Tuesday 12 February 2019

Heading back to Nepal for a winter trek


Since Michelle can't ski for a few more weeks, we might as well go trekking. We are on our way for a trek in Nepal (Michelle's 13th and David's 15th).

Our plan is to do a "middle-hills" trek in the Annapurnas: a 10-day trek called the "Annapurna-Dhaulagiri Community Eco Trek" (also known as the Mohare Danda and Khopra Danda). This trek does not go higher (sleeping) than 3660m, so it hopefully should not be too cold (and few if any altitude issues).

Normal years, really only Khopra Danda would have snow. However, Nepal has recently experienced record cold and snow, so we shall see. (Snow has been present down to 2500m.) Long range forecasts suggest temperatures should warm back up over the next week (to 10-20 degrees C during the day, and perhaps 0-10 degrees at night). 

As the image shows, there are many possible options to this trek: We'll start at Galeswor, and then we will "play it by ear" as to how we end trek after reaching Khopra.

After Nepal, we'll relax 5 days near the beach in Hua Hin Thailand (with current temperatures of 30-34 degrees C!).

Stay tuned.

Wednesday 6 February 2019

Some serious wrist bling!

Bionic wrist bling

Six weeks post surgery, Michelle's wrist is making good progress. Xrays show some pretty substantial bling in her left wrist...

Side view shows the screws

A fairly large metal plate and perhaps 7 screws.



Outside, the wrist is looking better. Physiotherapy and regular exercise has been improving wrist movement and strength, with a lot more (expected) to come.


6 weeks after surgery



Far better than 12 days after surgery when the bandages were removed and staples taken out:


12 days after surgery, still with the staples. Looking pretty ugly!


Michelle has received great medical, surgical and physiotherapy care here at Whistler (with actual surgery at Lion's Gate Hospital in North Vancouver). Final follow-up with orthopaedic surgeon earlier this week (her in Whistler) indicates wrist is progressing very well and increased exercises called for. (Skiing, however, would be best delayed for another few weeks.)

So, we have decided to head back to Nepal for a trek. Hopefully the various airport metal detectors have no issue with Michelle's new wrist bling!