Adventure Pam

Adventure Pam's ACL Allograft Surgery

2010-08-09T01:23:00.000-07:00

Hey Peeps, I finally got my knee did, and here's the pics and vids to prove it. If you're one of the squeamish types, I don't blame you if you don't want to look at this. I'm usually a big puss about the insides of a human, but this time, my fascination won over my queasiness. Hopefully, this will be an educational tool for you as well, and you never get yourself in a situation where you'll have to have surgery.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, My ACL Injury and How You Can Prevent One, I completely tore my Anterior Cruciate Ligament on my left knee, and I decided to get the Allograft procedure. Below, are stills of the surgery performed by Dr. Bert Mandelbaum at the Surgery Center of the Pacific.

Unfortunately, on my trip to Brazilian Amazon, I foolishly hurried down the stairs of the Jungle Lodge with my camera, not holding onto the railing, to take a picture of the fried piranhas that my group caught before everyone started eating them, and my knee gave way. I fell down the remaining steps, and the pain was so excruciating, that I knew that it had to be more than just my bones grinding together. The day of the surgery, the Dr. told me that I did indeed tear a meniscus, and you can see how he cleaned it up, and smoothed it out in this group of stills, and in the following video.

Menisci in images 003, 004, 007, and 008

Action shot of biodegradable screw being placed in 009 and Superhero Olympian cadaver ACL in 010

Video of my surgery

I decided to rent a physical therapy machine that was highly recommended by my surgeon, and here's a demonstration of how the Game Ready Accelerated Recovery System works:

Here's a pic of the only fried piranhas left after my fall down the Jungle lodge stairs:

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Thanks to Dr. Bert Mandlebaum of the Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group, and all the folks at the Surgery Center of the Pacific who made my surgery virtually painless. Shout out to my anesthesiologist who didn't judge when I told her how much I drank in Rio, and gave me the perfect amount of drugs. Thanks to Rudy from Team Post-Op, Inc. and Ortho Xpress for his excellent demonstration for the crazy, overpriced physical therapy rental I'm using. Kobe Bryant and I only have bad knees in common, not paycheck size. *sigh*

Top 5 Adventure Travel Sources in Los Angeles

2010-07-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

If you're planning an adventurous vacay and don't have the time to hit 50 different stores to get what you need, look no further - because here's a handy list for reference!

My first stop in Brazil will be the Amazon, where I'll face the challenge of UV rays, heat, biting disease-bearing insects, and other nasty bugs that cause unpleasant and frequent 200s. I visited the following to minimize my risk:

1. TRAVEL MEDICINE AND IMMUNIZATION CENTER
Your health is #1, so the Dr. should be your first stop, at least a month before your trip. Some countries require a certificate (the little yellow card) showing that you've had the proper immunizations. Visiting a travel doctor instead of your primary care physician before a trip, allows you the benefit of a specialist that can assist you with the necessary vaccinations and health precautions, and can possibly save you money as well. Dr. Terri Rock in Santa Monica is certified by the International Society of Travel Medicine and the American Society of Tropical Medicine, and is also an avid traveler that volunteers her medical services in exotic locales to help those in need. She exceeded my expectations, and provided me with practical suggestions for traveling in tropics, which leads me to #1a...

1a. TRAVMED.COM
My travel physician turned me on to this Travel Medicine website. Since it's a website, it's not really a Los Angeles source, so it's not in my top 5 count, hence the 1a. They have good prices on Permethrin clothing treatment, insect repellent, and ceralyte glucose-based rehydration formula (just in case). If you enter the preferred pricing code trav10, you get 10% off your order.

2. TRAVELER'S BOOKCASE
This is the perfect shop to score phrasebooks and travel guides. There's a nice kids selection; and it's a great place to buy a gift for your favorite armchair traveler. A friendly staff member special-ordered a map of the Brazilian Amazon for me because they didn't have one in stock, and it took less than a week to arrive.

3. MAGELLAN'S
At first glance, I thought this store was geared towards someone like my mom about to take a luxury cruise. Well, that's not entirely an inaccurate assumption since they did have plenty of apparel that my mom would be thrilled to wear, however, this shop makes my list because of the expertise of the staff, selection of traveler gadgets and accessories, and some sun and insect protective garments they had on sale. There are 2 store locations - Santa Monica and Santa Barbara.

4. ADVENTURE 16
I credit Adventure 16 as the store that got me hooked on adventure. I remember the first time I wandered in the store and saw all the climbing gear and ropes on display and thought, "I want to be the kind of person that needs to buy that..." Not only does Adventure 16 carry products you'd be hard-pressed to find at other stores, but the staff is very knowledgeable, and has a passion for outdoor sports. Standing in line at checkout, staff members inquire, "So where are you going on your trip?" and you'll hear a conversation about the lemurs in Madagascar or climbing in Africa. Check their website for clinics they host with adventure travel experts, and plan your next trip. Right now there's a sale on ExOfficio clothing, which I took advantage of.

