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Courageous Compass

Whether seeking a new experience or learning a different approach to
light weight backpacking, Courageous Compass shares the journey of a
beginner backpacker establishing techniques to limit bodily pain .

A Beginner Backpackers Journey

Food / Gear / Trails

What worked for me & what didn’t. Focus on Nutrition, gear, trails and what worked to elevate pain or trigger pain.

Camping Meals

Here I will share my experience of the kitchenware, camping meals, snacks, and other nutrition options I used.

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Gear

On my journeys I will share gear I used, how I managed carrying weight, what worked & didn’t and why.

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Destinations & Trails

Where I go, distance hiked, trail difficulty, the season & weather experienced, and how it all interplayed with pain levels will be shared.

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ENJOY NATURE WITH A PERFECT MINDSET

” Why do you go away?

So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as Never leaving.”

~ Terry Pratchett

“It had nothing to do with gear or footwear or the backpacking fads or philosophies of any particular era or even getting from point A to point B. It had to do with how it felt to be in the wild.”

Cheryl Strayed

Recent Posts – Courageous Compass

    • What’s the story?

    Have you ever had a long term injury that took away from the life style you had?

    or

    Do you have an interest in backpacking and not sure how to go about it?

    or

    Just curious?

    Then join me on my Journey!

    Looking at ways of staying fit, I was active as a woman in my early 40’s.

    I enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, fishing, photography (not on a professional means, by any way) & nature. Our family did annual 7 day trips to the Boundary Waters which included portages, amongst other activities.

    The activities I pursued?

    • Involved in karate, earned up to 2nd degree Black Belt
    • Circuit training 2 -4x a wk.
    • yoga 3 – 5x a wk.
    • running, 1 mile 2-4x wk.
    • Kickboxing 1-2x a week

    So What Happened?

    Over a period of time I started having some mild pain in my hips, making it difficult to do some things like Lunges. Then there was the big trip! It was in August of 2020, we took 4 days out to the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee. One of the Day hikes was Mount LeCounte. The Next day it hit me, shuffling feet when walking, pain going up and down stairs, pain walking up slopes, sitting or standing too long. This Took me out of all my activities and changed my lifestyle. It was over three years until I started recovery.

    Year 1, starting August 2020 – 21

    • Stopped activities
    • Seen a Doctor
    • Cortisone injections
    • Physical Therapy
    • X-ray
    • Seen a Chiropractor
    • MRI’s – both hips, lower back.
    • Referred to hip specialist
    • Repeated injections & PT

    Cortisone shots didn’t work, Physical Therapy the first time resulted in increasing pain, second time, no change. MRI’s showed Herniated Bulging disks, Miniscule tears in the Gluteus Medius and Gluteus Minimus, Bi-lateral Trochanteric bursitis, Ischial Bursitis. Pain started going down left leg.

    Year 2

    • Decided to try acupuncture
    • Seen surgical & non-surgical spine specialists
    • Researched options to heal hip pain.

    Acupuncture did not cure the pain but definitely, temporarily, elevated the pain. No issues with my spine surgically. Non-surgical specialist started a program to help me, slowly build muscle in the hips. Researching I learned about Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. From here I questioned the PRP therapy to my non-surgical specialist whom directed me on how to reach a specialist that would do that type of therapy.

    Year 3

    • Orthopedic Specialist
    • Tenex Health TX Procedures
    • Physical Therapy 

    Want to know a Secret?

    The Tenex Health TX Procedures Worked! Ok, jumping through some hoops, I was directed to an Orthopedic Specialist. This was Amazing! Not only did this Doctor analyze my charts before seeing me, he explained he could fix me! We discussed options and that is when I was educated on the Tenex procedure. I had one hip done May 2023 with the second hip done one month later in June 2023, followed by Physical Therapy. From this point on it was stressed to build muscle and as I age to keep muscle. I started my own circuit training program with recommended exercises and took baby steps with it. I had to make sure I did not feel any strain of any sort. If I did, I dialed it back.

    By February 2024

    I was back in kickboxing, with modifications, 1 to 2x a week. Feeling stronger and less pain by the week!

    By May 2024

    I was Back in Karate, with modifications, now in August of 2024, I’d say I’m Healed! My hips do get stiff after sitting, nothing I can’t shake off!. The Ischial Bursitis does restrict some movement, but not bad..

    Here I decided I’m taking my life Back, I want to be outdoors, Boundary Waters 1x a year wasn’t enough! So Backpacking it is! As a beginner backpacker I have no clue what I’m getting into! I have Never done anything more than carry a Duluth bag from a canoe through portages and  to a camp site. Here I’ll share my adventures, distance hiked, gear, food, what I works for me, what didn’t and why. With Smiles I hope my journey can help you if not entertain you!