Home Appalachian TrailAT Continental Divide TrailCDT Pacific Crest TrailPCT
author photo">
May 9, 2016 : George Turner (Old Growth) Appalachian Trail

Insert F-bombs wherever you think they’re appropriate…

Bad News!

Given the nature of this post feel free to insert F-bombs at random spots while reading.  Don’t forget to use the adjective form.  I’m sure you will be able to find many appropriate places to do this!

Ok, here’s the story.  I get to Harpers Ferry and come home for a planned break.  I’m home for 3 days.  One of the dogs was barking at something downstairs and my wife sent me down to check it out.  I slipped on the stairs and managed to tear my rotator cuff.  An example of God’s whimsical sense of humor?  Almost certainly!  So I find myself sitting in front of my computer with pools of irony at my feet thinking about what to say.  I am absolutely not going to let this end my dreams of thru hiking the AT.  I’ve been dealt a crappy hand, but I’m going to play it out and continue my journey.  I learned over the last 6 weeks that I can do this.  I adapted to the routine.  My body was holding up to the grind of the trail.  While I can’t say I was in trail shape, I was getting there.  I’m dreading the certainty that I will have to go through the painful process of re-acquiring this level of fitness, but I’ve done it once; I can do it again.  The rehab is three months.  Right now, I’m leaning toward starting SOBO at Katahdin the middle of August, hike south to Harpers Ferry and then go down to Marion, Virginia where I started in March and head south to Springer.  It’s going to get awfully cold before I finish.

Rotator cuff torn
Surgical intervention
Journey continues

 

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

George Turner (Old Growth)
May 9th : George Turner (Old Growth)
Author Page
George Turner (Old Growth)'s Bio

I’m a retired teacher. I hiked over 2000 mile of the Appalachian Trail. While I only have 105 miles left, after tearing my rotator cuff scrambling over some slippery rocks in New Hampshire, I felt my once loving relationship with the AT had turned abusive. Still I’m hiker trash for life and plan to walk at least a month a year until it’s a joke. Real life kept me from going back to Colorado for another shot at the Colorado Trail, but this year I’m planning to walk from Atkins, Va to Harpers Ferry

Comments 3

  • Fern : May 10th

    This is just awful. You were doing so great. I’m glad you’re still figuring out how to complete your hike this year. I hope you get better soon and get back to the trail.

    Reply
  • Charles edwards : May 10th

    George,, f***, f***, f***!!! Sorry man. I too am sitting at home rehabbing my back muscular issues. While I’m improving, it is not nearly fast enough and I too dread the re-start. I’ve chosen to just finish VA this year and complete the rest in the future. I’m pulling for you to make it work and get your thru hike done. I have settled for becoming a 2,000 miler. I’m hopeful you won’t have to settle. Best wishes!!! I’ll keep following your posts.
    Squish

    Reply
  • George Turner : May 12th

    I reserved a tent site at Baxter State Park for the two nights in August. I’ll go south to Harpers Ferry, then down to Marion to go to Springer. I may be walking until New Years, but I don’t think it could be much colder than it was in March this year. The notion of walking with Autumn is kind of growing on me.

    Reply

What Do You Think?