5. REI
I shopped REI at the end of the day, saving the best for last. Yes, I've lectured at a bunch of locations, but that's not the reason I say this; it's because this store has the perfect combination of intelligent, personable customer service with gear and clothing for all income levels. REI has their own brand which tends to be less expensive, but comparable quality to other higher-end brands. I had a fantastic selection of mosquito nets to choose from, including ones in my price range (the Defender brand happened to be on sale) so I didn't have to be stuck with that dorky mosquito head-net as the only thing I could afford. Best thing about REI, the friendly sales gent said I could return my Buff headband I bought a couple years ago and exchange it for one with Insect Shield, which will be a huge help in the jungle. If you are an REI member, they can locate your purchases in the system, and it's as good as a receipt.

HONORABLE MENTION - BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS
I stopped in Big 5, which is known for their inexpensive clothing and sports equipment selection. I checked to see if they carried mosquito nets since they carry hunting licenses and equipment, and the only thing they carried was that stupid head net. I was about to leave, when I noticed they had a decent selection of compact binoculars, perfect for wildlife viewing while on an Amazon riverboat, on sale for $10. A staff member assisted me, and proceeded to go through the merits of every binocular, including the ruby-coated lenses feature, which are, "great for spying on your neighbors so they can't see the reflection of your lenses. Just kidding. They're really used for hunting, so the deer can't see you." Funny.
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Dr. Terri Rock Travel Medicine & Immunization Center 2021 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 335 E, Santa Monica, CA 90404, 310-829-7625
Travel Medicine at http://travmed.com/
Traveler's Bookcase - 8375 West 3rd. St., LA, CA 90048, 323-655-0575
Magellan's - 1006 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-394-9417
Adventure 16 - 11161 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064, 310-473-4574 or visit http://www.adventure16.com/ for additional locations
REI - 402 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401, 310-458-4370 or visit rei.com for additional locations
Big 5 Sporting Goods - 3121 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 310-453-1747 or visit http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/ for additional locations

My ACL Injury and How You Can Prevent One Yourself

2010-06-30T03:22:00.000-07:00

In the middle of May, I was monkeying around with hip throws at the end of my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, when I collapsed mid-throw, and felt an awful tearing sensation, like ripping open velco.

Yes it hurt, but not bad enough for a visit to the ER.. Instead, I drove myself home, and upon exiting the car, my knee gave way painfully, so I knew this injury had to be a bad one.

My Dr. checked me out and said, "What we don't want it to be is your ACL." I was convinced it was my meniscus, which I believed I had hurt in the past.

The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) revealed a different story; that I had a complete tear of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, which would require surgery if I wanted to continue my athletic lifestyle, and a long, grueling rehabilitation program for 6-8 months, which also meant no more Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I cried like a baby, believing that I ruined myself; I wouldn't be able to compete or train, and would gain 500 lbs., while all my classmates surpassed me by the time I finally got well enough to train again.

My blubbering may have made my Doc uncomfortable, "Wow. People cry less when I tell them they have cancer." Luckily, he referred me to a superstar orthopedic surgeon that doubles as the physician for the U.S. Men's Soccer team.

ACL injuries are very common in sports that utilize any kind of pivoting or lateral motion, and that's why you see so many in basketball, soccer, volleyball, skiing, and martial arts.

The ACL is a band of tissue that prevents the tibia from moving past the femur, which is why the knee "gives way" when torn. Some people decide to not seek surgery, and instead attend rehab, and perhaps wear a custom ACL brace.

Two popular types of ACL reconstruction are the Autograft Patellar Tendon, where a 10-11mm center portion of the patellar tendon is removed with bone blocks on either side, and the Allograft Patellar Tendon, which is the utilization of cadaver donor tissue.

I began prehab (pre-surgical rehabilitation exercise) with a physical therapist before my surgery in August. Studies show that prehab improves healing and flexibility post-op, and prevents weakness and muscle atrophy pre-op.

The exercises that I'm doing now, such as hamstring, quad, hip and core strengthening, are also recommended to prevent injuries like mine. "Don't you be like me!" I've enclosed diagrams of routines that my physical therapist has me do on my own at least 3 times a week. You can try these out in the privacy of your own home, and the only thing you'll need is a resistance band, and a stool or step. When I get new handouts, I will update this page and post them.

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Picture Credits: MRI -Landmark Imaging; Knee Anatomy-Dr. Bert Mandelbaum and Santa Monica Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Group; Routine For Pamela Keller-Westside Health Center Physical Therapy

When You Visit Monterey, Stay in Marina

2009-12-13T16:32:00.000-08:00

When I gave my Everest Base Camp trek lectures at several NOCAL REIs, in August, I discovered the lovely Sanctuary Beach Resort
in Marina, CA.

The nearby Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular tourist destination with the Secret Lives of Seahorses as the newest special exhibition. From the resort, it's only 10 minutes away.

This resort is comprised of individual cabins on a protected beach, with sand dune or ocean views. Every room comes with its own private golf cart to minimize dune damage, and binoculars to spot the barking sea lions from your porch.

I stayed in the Deluxe 612, and was told that 612 and 613 were the best and most private rooms. The resort has a 2 Night Romance Package where you're greeted with a welcome bottle of champagne and scattered rose petals, but since I was traveling solo for one night only, I thought that might be a little awkward.

