Living Well on Crutches

On New Year's Day I slipped and fell mid-switchback on an icy ridge. When I stood back up, I realized immediately that I couldn't bear weight on my left leg. The following 6 weeks were full of ups and downs: doctor visits, x-rays, a work/ski trip to Utah, a canceled ski trip to Jackson, crutches, dance parties, ice packs, a hangout session with Glen Plake, and a general sense of frustration not knowing what the hell was going on with my ankle.

It was finally suggested that I get an MRI, and my instinct was right on: in addition to the torn ligaments (sprain), I did some damage to both my talus bone and its cartilage. Surgery may or may not happen, depending on my pain level when the sprain and bone bruise are more or less resolved. Back on the crutches again!

Not thinking about the new snow... not thinking about the new snow...

I've been on crutches before, but it takes a few days of struggling (and maybe a little whining) before you learn some tricks to living well with these damned things:

1. Get a small backpack, messenger bag, or fanny pack (Jammy Pack?!?) and keep it with you all the time. Mine has a phone, wallet, keys, lip balm, meds, water bottle, and room for random things I need to carry from one place to another.
2. Get a disabled parking permit as soon as possible. 
3. If anyone offers you help with anything, take it. Those 10 steps you save on the crutches could be used for something you have to do on your own later.
4. Do your grocery shopping at a mega-store with electric scooters. They are awesome!
5. If you have a dog, you won't be going on any leashed walks anytime soon. Thank you dog parks! Just make sure you don't crutch through dog poo... eew.
6. Keep your body moving. This is as important for your mental health as it is for maintaining your physical health. Swimming is a great way to get exercise with a broken body.
7. Drive-thrus! Drive-thrus! We have quite a few here in Bend: Prescriptions, thai food, ATM's.... these are a lifesaver if you are exhausted from crutching around everywhere.
8. And finally, love your caretaker, if you are lucky enough to have one!

Kaya the Ski Dog

There are certain qualities I look for in a ski buddy: stoke, availability, and pockets full of awesome snacks. Kaya delivers on all three, and more!

Headed up a local ski area during an early season dump!

Kaya's ample fluff was our first indication that she would make a great ski dog. We've had lots of speculation about her heritage -- Chow/Samoyed/Golden? Miniature Great Pyrenees? Giant Pomeranian? -- but whatever is in there, her love of burly winter weather obviously runs deep.

Is she a Chinese Crusty?

Kaya is pretty short, and as a result we have to be thoughtful about when and where she skis. She loves the deep stuff, but has a hard time keeping up unless the slope angle tops 45 degrees (she's skied over 50... and loved it!). Otherwise, she wallows in our tracks, and we have to wait for her at the bottom.

In my tracks and keeping up just fine!

The best snow surface for her is nice, creamy, sun-softened corn snow. The good news for all of us is that there is tons of it, all summer long, in our central Oregon Cascades.

Mmmmmm... creamed corn!

Her stoke is always high, both on the up and the down.

Kaya tends to stay right on my tail...

Even when we're skiing! Check out her epic face shot...

She has also been known to warm us up after skiing in tents and camper vans, and who wouldn't love that?

Fluffy foot warmer... my favorite!

And about those pockets full of snacks: there's usually something tasty and easy to grab in her dog pack!

Cheese, nuts, or beef jerky?

So Kaya, thanks for being an awesome ski buddy, and cheers to many more years of shredding together!