Sending Big Mike some good vibes

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SCseagoat

Trad climber

Santa Cruz

Sep 27, 2013 - 02:12am PT

Yipppppeeeee. Got to meet Big Mike and Sandra....is is weird to say "what an adorable couple'?
Susan

Relic

Social climber

Vancouver, BC

Topic Author's Reply - Sep 27, 2013 - 11:55am PT

Watcha garbage pickers all getting up on down there? How is Sandra liking her first Valley experience? Is ryan d still kickin it with ya? Need more spray from the squamish weenie crew. Summer's over up here. Ya'll picked the best place to be.

I got itchy at work and booked off till Canuck thanksgiving. Gonna head to the Mormon lands for some sandy stones

Big Mike

Trad climber

Oct 3, 2013 - 03:09pm PT

Show Brownie the Eastside life. Get him psyched!

We did make it over there thanks to the politicians bs.. Owens River Gorge was cool, and the tub was devine! Thanks 4 the beta!

say, the clue to not feeling down/bummed, is to keep
focusing what is there before you to do,that you CAN DO... and,
be thankful that you are NOT back where you were when you fell :O

I know Neebs. Thanks. It keeps getting hammered home again and again. I'm super lucky to be where I'm at.

I didn't get to hang out nearly long enough, but I'm glad I did get to say howdy, & shake your hand, Big Mike.
Your recovery astounds me.Stokes, too. So there.
Groove on.

Thanks Kirk! It was great to meet you dude!! We need to do it again, and tie in next time!!

Yipppppeeeee. Got to meet Big Mike and Sandra....is is weird to say "what an adorable couple'?

Thanks Susan. It was awesome to meet you and Mike. Next time we will have to make it much longer! Tell Mike, thanks for the stoke to keep rolling!!

Sorry no live tr this time bud. I fully immersed myself in the experience instead. A full blown tr is forthcoming. You should come to skaha for thanksgiving!

Nope. They are adorable. And fabulous too .

Not as adorable as you and Phil!! Next year we are kidnapping you guys and transporting ya to facelift!! ;)

More in a bit, duty calls.

Norwegian

Trad climber

dancin on the tip of god's middle finger

Dec 8, 2013 - 10:13am PT

eh mike we still putting the nose
between thumb and four fingers?

my ascents have been quite flat
over the last month,
but hell i've been doing this
long enough that i've local that
genetic memory of
the global breaches in gravity's weave.
the pink sky beyond is the summit,
the chaotic tangle of snow laden branches
represent.

the 30 odd pitches.
let's walk into the liquid sky
this spring, and get some
on our boots.

Big Mike

Trad climber

Dec 8, 2013 - 03:45pm PT

I'm stoked Weege! Ever since the first time I set eyes on The Captain, I've wanted to ascend it's massive flanks. I'm getting stronger so i think it is well within my abilities.

I think doing it with you will be super fun and am stoked that you are into sending it with me!! I'll send you a pm later about it.

RyanD

climber

Squamish

Dec 8, 2013 - 10:11pm PT

That's rad- get some boys!

Wayno

Big Wall climber

Seattle, WA

Dec 9, 2013 - 03:41am PT

I set eyes on The Captain,

Yer screwed now, brother. If there is anything you think I could help you with to bag that beast, just let me know. Carry loads, score pins, get stoked, stoned or otherwise perturbed, call it. You too, Weege. I can already see you guys at the top.

wayne w

Trad climber

the nw

Dec 9, 2013 - 09:00pm PT

All best wishes toward making this incredibly worth pursuing objective a reality. You guys can do it, if you want it badly enough!

MH2

climber

Feb 23, 2014 - 10:51pm PT

I'm in. Well, maybe not for boarding.

Big Mike

Trad climber

Feb 24, 2014 - 12:50am PT

I would love to hang out tommorow gentlemen but unfortunatly Sandra has only one day off this week, so she really needs to get some excersise to keep her sanity. :)

I will be down to gfs soon to visit a local skier who ended up in gfs recently. He busted his neck so he's an incomplete quadriplegic. From his videos and stuff he looks pretty good considering. I'm well aware of his challenges though and worse because of the level of his injury.