The room has complimentary L'Occitane bath products, and a classy mini bar with local chardonnay and artichoke salsa with fancy tortilla chips. Since my room had a fireplace and wine glass-sized shelf next to the bed, finding a great bottle of wine was a must.

It's a short drive to Moss Landing, and I stopped at The Whole Enchilada Marketplace which has a decent selection of local wines as well as tasty deli sandwiches I highly recommend, such as the Powerplant, a delightful tri-tip with chipotle mayo, and the chicken sandwich El Clucko with roasted red peppers and avocado on ciabatta bread.

Marina Dunes Preserve

After cruising to the Marina State Beach on my golf cart, I learned all about the fragile California sand dune ecosystem. Sand dunes are compacted soil that take thousands of years to form. In 20 years, the dunes have eroded more than 50 feet due to foot traffic, dune buggy vehicles and dogs.

The dunes have three different habitats - the Fore, Mid, and the Back Dune.

The Fore Dune houses the heartiest of the plant and animal species that can survive strong winds and salt spray like the snowy plover.

A creature found in the Mid Dune sheltered by avian predators is - the black legless lizard. (I'm still not sure why they just don't call it a snake.)

The Back Dune is where the most fragile species can be found such as the Coast Buckwheat, Smith's Blue Butterfly and Menzie's Wallflower. These species depend on the dunes to protect them against sea spray and wind.

Hangliding and the Coastal Condors

One sign stood out more than all that other stuff - "Hanglider Set-up & Landing Area". I hopped up on the Glider Launch Ramp and knew I had to find a way to do this. I spotted another sign that said "Home of the Coastal Condors Hangliding & Paragliding Club".

Luckily, I was able to contact the President of this hangliding/paragliding club - Dennis Bowman, and unfortunately, classes are no longer offered at the site, so I knew I'd have to search elsewhere for lessons.

Dennis explained that hangliding at the Marina State beach is a unique and thrilling experience. The rising air holds up the glider, and the ocean winds strike the dune and create a wave of rising air. The steeper the sand dune, the better the lift.

We spoke about the beach erosion, and he told me that the club has an unique relationship with the park service, and that the Rangers couldn't be happier to have the gliders at the beach, mostly because of the enormous steps the club takes to preserve the Dunes. The Association installed plastic fencing to deter foot traffic, and built wooden barriers to block the wind. The club most recently planted over 1,000 native plant species to stabilize the blowing sand.

Talking to Dennis got me pumped about hangliding. He told me that when he pilots his glider in the Sierras, it's a whole different experience. He flies with a GPS so he knows where the heck he's going, and a lightweight oxygen tank for the higher elevations. Just like climbing a mountain, a pilot is subject to hypoxia or altitude sickness, and some pilots fly as high as 18,000 feet. (A hanglider is considered aircraft, and there are FAA regulations that prohibit you from flying above 18,000 ft.)

Dennis glides with a ham radio, with a speaker and mic inside his helmet so that he can communicate with the truck on the ground when he's ready to land. One of the biggest challenges is landing in unfamiliar territory, where you might not see the barbed wire until it's too late. How exciting!

I was hooked, and he was kind enough to direct me to one of the oldest and most respected schools in the country. Stay tuned for my LA Hangliding Adventure...

Oh yeah, Marina, CA -
This Holiday season, there's a shindig at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for New Year's, and last time I checked, there are still rooms available at the Sanctuary Beach Resort. Let me know if you go.

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The Sanctuary Beach Resort - 3295 Dunes Drive, Marina, CA 93933 (877)944-3863 Click here for the Secret Sand Lovers Promo available online only. Hurry and book for New Year's before it's sold out!

The Whole Enchilada Marketplace - 7990 A Highway 1, Moss Landing, CA 95039 (831)632-2628

The Monterey Bay Aquarium - New Year's Eve Party- Silver Fishes & New Year Wishes 12/31, 9PM-1AM, 886 Cannery Row, Monterey, CA 93940 (866)963-9645
Coastal Condors - Marina, CA http://coastalcondors.org/

LA Weekend Adventure: An Equestrian Evening in Griffith Park

2009-05-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

"Some trails are happy ones, others are blue. It's the way you ride the trail that counts, Here's a happy one for you." - Happy Trails - Roy Rogers Show

There is a magical ranch here in Los Angeles where you can ride horses in the Santa Monica Mountains without breaking the bank, and that's at the Sunset Ranch Hollywood.

I recently celebrated my b-day by taking the Dinner Ride to Viva Fresh. It's 4+ hours round trip, which I think gives you the most bang for your buck. With this tour, you will have two completely, different experiences since you begin the ride in the light of day, with views of the Hollywood sign and Santa Monica Mountains, and on the way back, it's a nice, quiet jaunt through the dark woods. (Don't worry about it being too dark; there's plenty of light pollution in L.A. to keep you company.)

Our guide said his favorite expedition the ranch offers is the Saturday Night Sunset BBQ, which I didn't choose because it's 2 hours less of riding. He argued, "But most things are two hours. Movies are two hours. You go out to dinner for two hours. Two hours is plenty of time to ride." He said the BBQ that the Ranch hosts has great food, and made me promise to give that trip a whirl.

