Timpanogos and COVID


I returned today to my favorite local mountain. I enjoy climbing Timpanogos (today was my 73rd time on the summit) because I can be at the trailhead in a half hour, and it's a good climb with lots of variety and several options; and I can push as hard as I want to make it as strenuous as I want. As long as you don't go on Friday or Saturday, the crowds aren't bad.
I struggled today, however. I have been dealing with some "long-haul Covid" issues since contracting the disease last November. I just don't have the energy and stamina I used to have. A few years ago I could consistently reach the summit of Timp in 2.5 hours, but today took me almost 4. I was really struggling by the end! My legs just have no energy. One clue I have been tracking is that my blood oxygen saturation drops quickly when I am exerting - instead of the normal 95-99% it was down to 82% today at the summit. That's got to have an effect on how well my muscles function. I am working with a cardiologist and pulmonologist to try to see what's going on.
HOWEVER - I was able to summit, and for that I #GiveThanks. To make today more poignant, I learned that in the past week, two former neighbors both passed away from Covid. One was a 62-year-old man, younger than I am! I understand he struggled for a few weeks with the disease, including being on a ventilator. The other was an older woman who lasted only a few days after contracting the virus. It makes me especially grateful that even though I am struggling with some after-effects, my experience with Covid was relatively minor compared to so many. (Some day I hope we understand why it impacts people so differently!)
As I was coming off the summit, I passed a group of young (college-age) kids on their way up. We exchanged the normal trail greetings and pleasantries, but then one of the last in the group brazenly said, "Wow, I hope I am still climbing mountains when I'm as old as you!" I wanted to say, "Hey, you whippersnapper, I'm not that old!!" But I restrained, and just said, "The secret is to KEEP CLIMBING!" And that's what life is all about.




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