So hopefully that will come together within the next couple weeks and I can meet up with you then.

I'm gonna write a bit about how i'm doing but it's gonna take me a few minutes so I'll do it in my next post.

Wayno

Big Wall climber

Seattle, WA

Feb 24, 2014 - 02:07am PT

^^^^

Ewe, loads.

Snicker.

Big Mike

Trad climber

Feb 24, 2014 - 11:46am PT

Wow. What a year. The ultimate roller coaster. Lots of highs during rehab, and lows upon returning home, and realizing that life was going to be much harder for awhile.

The pressures of running a seasonal buisness were no easy task. Unable to find a reliable third employee and having to deal with a new hire who was costing me money, I ended up working quite a bit to make ends meet. None of my other friends from gf are anywhere near where i'm at now, so i guess being forced back early was good to get me moving again.

I climbed a bunch this summer, and even managed to get my butt down to Cali for facelift. I was in quite a bit of discomfort there, as i was really pushing my limits to be so active, and sleeping in a tent didn't help the back relax much. I'm probably lucky that Sandra came with me, because we stuck to some more realistic goals, and even though the climber in me wanted way more action, somehow i knew my body wasn't really up to the task yet.

Today will be day 21 on a snowboard for me. The first day back was super wierd. I could barely ride and there wasn't much snow yet so there were lots of people on very few open runs. I was honestly scared of getting hit by someone for the first time of my life. My front foot still felt like it was just floating on top of the board with the reduced sensation.

Was i not worried about re-injuring myself up there? Hell yes i was, and still am. The muscle memory is very helpful though, and the sensory stimulation of the binding has been nothing short of amazing. I used to describe my left foot as being patchy with little bits of feeling here and there, but now it's more like little areas of reduced sensory on what feels like a foot more and more every day.

I've been very picky about my days up the hill, and try to go only when conditions are soft enough so i don't land on my butt again too hard. I did fall on it once all ready which set me back a couple weeks so i'm trying to be super cautious.

I'm feeling a lot stronger these days, and the pain has reduced significantly which is nice. The latest challenge has been kicking the opiates which seems to be going pretty well. I have been a little aggressive with my tactics perhaps in that regard, but nothing new if you've been following this thread since the beginning.. Lol

I finally went snowmobiling too which is somehing i've been avoiding for lack of snow and impact potential, but i just had to get out the other day and boy was i ever happy to get back out the the backcountry again!!

I put my sled back into the garage that night to avoid tempting fate anymore.

Anyways i'm going up the hill with Sandra and some friends to celebrate the one year anniversary of my injury today, so i better get rolling.

Best to you all and Thank You again for all your support! It really helped me through some dark times.

wayne w

Trad climber

the nw

Feb 24, 2014 - 01:18pm PT

So heartening to hear how well you are doing, Mike, all considered. I know that in the months, and years, ahead, you will find much healing, and continue to make incredible progress!!

philo

Trad climber

Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?

Feb 24, 2014 - 01:45pm PT

STOKE!

this just in

climber

north fork

Feb 24, 2014 - 11:10pm PT

F*#king awesome Mike! Your attitude has definitely helped your recovery. All those thoughts of doubt and unknown have been answered, not saying you're 100%, but you are on your way. Sometimes the worst thing to happen to you can also be the best. Happy for you man.

Tricouni

Mountain climber

Vancouver

Feb 24, 2014 - 11:14pm PT

What a great post, Mike! You'll keep mending for some years to come (this is good)!

Gilroy

Social climber

Bolderado

Feb 24, 2014 - 11:19pm PT

I'm feeling a lot stronger these days, and the pain has reduced significantly

So good to hear, Big Mike. Your and Sandra's struggle toward rehabilitation for you has been inspirational. The circle of support from your friends and ST acquaintances illustrates the worth of a community of climbers both in the 'real world' and on the internet (which is of course the only way you and I are connected.) I look forward to the progress of this tale as it has implications for us all.

Climb high and come down slowly,
Keith