I'm sure it's fantastic, but I must tell you, it's also pretty cool to mosey up to a Mexican restaurant, park your horse, go inside, and eat.

Our guide told us to avoid all things "Grande", since you're expected to ride your horse back with no complications. There's a one-drink-maximum policy, so my friends and I ordered the "Grande Margaritas" to make that one drink count. It was my birthday, after all. It was an obscenely large glass filled with very little alcohol, and lots of margarita mix, which makes me wonder what kind of deal they have going on with the Ranch. I'm sure their guides don't want to hear drunken versions of "Happy Trails" sung to them on the way back.

The best thing about our guide, was the information he shared with us. He told us a bit about Griffith Park, "the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States", and the critters contained within it. I made him promise to show us all the woodland creatures he spoke of, and he stepped up to the plate by presenting us with a rattlesnake, multiple deer, and a few howling coyotes. No pressure, but next time I want to see owls and Bigfoot.

Curb Your Dog

Our guide said that the tiny coyotes you see inhabiting the park have a low-life expectancy of two years, and blames the people that don't pick up after their dogs. Of course, I had to do some research, and I discovered that doggy poo isn't like horse waste that's filled with grass and grain. Canine doo-doo contains protozoans such as cryptosporidium, roundworms, heartworms, tapeworms, nasty bacteria that can cause campylobacteriosis, and the deadly parvovirus, also known as "the virus that killed Oprah's dog".

Coyotes are awesome, and it's in our best interest to protect them, especially since they eat rodents, and keep the mid-size predators in check. So pick up your dog crap, everybody! Don't just shmoosh it around with a stick when you're hiking, and leave it there. Pick it up, and dispose of it properly.

Wild Horse Rescue

Another great thing about the Ranch, is how they get their horses. Some of their animals are acquired from rescue organizations that work with the Bureau of Land Management and the National Wild Horse and Burro Program.

To maintain healthy horse herds, the BLM rounds up thousands of wild horses and burros and auctions them off to humane individuals and groups. One such group is the Warm Springs Correctional Facility's Wild Horse Program in Carson City, NV, where the prisoners train the wild BLM horses before being put up for adoption. The horses auctioned are green broke, which means they've had up to 120 days training by the prisoners, but more training is needed after adoption. I joke around about going to jail, "Hey, 3 hots and a cot," but now I'm seriously considering breaking the law if I can pet and train horses all day long.

PMU Rescue Horses

The Ranch recently purchased a PMU horse procured by the United Pegasus Foundation which rescues the offspring of Premarin mares. Premarin is a drug obtained from the urine of a pregnant mare (usually a draft horse, because of their size, produce more urine), normally prescribed as a hormone replacement for women.

After the mares give birth, the foals can be sold by the pound to meatpackers for consumption to those countries that don't have a horsemeat taboo. The UPF rescues pregnant mares and their foals from slaughter.

The good news is there are organizations out there making a difference, and like our guide said, "You rescue dogs from a pound to take home, why not rescue horses?"

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Get $5 off any guided trip by dropping my name "Adventure Pam". Sunset Ranch Hollywood 3400 N. Beachwood Dr., Hollywood, CA 90068 (323)469-5450 http://www.sunsetranchhollywood.com/

There's another Saddle Horse Adoption event coming up on Saturday, May 30th, and the bidding starts at $150 for all the lovely horses. To see if you meet the qualifications and for more information, click here to download a PDF.

Photo of "Chief" - the handsome Appaloosa I rode, courtesy of Sunset Ranch Hollywood

LA Weekend Adventure: Mountain Biking in Sullivan Canyon

2009-05-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

"Either ride or die - that's why I put it down for the Westside." - Westside - TQ

Looking for a leisurely mountain bike path through a shady forest glen without breaking your neck on boulders, and huffing and puffing up steep inclines? Check out this Palisades trail on the West Side, and you too can experience the joy that is Sullivan Canyon.

The trail has a gentle slope up, and you don't have to get off and walk your bike every 10 minutes, or carry it over slippery rocks through a rushing river.

Despite the gradual incline up, the downhill is substantial enough for a thrilling ride back.

On the way down, I was hopping rocks and tree roots, and dodging low-lying branches, all successfully. I got cocky, and misjudged a section of gravel and slipped. I left behind some skin from my left arm and leg when I skid across the ground.

Two guys stopped to ask if I was OK, and as I emptied my Nalgene on my wounds, I said shakily, "Oh I'm fine. It's all part of the game." Don't know what game I was playing exactly. Perhaps the one where I think I'm impervious to danger.

The challenge about the outdoors is that sometimes you're in an area where there's no running water, and that can make it harder to irrigate a wound. I am so glad I had with me a product called InstaCloth. It's a tiny, ultralight, tablet that becomes a cloth with a splash of water. Not only is it handy because of its lightweight properties, but it's also desirable in certain circumstances because there aren't any weird additives on it. Sometimes you just want a plain cloth to wipe away the dirt and pebbles embedded in your skin, and I'm grateful that I happened to have it with me when I took a spill.

