Z should I have another episode.

Late August is a fabulous time to hike with sunny days and cool nights and this is one of the premiere hikes in the world – and really, quite short.

I will be fine.

That being said, there are so many unknowns, like – can I get a permit at all, will the weather hold (it snowed last week) when and how will I come home? I’ve built in some guardrails to keep myself safe, but I’ll be living a bit on the edge. One friend tells me that’s essentially who I am (can you say, “bad ass?”) Though I don’t really do it alone. The trail has always provides, even in the case of bringing me home to some interesting surprises that I’ll need to share with you in a later post.

For now, off I go, one step at a time to see what I’m made of as well as to discover how walking inside this spectacularly beautiful place effects me.

Til later, my friends, *kia kaha and happy trails!

*Maori affirmation meaning “stay strong!”