Memorial Day Weekend found me and my husband in Moab, Utah. We spent one afternoon in Arches National Park and the next afternoon exploring Canyonlands National Park. If you ever plan a similar trip, I recommend doing them in the reverse order. Canyonlands is gorgeous, but there's a lot of driving - and hiking - involved to get to the cool stuff. Arches, on the other hand, presents you with nearly constant "Oh, WOW!" views. They're both beautiful, each in its own right.But, this isn't a travelogue, this is about walking/hiking with asthma.
In Canyonlands, there was this cool thing called the Upheaval Dome (seen behind us in the picture). From the parking lot to the first overlook is 0.3 miles. Not very far, really. From where we parked, I could see the trail, all uphill, mostly steps, and knew I'd need some assistance on this one. So I strapped on my hip pack with two water bottles, slipped my camera bag over my shoulder, grabbed my hat and a pair of poles, and off we went. Up to the first overlook, really, wasn't that bad, but I was glad those poles were with me. Climbing stairs -- or anything uphill -- is the fastest way to aggrivate my asthma.
After we said the obligatory OOOOOOs and AHHHHHHHs, hubby and I decided to go the other 1/2 mile to the 2nd overlook. This was all over slickrock -- hard sandstone -- and was quite steep in places, followed by gentle slopes interspersed with flat areas. On the way out, it was very easy for me, in a flat area, to just go all out and try to catch up with hubby. Then I'd look up, see another hill, and realize I needed to pace myself.
The walk out, for the most part, was down hill. Which meant coming back was going to be all uphill! I have to tell you, it was a challenge. At one point I asked my husband to go get the truck and come get me. He laughed and said, "You funny girl!" The reality was I was in the middle of nowhere and the only way out was self-propelled.
After on particularly steep hill, I could feel my pulse pounding in my head. I checked it and was rather startled to find it up at 140. That's the high end for me. I had used my rescue inhaler as we had started out, and could tell it was working, but still... Hills really are not my friends.
I remember seeing a worried look on my husband's face at one point. I just smiled at him and told him I really was having a good time. And I was!
While I was walking/hiking, I had time to think about the challenges of activity induced asthma, what it means in my life, how it affects physical activity and so on. And somewhere along that gorgeous sandstone plateau, I made the decision that I do NOT want to be ruled by my asthma. I want to be able to go out and hike and explore and do whatever suits my fancy. But to do that, since the asthma isn't going away, I need to follow some simple rules.
1) Keep a rescue inhaler in an easy-to-reach spot
2) Make sure to go with a friend
3) Make sure the friend knows where the rescue inhaler is
4) Take water! Sipping water slowly is a good way to help open the airways. I know water and air go two different directions, but trust me on this.
5) Take it slow. Even if the current terrain is flat, there might be a hill just around the corner that needs more air.
6) POLES! Oh my gosh! I know for a fact I would not have made this hike without them. Rangers would have been called in, lifeflight helicopters, the works. Poles help propel you forward, give a much needed assist over rocks, and can make those hills much easier to climb.
7) Know your limitations. I know I can do 3 miles on flat terrain without a problem. But what about 1 mile on rugged terrain?
8) Don't get discouraged. It's ok to stop and rest, as often as necessary. Don't worry about what others on the trail are doing. It's ok if they pass you coming and going.
9) Take time to enjoy the scenery.
10) The journey is just as important as the destination.
Happy Walking!
Elizabeth
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