Before you ride:

The importance of getting a bike tune-up

Just like a car, your bike needs to be road-worthy for safety. Your cables have to be well-lubricated, your tires properly inflated, and your brakes have to function properly. My buddies at Helen's Cycles Santa Monica will give you a proper tune-up with a 15% discount if you ask for the manager Tony, and tell them that Adventure Pam sent you.

Mountain Biking Etiquette

Bikers share the trails with hikers, families, dogs and horses. There are a few rules bikers should follow to avoid injury, and to exercise common courtesy. A hiker's or equestrian's angry letter can cause us to lose access to trails if we don't follow these simple guidelines:

Buy a bell and use it. Before turns or passing others, a bell is a good way to alert hikers and fellow bikers to your presence.
Don't speed around blind turns. The last time I was on this trail, two cyclists almost smacked into me head-on. Slow down and announce yourself. I know it's fun to ride downhill really fast, so do the trail early in the morning when there's very little traffic, and you won't have to stop and start as much on the way down. I have squeaky breaks, so everyone knows when I'm approaching. (I need a tune-up.)
When passing a hiker or a slower biker, announce your intention by shouting, "On your left!" so that they move out of the way. If you are biking with a group, let the person know by saying, "2 more people behind me, etc." Uphill has the right-of-way, and if a trail is too narrow to pass, you must yield to the hiker.
Yield to horses when approaching them from the front. Horses are prey animals, and quick-approaching bicyclist may elicit a flight-or-fight response from the animal. It's best to start talking to the rider when you see a horse, and get off your bike to let them pass. You cannot predict if the horse has been socialized to bicycles, and you won't know the skill of the rider. If you are coming up behind a horse, use your bell, but also use your voice. Horses will recognize a human voice, and will know you're not a mountain lion coming up quickly behind them. Once you've announced your presence to the equestrian, they may tell you how you should pass. When in doubt, walk your bike past the horse.
Dogs can be tricky, especially if they are off-leash. On this trail, a yappy bichon frise started chasing me on the bike, so I clonked my head on a low-lying tree branch while trying to avoid it. When you see a dog, reduce speed, and be prepared to walk your bike. Some owners don't have very good control of their dog, so you want to make sure that you're in control of your bike to prevent a collision with Fluffy.
Toddlers are unpredictable, and unaware of danger. They may chase you, or try to touch the bike, or even plop right down in front of you. Unfortunately, parents are also unpredictable. How many times on the boardwalk in Venice, have you seen a parent holding their bundle of joy wander onto the bike path, facing the other direction, totally oblivious to others around them? The best thing to do is to slow down, ring that bell, and announce your presence. Pedestrians always have the right-of-way, and if you hit them, you will be the one at fault, no matter how careless they are, (or how much ganja they've inhaled while hanging out in Venice.)
Don't ride off-trail, on private property, or on trails closed to cyclists. Cutting switchbacks contributes to erosion, and jacks up vegetation. When you're done with your ride, you want to depart as if you were never there, and leave no trace. You know the drill, "take only pictures, leave only footprints," yadda yadda...

How to get there

(Lat: 34.07368 Lon: 118.50688)

From Sunset Blvd., turn onto Mandeville Canyon Road. Turn left on Westridge, left on Bayliss, then left on Queensferry Road. Parking is limited in this upscale residential neighborhood; watch the signs. Enter trail by a big green gate next to the estate with animal statues.

Check out my Sparkpeople Fitness Map of the route, and have fun!

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The same company that sells CommuteMate Instacloth offers a 15% discount on all non-sale items with the coupon code "PAM". Click here to visit the site.

Tony at Helen's Cycles is offering a special discount to my readers of 15% off all purchases, including bike tune-ups, at the Santa Monica location. Ask for the manager Tony, and tell him that Adventure Pam sent you to get a discount: Helen's Cycles Santa Monica, 2501 Broadway Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404 - (310)829-1836

Get up, Come On, Get Down With the Sickness - The Skinny on Staph Infections and How to Avoid Them

2009-05-11T00:44:00.000-07:00

The Skinny on Staph

The other day, I was about to meet my friend at the gym for a little BJJ action, when she canceled due to a staph infection.

I didn't know what the heck she was talking about, and thought it was the most creative, LA flake excuse I'd heard yet.

Unfortunately, my friend wasn't flaking, and what she first thought was an innocent, adult acne breakout, turned out to something more painful and irritating, which (understandably) ticked her off.

She told me that someone probably didn't remove his shoes on the mats, ("those dirty boys with their dirty shoes!") or came to class with the contagious infection, thinking that covering it with a bandage wouldn't hurt anyone, instead of staying home.

Luckily, my friend contracted a strain of staph that was easily treated with antibiotics, and passed along helpful information, instead of passing along the bacteria to her classmates. She informed the higher ups at her martial arts school, which compelled them to thoroughly scrub down all equipment and mats, and re-evaluate their hygienic practices.

Phew! Guess I'm not the paranoid hypochondriac I thought I was, since I always grab the mat from the bottom of the pile at my gym. (There are classes back-to-back, and no one cleans those puppies in between. I don't want to lie on someone else's sweat. Raise your hand if ewww!)

Are you at risk of getting staph?

