Mustache Mayhem

Gorgeous weekend for a solo backpack through Sequoia National park. Camped in the snow at Twin Lakes, didn’t see a soul for 48 hours. No sounds but the otherworldly “whomp” the ice in the frozen lake made as it shifted. Climbed up to 10,000’ Silliman Pass where I had a view across Sequoia and into King’s canyon national park. Read, brewed coffee out of clear mountain springs, shouted into the night to keep away any bears late to their hibernating party, tested a new 0 degree mummy bag.

Then decided to try and hike out in the night, avoiding the gate fee by sneaking out after hours and potentially skirting the midday traffic back to LA I would face otherwise hiking out Monday morning. Beautiful full moon hike, until about a mile from the trailhead, when I took a careless step on some black ice. My left foot slid forward, my hips twisted but my right foot stayed planted. I heard a familiar “pop” as my patella came momentarily out of its usual groove and my leg folded over to the side. In the brief moment of mental clarity between recognizing the old football injury’s return and when the accompanying pain hit, I managed to yank my leg forward and straighten it out. The kneecap was back in place by the time I hit the ground, luckily. Immediately set to work wrapping it, added some layers, then downed some aspirin and hobbled the last mile back to my car. The knee actually felt alright supporting my weight the rest of the walk, but today it’s quite swollen. Worth it though, and the rest of this week gets to be Blanket Day forever till I can start rehabbing the shit out of it in time for spring climbing season.