My First Mountain Climb Experience

This past Thanksgiving weekend was a truly exciting one for me, to say the least!

After breakfast on a beautiful October 9^th morning, Randal & I were picked up by Lynne, Kerry along with my granddaughters, Kaney, Lexi and Nikki to spend the day on Mt. John Laurie, commonly known as “Yamnuska”, which is a Stoney Indian word meaning “Mountain with sheer cliffs”.

For a prairie -gal, this was my first time on a 5 hour walk up 775 meters above from where we were we started from. I was encouraged to take part as there were groups of other walkers of all ages, from very young to seniors and dogs.

I walked in a very cautious manner using two walking sticks. Going up on the rocky, root-bound, narrow winding path was challenging at times, but we took time to rest at various stages. As a true mountain climber, I took very slow steps and drink plenty of water.

I brought my sport water bottle with me and I had a pair of magsteps insoles in my new walking shoes.

Halfway along the switch-backs we stopped to have a snack and I had to make a decision whether to go further. I was feeling pretty good at this point as long as I did not look up to see how far we needed to climb. I kept my eyes looking down to where my next step would be.

When we reached the area where adventurous climber took the gully to the very top, Randal & I took a rest and just enjoyed the view and sunshine. We watched as Lynne and Nikki, my 9 year old granddaughter, climb through the gully and waved from the ledge above us. Kerry, Kaney and Lexi were not seen as they where far ahead of us by this time and had gone to the top.

I was told the decent was would be much easier and would take less time. I was not sure of this as the path did not look the same and I really had to secure good footing. I tried not to look down to where I was to go. My legs were starting to feel the the previous up-climb. I felt muscles I did not know I had!!

Kerry had suggested a path that would be longer but much easier to do. He lead the way until the path ran out. The way back up added to more agony to my legs. So I limped down the rest of the way and was relieved when the path levelled out on to the parking lot.

My recovery time the next few days was to do plenty of Yoga stretches, drink PiMag water and use the Biaxial-powermag  and rubbing the muscles with CM cream.  Of course I got plenty of rest in my sleep system.

 Thank to all the encouragement from my family and the Nikken products for making this adventure so exciting and healing.