Depending on your sport, you may be walking around with cuts and abrasions from your most recent mountain biking accident, or poison oak from canyoneering, which is a wide-open invitation for infection. Hey, but don't let a fear of deadly microbes be an excuse to not to exercise, and sit on the couch and eat a pint of Haagen-Dazs instead.

Believe me, I know how tempting that is. After watching the horrifying Oprah episode with the woman that lost her half her upper body to a flesh-eating streptococcus, after cutting her finger slicing celery, I considered becoming one of those scary survivalists that shun all mankind and go to bed wearing a gas mask every night.

Man, those little microbes are terrifying if you focus on the worst case scenario. However, the truth is, it's common for Staphylococcus Aureus to harmlessly hang out in your nose, or on your skin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that "approximately 30% of people have staph in their noses, and do not have any symptoms". Sometimes, it enters through surface cuts and abrasions, or mucus membranes, causing infections, like MRSA.

MRSA or Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus sounds scary with that "cillin resistant" part in the name. Common antibiotics such as penicillin, amoxicillin and methicillin don't kill it, and MRSA may spread to the internal organs or systems, cause pneumonia or even death. However, "almost all MRSA skin infections can be effectively treated in the outpatient setting by drainage of the pus by a healthcare provide, with or without antibiotics", cites the CDC. Although it's rare for healthy people to contract it from a community setting such as a fitness club, it can and does happen. Mmmm, ice cream and TV... Just kidding!

Now I'm completely paranoid. How can I protect myself from staph infections in the gym and beyond?

I think of that woman that got sick after chopping celery, and how it seems as if she did everything right. She washed the wound with alcohol, and covered it with a bandage. Maybe if she would have applied a first aid antiseptic, she would have been OK?

There's a fabulous product by the makers of Technu called StaphASeptic. It's an antiseptic and pain relieving gel that kills 99.9% of antibiotic resistant staph such as MRSA. Stuff a packet in your gym bag, purse, and 1st Aid Kit. It's easy to stash in your backpack along with your 10 essentials before a hike, and I'll be bringing it next time I go mountain biking. This is replacing Neosporin in my medicine cabinet.
Just like everything else, proper handwashing is always recommended to avoid illness. In another fantastic book by the Mountaineers, "Don't Get Sick", is a section that accurately describes the proper way to wash hands in an eight-step process:

Wet hands with hot, flowing water (100-120F)
Soap up until a good lather is attained. (Do not use anti-bacterial soap!)
Work the lather all over the surface of the hand, concentrating on fingernails and tips. Perform 30 seconds to 1 minute of active scrubbing.
Clean under fingernails.
Rinse thoroughly with hot water (very important!)
Resoap and relather.
Rerinse.
Dry hands (very important!)

I know that seems OCD, but you'll be practically ready to perform surgery after that 8 step process.

The book also emphasizes the importance of moisturizers for your hands to have proper hand-health, and minimize chapped or cracked skin. Proper hand hygiene is a must while hiking in the back country.

It's a good idea to wash hands before and after using weight equipment.

Alcohol-based sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content, with added moisturizers should be used if running water isn't available to wash hands.
When you go to the gym, bring your own mat, or use a clean towel as a barrier between your skin and the mat.
Use a towel on weight benches and other exercise equipment. Wiping down after you've finished is a common courtesy I wish more people followed.
Avoid jacuzzis and hot tubs when you have open abrasions or poison oak.
Don't share towels, and wash your towel and gym clothes before re-using. Don't share bar soap, use liquid.
Shower as soon as possible after your workout, and wear flip-flops if it's at the gym.
Talk to the manager at your fitness club. Ask how often they clean the mats in the grappling room, and the communal equipment. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a downloadable PDF with recommendations for gyms to clean mats, equipment, and restrooms to avoid staph and other nasty microbes.

How do I know if I have a staph infection or MRSA?

Most people complain of a painful spider bite, or a pimple. The CDC has some lovely pictures of MRSA for reference. If you have a questionable skin condition that worsens, or is accompanied by a fever, seek medical attention.

For more info about MRSA among Athletes, visit the CDC FAQs.

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My buddies at Tech Laboratories, Inc. are offering a special discount of $3 off of StaphAseptic by entering the promo code ADVPAM through May 15th. Click here to purchase.

Deadly bacteria don't have to be scary when there's cuddly plush versions for sale! Check out Giant Microbes, and buy an adorable Staph toy (pictured above). They're perfect for health educators and elementary school teachers.

LA Weekend Adventures - The Glorious West Side Waterfalls

2009-04-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

"Comin' from the West Side, West Side. Nuttin but the West Side. It's hittin on the West Side. Fool, you know how we do it." - Ice Cube

This is the post is part of a series I'm writing about local Los Angeles Weekend Adventures.

Escondido Canyon - Malibu

There are a ton of waterfalls in the San Gabriel Mountains where we go canyoneering, but I think this very lovely, droopy, moss-covered waterfall on the West Side is the prettiest I've seen (so far) in Los Angeles.

If you want to do a short, 2 hour-ish hike that involves some basic rock scrambling with a great visual payoff, then this is the hike for you! There are three distinct waterfall vistas; and after we've had rain, the upper falls are nothing short of spectacular.

What do you mean by "Rock Scrambling"?

