List of My Trail Injuries: The First Two Weeks

Listed in order of most painful:

The HotHand burn.

The first of my trail injuries, and I knew I shouldn’t do it. I slept with hand warmers right against my skin. Popped them right in my leggings. It was 19 degrees for goodness sake! Alas, now one of my thighs does have an inch-by-inch sized open burn wound. I’d never had issues with keeping them in my gloves, holding them right in my hands. I was naively thinking I’d be perfectly fine for just one night. And other hikers hadn’t had problems with them right next to their feet in their socks.

I’ve been doing bandage changes on trail every couple days and treating it with triple antibiotic ointment. It does seem to be finally healing after almost 2 weeks and some much needed exposure to fresh air.

A buttcheek welt.

I didn’t notice a rouge tree one evening while setting up my tent, and backed right up into a broken limb. So now I have good sized welt on my booty cheek (and a lil rip in my pants). It bled, turned a lovely bruised shade of yellow/purple, and after a few days of it hurting to sit down, it’s quickly on the mend.

Plantar fasciitis.

Starting the trail, I had plantar fasciitis in only one foot, and now I’m unhappy to report, I have it in both feet. I’m sporting braces on both feet these days, and it seems to be keeping the pain almost completely at bay. I also started hiking with what appeared to be tendinitis in one of my big toes, that has still not yet gone away. But I’m not done holding out hope! Each time I’ve been in town, I’ve been icing my feet (and all of my lower body in general) but I honestly can’t tell if it’s helping any of my trail injuries or not. 

A yeast infection.

And I was nursing a yeast infection. Luckily I packed meds for such an occurrence in my first aid kit, and everything is happily back to normal now.

I’m still not sure if it’s from the wet/humid climate or the unavoidable fact that wearing sweaty undies is the norm on trail. But in any case, I have decided to officially be a commando hiker from here on out, to try and hopefully avoid any future occurrences.

I think that’s it? So far?

What could week three and four possibly hold???

I never thought I’d have this many trail injuries, this early on. The burn and welt happened back-to-back and was difficult to mentally overcome. But here we are, and all I can do is hope everything heals in a timely manner. I’m living and learning from all my mistakes! 

Friends trail injuries:

Impressive thigh chafe, the need for new knee braces, achilles’ tendon pain, sunburns, another HotHand burn – but their’s was luckily superficial, and blisters – but very minimal!

Click here to see my full gear list, or come check out my Insta @nala_terra for more raw photos and trail highlights.

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Comments 6

  • Sir Lostalot : Apr 2nd

    I think you need more animal fats and protein in your diet. Being a vegan is adequate for the comfortable life in civilization where you sit most of the day but backpacking is aerobic weightlifting and when you do it all day in the cold and rain and mud, kale and rice cakes just aren’t enough fuel to power your muscles and repair the stress. You set out in search of a life changing adventure so change your life and eat some animal products.

    Reply
    • Nala : Apr 3rd

      There is plenty of research showing that plant based diets actually have greater muscle recovery and endurance. And my injuries have absolutely nothing to do with my diet? Thanks for your input, and looking out, but I highly disagree with your viewpoint.

      I’ve also done a couple thousand of miles backpacking as a vegan and feel great!

      Reply
  • Sir Lostalot : Apr 5th

    I’m sorry Nala. I did not realize that a well nourished experienced through hiker could have such a list of injuries and maladies after only two weeks on the trail. Of course I am wrong but it is hard for me to understand why a person with a well nourished healthy immune system is prone to yeast infections.

    It just seems to me that if you had a more nutrient dense diet you would be healthier and happier on the trail but if eating animals is against your religion and you enjoy suffering,, I certainly don’t want to dissuade you.

    Reply
    • Nala : Apr 5th

      A yeast infection can simply be caused by wearing wet or poorly ventilating clothes, using new detergents and taking hormonal birth control. Would love to see any sources you seem to have read providing research that a vegan diet promotes more yeast infections.

      What makes you think non-vegan foods have more nutrients? I’m eating fruits and vegetables everyday, which is more than I can say about most of my fellow hikers. I’m getting way more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants (thus a higher powered immune system if basing solely on diet).

      Reply
    • Kit : Nov 2nd

      Why are you being snarky on her page? Clearly she does not like suffering, hers or others. Why don’t you accept that people have different choices in life and yours isn’t the only right way? How does veganism make her get burned or back into a stick? Women get yeast infections just because. Sugar is more likely the culprit. You sound very naive and judgemental.

      Reply
  • Thomas : May 21st

    Hi Nala,
    How did you handle your Plantar fasciitis? Hope your still on trail.

    Reply

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