Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Disabled Hiker, Feeling Earth, Part 11

Episode 4, Feeling Earth

Part 11, On the Way Home


As the final installment in the Feeling Earth episode, it is my wish to get a little personal with my audience by finally discussing My Life With Invisible Disability.

This past August I had the amazing opportunity to attend the US Pain Foundation Ambassadors Summit, in Parsippany New Jersey. While there, one of the many things I learned was the importance of sharing our own pain story. Advocating to the community and our legislative officials can have a huge impact on the way those living with debilitating illness are viewed and often stigmatized.

As a person living with invisible disability, and understanding that added pain is inevitable on my hikes, over the years I've crafted what I like to call My Back-Home Recovery List. However, as these six ideas are basic in nature, it is essential to consider adding to them and making your own Back-Home Recovery List.

I know a great many of my followers are very inspired by the things I do. And I am so grateful and humbled by this. Which is why I feel it is so very important to let you in on a few things about the filming that goes on behind the scenes. If for no other reason, for safety sake alone.

This year's episode, Feeling Earth, was filmed over the course of three separate hiking trips to the same location. During which I film as much as I possibly can depending on my pain and mobility issues at that time. At the end of the filming season, I chose one of these filmed excursions as the narrative for the episode itself and then added scenes from the other two trips to make sure everything gets included.

The safety of my viewers is of the utmost importance to me so that none of them are injured in any way trying to do as it 'appears that I have done. But I stress that this is an appearance only. And it is my profound wish that by imparting this knowledge about how the episode was created, that it will encourage you to slow down, take as long as you need, only go as far as you can, carry only what you can, and above all else... Come home safely.

In closing, I would like to thank my many subscribers and followers, as well as a long list of wonderful people who helped make Feeling Earth possible.
(Please check out the list in the credits, as all these beautiful people are listed there.)

Until next time my friends,
Happy Hiking.
Terry Craig
~ The Disabled Hiker ~




Check out these other great links from
THE DISABLED HIKER.

The Disabled Hiker on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kjY2wAfE8uq_1gwYihVog

The Disabled Hiker on G+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114850936977149697861/posts

Terry Craig on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/terzhc

The Disabled Hiker on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175962465784239/

The Disabled Hiker on Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheDisabledHike

The Disabled Hiker on  Instagram
https://instagram.com/the_disabled_hiker/

The Disabled Hiker on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/disabledhiker/

The Disabled Hiker on ReverbNation (music)
http://www.reverbnation.com/terrycraig?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav

The Disabled Hiker on SoundCloud (music)
https://soundcloud.com/terry-craig-2


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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Disabled Hiker, Feeling Earth, Part 10

Episode 4, Feeling Earth

Part 10, The Human Quadruped



Few backpacking tools hold the status that walking sticks and trekking poles do with me when it comes to getting me back out on the trail again. But giving up my old set of walking sticks was no easy task. However, once I hit the trail with the Apex Trekking Poles by Outdoor Products, I started wondering if I would ever return to my old set.

Affordable and lightweight, there seem to be nothing the Apex trekking poles couldn't do that the more expensive models could. Except perhaps empty out your wallet of course.

But as a person that can suffer dexterity issues on extremely high pain days, I found a set of household kitchen items that can restore much of your grip on things again.

Wrapping up part 10 is a small feature on adjusting your trekking poles to the proper height. Proper height adjustment can make all the difference when traversing the ups and downs of many wilderness trails.



 Check out these other great links from 
THE DISABLED HIKER.

The Disabled Hiker on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kjY2wAfE8uq_1gwYihVog

The Disabled Hiker on G+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114850936977149697861/posts

Terry Craig on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/terzhc

The Disabled Hiker on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175962465784239/

The Disabled Hiker on Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheDisabledHike

The Disabled Hiker on  Instagram
https://instagram.com/the_disabled_hiker/

The Disabled Hiker on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/disabledhiker/

The Disabled Hiker on ReverbNation (music)
http://www.reverbnation.com/terrycraig?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav

The Disabled Hiker on SoundCloud (music)
https://soundcloud.com/terry-craig-2




Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Disabled Hiker, Feeling Earth, Part-9

Episode 4, Feeling Earth

Part 9, Hanging around for Night Two




A few years after I started hiking, I switched out my tent for a hammock for the first time. For years after, on any hiking trip that was accompanied by exceptionally warm temperatures, I would immediately pull out the backpacking hammock and off I'd go.

Unfortunately, after my surgery, the gathered or whipped ends on the standard backpackers hammock turned this easy and lightweight alternative to a tent, into somewhat of a torture device by crushing my shoulders together and causing me added pain.

Looking to get back some of the freedom that my old hammock once provided, Warbonnet Outdoors LLC came up with the perfect answer to my problems.  ie, the Ridgerunner hammock.

Although there are no knots to tie when hanging the Ridgerunner, the height adjustment buckles could give some with hand and dexterity issues a few problems. But not to worry. I came up with the perfect solution with a little how-to segment entitled, Make a Ridgerunner Adjustment Key. This easy to make and attach tool will make adjustment of the Ridgerunner a breeze, while adding less than 3 grams to the weight.

Hammocks are one of the lightest and easiest ways to access the backcountry. So I am greatly indebted to the folks at Warbonnet Outdoors for helping to returning this wonderful freedom to me.




 Check out these other great links from
THE DISABLED HIKER.

The Disabled Hiker on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kjY2wAfE8uq_1gwYihVog

The Disabled Hiker on G+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114850936977149697861/posts

Terry Craig on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/user/terzhc

The Disabled Hiker on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/175962465784239/

The Disabled Hiker on Twitter
https://twitter.com/TheDisabledHike

The Disabled Hiker on  Instagram
https://instagram.com/the_disabled_hiker/

The Disabled Hiker on Pinterest
http://www.pinterest.com/disabledhiker/

The Disabled Hiker on ReverbNation (music)
http://www.reverbnation.com/terrycraig?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav

The Disabled Hiker on SoundCloud (music)
https://soundcloud.com/terry-craig-2