When you're hiking and using your hands to climb for balance and support, you're rock scrambling. It's a great introduction to rock climbing, or "technical climbing", where equipment such as harnesses, ropes and hardware may be used for your ascent.

Some basics to remember:

Be courteous - This is a popular trail, so there are many different types of people with different abilities. Share the trail. When going downhill, the uphill hikers have the right of way.
Read the terrain and tread lightly - There will be loose rocks, or scree that could be kicked out from under you, and fall on an unsuspecting hiker's head. Test the rocks before applying your weight to avoid dislodging them. If you've kicked a rock free, yell "Rock!" loudly to alert the people below you. If someone above you dislodged a rock, and you hear it tumbling down, yell "Rock!" and protect yourself by ducking and covering your head with your arms.
Use three points of contact - Always use three body "points" when scrambling, (both feet and one hand, or two hands and one foot should be on the rock at all times) for better stability, and to distribute your weight evenly.
Wear proper clothing - Longsleeves and long pants protect you from poison oak, and a good boot, or sticky approach shoe will help you navigate the terrain much easier than sport sandals, tennis shoes, or flip-flops.
Bring lots of water - and drink it. Hydration is very important, especially as temperatures rise.

The turnback point is at the base of the lower falls for those who don't want to scramble.

Unique Wildlife

I've heard rumors that there are giant, red salamanders that hang out in the lower falls, but every time I've gone, I've never seen any.

Evil Plantlife

Where there is water, there is usually poison oak, so be careful and avoid contact. I tested out Ivy Block the last time I hiked this, wearing a spaghetti-strap tank top, and only ended up with a smattering of it on one arm. Buy it if you are like me, and get poison oak just by looking at it. See my blog about poison oak.

How to Get There

(Lat: 34.0258 Lon: 118.78376)

Off of the Pacific Coast Highway 1 in Malibu, turn on Winding Way, where you will see a sign to a parking area, and a small, brown building that disappointingly, doesn't have bathrooms. You do not need an Adventure Pass to park.

Follow the road through the upscale development for about a mile, past the brown park sign, to the grassy trailhead leading down on the left.

While hiking through the canyon, you will cross a creek several times until you reach the lower falls. This is a good place to look for salamanders before you continue upwards on the scramble portion of the trail on the right.

The trail veers left, and descends slightly, where you will cross some boulders, and encounter the middle tier of cascading water (watch for poison oak!) If you don't take the trail on the left and continue to scramble upwards, you will bypass the middle falls, and reach the upper falls.

I don't recommend hiking past the base of the upper falls. The trail is exposed, with a lack of good handholds.

Check out my Sparkpeople Fitness Map of the route, and have fun!

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Rock Scrambling Classes

Alpine Training Services is hosting the Joshua Tree Rock Climbing Festival May 9th and 10th, with beginner rock climbing clinics on Saturday, May 9th. Click here to register.

Another fantastic program I highly recommend is the Wilderness Travel Course offered by the Sierra Club. There is a basic introduction to scrambling and rock-climbing techniques that are taught on a weekend trip in Joshua Tree. The class also teaches you navigation, snow camping and travel techniques, such as ski pole self-arrest, and how to build an igloo (weather permitting). See video.

Eating Bugs On Purpose - Adventure in Entomophagy

2009-03-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

After a lengthy casting session yesterday, my director and I headed over to the restaurant Typhoon, within the Santa Monica Airport. It's a cool little place, where you can watch Turbo-Prop planes taxiing down the runway while enjoying delicious Pan Asian cuisine.

Since I've been fighting my sinus infection and bronchitis, I thought it would be a good idea to have some Thai-style spicy Tom Yam Kung soup to "clear out my nasal passages" as they say. It was a tasty soup, until I bit into what I thought was a green bean. Suddenly, tears and mascara were streaming down my face. I may have made a bit of a scene since our waiter rushed over and said, "I forgot to warn you about the Thai hot peppers..." I gulped my water and beer, sucked on a mushroom, and finally had to be given a glass of milk to extinguish the burning flames in my mouth. I'm a classy broad.

The best part about the meal, however was the appetizer of Taiwanese Crickets, which our waiter said was his favorite of their insect dishes. The stir-fried arthropods are served with skinny, shoestring potatoes and garlic, with hot chili sauce for dipping.

I wouldn't say this dish was particularly flavorful, and was definitely more pleasant than sipping red wine with a squirming roach in the glass, however it wasn't bad either. I'm now convinced that I can eat anything as long as it's fried.

Our waiter told me that ants are "naturally sour", and when they get a shipment of live crickets, they freeze them before cooking. I asked if the restaurant and Petco shared the same delivery truck, and he looked confused.

Eating insects is a Western social taboo, even though we end up chowing down on them anyway as they get in our bread, canned and processed food, and in certain beverages like apple cider (or tequila). Entomological gastronomist David Gracer believes that if more people consumed insects, instead of beef or fish, we could help the environment by getting all the protein that we need, minus the fat, methane gas, and destruction of habitat.

