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Published: July 16th 2013
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Day 7 Monday July 15.
Breaky and sandwich routine is second nature now as we head off to our hard walk. We leave on the Gondola right in the middle of town and we would return on the same equipment later. The walk is again on the high plain and effectively walking right around a huge mountain. This way we get to see into the next valley along as well as all of the way to Austria.
The walk was stated as 9 miles (14kms) but in fact this was an unfortunate slip of the tongue as it turned out to be 20kms! This was important as discussed later…..
The walk is graded difficult not only because of the distance but also because of the elevation gain and loss (900metres each for this walk – and that doesn’t include the gondola ride!) as well as the difficulty of the terrain. Apart from being largely undulating, it was very rocky underfoot and not long before I was beginning to doubt the wisdom of going on the walk because of twisting knees and ankles. We got to lunch at 11 kms – and right at the back of the mountain,
without incident. As we set to leave lunch, Chris caught her foot in a strap on her pack and fell – severely twisting her knee. Amazingly, stripped of excess weight which was shared around, she struggled the next 9 kms back to the top of the gondola over some of the most difficult terrain I have ever walked – even included ice and snow as we were above the recent snow fall line in places. It was an amazing effort for which everyone applauded and the leader even gave her a hug.
Her knee seized up sitting in the gondola and she really limped the 300 meters back to the lodge.
Once home we got to work with ice and anti inflammatory cream to see if we could get movement back into it. She was able to put weight on it and by then wasn’t in extreme pain, but the knee is extremely unstable.
As I type this the next day, it has improved slightly and she is asleep, and we have a booking with a physio tonight at 5.30.
The irony of the situation doesn’t escape us as we had misgivings about booking this portion
because of MY knees – and this happens. Weird eh!
Anyway, tomorrow is a scheduled rest day so 48 hours might see her OK or at least with a bit of luck, Friday for a final walk. Most important now is that she gets it right for the balance of the trip.
Even if she is only able to have done the two walks we have done to date, it will have been worth it. It is simply magnificent here.
This has happened before (old tennis and snow skiing injury that flares occasionally) and has come right in 3/4 days so fingers crossed.
BTW, the leader did offer to get a chopper out to pick Chris up but the cost would have been Eu 25,000 ($38,000). Provided great incentive to keep going as it would have been a heck of a fight with the insurers.
Anyway, quiet day tomorrow and we will see how we are placed.
Cheers
Ian
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Amanda
non-member comment
Ouch
Hi ya, photos look amazing... Hope you are ok mum... I will send u an email... Enjoy the rest!