This post is Day 6 Backpacking the SHT continues my journey on the Superior Hiking Trail with a chronic condition called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
Table of Contents
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. MCAS is serious and disabling and people with MCAS experience often significant and debilitating symptoms daily, including anaphylaxis, which can be fatal.
MCAS is often found in combination with other chronic conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
Frequently healthcare providers do not know about MCAS, and the tests for MCAS are problematic because they are not uniformly reliable. MCAS can be difficult to manage. Treatments include blocking mast cell mediators with anti-histamines and mast cell stabilizers, as well as avoiding triggers.
Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.
Day 6 on the SHT – the majesty and the lost
I continued southwest from Durfee Creek the next morning, and the weather was amazing with a brilliant clear blue sky, helpful breezes to keep the bugs at bay, and the perfect temperature in the high 60s.
I continued vocalizing my Qi Gong power phrase, “How-La” to alert any bears to my presence through more alternating forests and meadows until I came to “Wildflower Hill,” a wide open section of lichen-covered glacial rocks with a panoramic view of Lake Superior. This was the most I’d seen of the lake on my hike so far, and it was spectacular!
I had a good cell signal for the first time in several days so I sat down for a snack, texted my family a photo dump, and checked in with them. It was nice to reconnect with my loved ones and share what I’d been seeing so far. I could have stayed there all day with the glorious view, puffy clouds, and sparkling lake, but it was early in my day and I needed to keep going.
Lunch in a canyon
Next, I descended along Woods Creek for an hour. As I wound down the canyon I could sometimes hear the creek roaring to my right, and then it would go quiet when I was shielded by the topography. I reached the creek crossing at lunchtime and filled my water reservoir. I hung my water filter apparatus on a tree branch to use gravity to force the creek water through my filter and ate my lunch.
Today’s fare was an experimental home-dehydrated cucumber salad with cilantro from my garden, bits of mango, hemp hearts, lime juice, fennel seeds, and ginger. I didn’t know how the dried cucumbers would taste after rehydration, but the salad was so refreshing! I’ll share the recipe on my blog soon.
A “difficult” section
The guidebook said that the next section was “difficult.” The trail took me up through the Devil Track River gorge in stages of steep steps and climbs. After the first section, I thought, “That wasn’t so difficult!” But there were four or five climbs after that, as I traveled deeper and higher into the ravine, gaining elevation with every new climb. Some parts were extremely steep and eroded, but it was still cool and pleasant as I continued the climb. A man in only running shorts and shoes passed me galloping down the canyon. In contrast, I was chugging along trying to maintain an even speed. At times I needed to slow down to a step-wait-step-wait cadence to keep my breathing steady and avoid tachycardia.
It was an exhilarating climb, and finally, I reached the East Devils Track campsite, which my guidance said “no” to. So I continued to the West Devils Track campsite and set up my tent.
The lost
I had just gotten settled and was starting my dinner when a tanned and coifed man and woman wandered out of the woods in white shorts and t-shirts, white shoes, and no packs. It was like I had climbed a mountain only to have a bus of tourists arrive at the top at the same time, and it was surreal to see these people who looked like they had no business being out in the woods. The man had half a bottle of water in his hand, and the woman carried a small purse; nothing else.
They asked for directions to the “trailhead” and I quickly realized that they were lost. I got out my map and attempted to help them figure out their whereabouts, but they were disoriented and it took a while to glean that they had started from the Pincushion Trailhead and had hiked to the overlook. Somehow they had taken the wrong path and ended up here, almost three miles from the parking lot.
They were reluctant to go back the way they had come and took several dead-end paths nearby in the camping area before agreeing to go back along their original course. I was worried about them getting back to their car before dark, and I pressed them to take some of my Aloha bars. The man had a dazed look and seemed unsteady, but the woman seemed more aware. As they set off I said a prayer for their safety.
Settling down for bed
I finished “The Hobbit” last night, and had downloaded a new book to my phone when I had a cell signal called “Firekeeper’s Daughter.” As I rested in my tent I read about half of the book and was a little creeped out because it involves a young Native American woman trying to figure out who is supplying her community with meth while more and more murders occur. Not my usual kind of reading, but it was a good book.
The Devil’s Track River was roaring beside me, and it was hard to tune it out because I had forgotten my earplugs. But I finally settled down to sleep and anticipated the last leg of this trip tomorrow when I would hopefully reunite with my car and head home.+
The bucket theory
The bucket theory offers a helpful analogy for understanding symptom reactions with MCAS.
Think of your body as an empty bucket you want to keep from overflowing. Different foods and activities fill your histamine bucket at different speeds but they combine to form the total level of histamine in your body (how full your bucket is). A fuller bucket means you have more histamine symptoms. When you manage triggers, reduce exposure to known triggers, and take medications and supplements to reduce histamine, you can manage the level of your bucket.
Know your typical symptom progression
Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your rescue plan. In this post, I discuss how to determine your symptom progression. Once you know what typically happens in your symptom progression you can design a rescue plan to address those symptoms.
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Healy is an individualized specific microcurrent device (ISM) that runs beneficial electrical currents directed by an app on your phone. Healy can be used to magnify your intention and to get the most out of your life. Check out this post for more about Healy. And this post provides some tips and tricks for Healy.
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Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure or treatment. Always seek advice from your medical doctor.
