Day 22 Solo Backpacking the SHT with MCAS

This post is Day 22 of solo backpacking the SHT with MCAS continuing my journey on the Superior Hiking Trail with a chronic condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).

Highway 1

I awoke to find that my tent was surrounded by dense fog. A gentle breeze occasionally knocked drops of condensed fog from the trees, making it “rain” a little. But it wasn’t enough for my gear to get wet and the fog felt cool and refreshing.

This was my last day on the trail for this section, and as I packed up my much lighter pack I was excited to finish a lovely four days of hiking. The couple I talked to last night suggested that we exchange contact info so that we could potentially coordinate a key swap on future sections, where we would park at opposite trailheads, swap car keys when we met in the middle, and use each other’s cars to meet up after hiking our sections. It was nice to have that option when the shuttle proved expensive.

Today I hiked a short 2.5 miles to Highway 1 where my car was parked. Along the way, I passed the Fantasia Overlook, but with the thick fog, there was no view to be enjoyed so I bypassed the spur trail.

In keeping with the theme of this section, I again passed many day-hikers and several thru-hikers. In past trips, it was so rare to see anyone out on the trail that I almost always stopped to meet people and share information. But the vibe is much different at this point in the season. Thru-hikers are on a mission to get the 300 miles done as quickly as possible, and it’s reflected in their determined expressions to avoid distractions and keep going.

Day hikers are plentiful, and most of them appear unprepared for the difficult terrain. A man and his son who were wearing sneakers and t-shirts, no packs, asked to “pick my brain” about the trail behind me, and I relayed that it was 2.5 miles to the overlook and not easy.

In my previous two 25-mile sections I used trekking poles and found them helpful for balance and navigating tricky terrain. But after my last section I had a recurrence of tennis elbow, a painful condition not from playing tennis in my case, but from overusing the muscles in my right arm. It started in 2018 when I was under a ton of stress from caregiving, and it took several years to be free of the pain.

After this recent bout of tennis elbow, I saw my osteopath and his manipulations helped with my pain significantly. But I was still extra careful with my right arm when I set out on this section.

On day 19 I hiked without any poles, which went fine on the relatively flat terrain. But on day 20 the elevation gain made it necessary to have a little extra help with balance. I still didn’t want to set back my progress in healing my elbow, so I tried using one trekking pole in my left hand. It took a mile or so to get the hang of it, and then I was happy to have improved balance without causing further harm to my right elbow. I used the left trekking pole for the remainder of this section with great results.

As I finished this section I looked forward to setting down my pack in my car. Every time I head out on a section hike I say a little prayer that my car won’t be broken into while I’m away. It’s much more likely to happen at certain trailheads close to Duluth, and I wasn’t anticipating it would be an issue here. And when I reached my car I was happy to find it intact. The parking lot was still full, reflecting the hiker traffic I’d experienced on the trail but all was well.

Each section I complete makes me wonder whether it will be my last one of the year. It’s been so wonderful to squeeze in this mid-September hike when the mosquitos and rain are less of an issue relative to June and July when it was so buggy and muddy. And it’s been fun to see how the trail’s character changes as the seasons change, the type of folks it draws in different months, and to reflect on how I’m a more experienced SHT backpacker now after 129 miles!

What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis. MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments involve using antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and avoiding triggers. Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.

The bucket theory

The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.

Know your typical symptom progression

Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize your symptom progression to be prepared to address those symptoms.

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Check out this powerful frequency device

Healy is an individualized microcurrent device I use to reduce inflammation. Check out this post for more about Healy.

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Disclaimer

The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment. Always seek advice from your medical doctor.