You laugh, you scoff, but this could be our future. Rampant overfishing, and with the room, housing and water requirements needed for animal husbandry, Gracer believes this is where we're headed. 95% of all the animal species on the planet are insects, which means we have approximately 10 quintillion insects buzzing, hopping or crawling around us, ready to be sauteed. This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "let's go eat some grub". Ba da bump *crash*.

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For more info: check out the grow-a-brain website on entomophagy with numerous recipes and color photos.

LA Weekend Adventure: Abandoned Nazi Commune!

2009-03-12T00:18:00.000-07:00

swas-ti-ka (Sanskrit svastikah, sign of good luck) conducive to well-being

Why do Nazis have to ruin everything?

The swastika is an ancient symbol used by the Hindus, Buddhists, Mayans, Hopis, Navajos, and many other cultures and religions. In countries like Nepal, the swastika is alive and well, and visible on everything from temples, yak bells, and cooking oil containers.

Hitler adopted the symbol that they called the Hakenkreuz or "hooked cross" in 1920 possibly from Schoenerer, an Austrian anti-Semitic politician, who most likely hijacked it from the Aryan people that settled in Iran and Northern India.

I did a report in high school about Tibet, back in the day when homework was all done by hand. My history professor was a WWII vet, and I hadn't yet learned how to exercise good judgement. For my assignment, I drew the Potala Palace and peppered it with Tibetan Buddhist symbols such as the swastika. The next day, I came to class and saw my project had been vandalized with red "x" marks on it and the word "Nazi" scrawled on my poster. I recognized the handwriting and asked my instructor why he wrote on my poster; insisting that the symbol was Buddhist, not Nazi. He denied his handiwork, and I realized not only that my teacher was a little bit cuckoo, but that I wasn't going to change his mind, and he would always see the swastika as a symbol of hatred instead of good luck.

Speaking of Nazis, have I got a LA adventure for you...

Beyond the affluent neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, deep in the Santa Monica Mountains of California, lie the remnants of a mysterious 50 acre parcel known as the Murphy Ranch.

In 1933, a mining fortune heiress named Winona Stephens, AKA "Jessie Murphy", who may or may not have had a husband named Norman, purchased the land from cowboy humorist Will Rogers. She then became enchanted with Herr Schmidt, an American Nazi with magical powers. He coaxed her into spending over $4 million to create a secluded complex where they and 50 others could ride out the war until the Third Reich was victorious.

Some of the buildings now in shambles were designed by Capitol Records Building architect Welton Becket. (I can't properly identify all the buildings, such as the old diesel power plant, bomb shelter and giant meat locker, but the 375,000 gallon concrete water tank and stables are easy to spot).

To complete his fascist Utopia, Herr Schmidt planned to create a 22-bedroom mansion with five libraries, a gym, workshop, pool, and several dining rooms, and consulted with the architects Frank Lloyd Wright and Paul Williams. Alas, it was never built.

The grounds were patrolled by armed guards called the Silver Shirts (the crazy commune version of Hitler's Brown Shirts), and the neighbors were frequently treated to nighttime military drills and gunfire.

As the story goes, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked, the collective was invaded by law enforcement officials. Despite the barbed, possibly electric fences and Silver Shirts patrolling the grounds, arrests were made, people were taken to interrogation camps, and Herr Schmidt was never heard from again.

After the Nazis disbanded, it became an artist's colony with artists such as Andrew Wyeth and author Henry Miller who may have lived there. In the '70s, there was a fire, and it was sold to Parks and Recreation. Now, it's part of Topanga State Park, which is awaiting the funds so it can be bulldozed over and made into a picnic area. The End.

There were several write-ups about this tale in the LA Times archives, so it has to be true, right?

How to get there -

Two and 1/2 ways to visit the Murphy Ranch

The Sissyboomer Way:

N: 34.06124 W:118.50330

You know when there's that much graffiti, it can't be a difficult place to get to. In fact, I defy you to find one inch of the main building without spray paint. I went today again and almost choked on the fumes.

Off of Sunset Blvd, East of Will Rogers State Park, take Capri to end. Park in the neighborhood, and check the signs. Hike up Capri, past the yellow Camp Josepho barrier until you see an goth iron Nazi-fence. There's a hole in the wall, and you can enter that way. Down the driveway, the trail forks; go left for the Murphy Ranch, or right for the Boyscout Camp Josepho.

More Challenging Way to the Ranch:

Lat:34.0545 Lon:118.51181

This route begins at the Will Rogers State Park, $6 parking

Trailhead behind visitor's center. Follow the Inspiration Point loop trail. Don't take the trail on the right up to the Inspiration Point "summit", but instead continue onto the Backbone Trail. After you cross a footbridge, hike less than a mile to a vague, bushy, unmarked trail on the right that drops steeply into the canyon. It's not very well maintained, and may resemble a rain ditch more than a trail, the farther you descend. This may be an ankle-twisting scramble back up in the darkness, so make sure you allow plenty of time while exploring the buildings. When you reach the canyon floor, you'll see a Backbone Trail marker. Turn right towards the barn (left goes to the Boyscout camp), and continue on the trail for more ruins. After you've finished, turn around and head back from whence you came.

Alternate Route:

I know the Sierra Club frowns upon car shuttles, but another option is to follow the Murphy Ranch's winding driveway to the top where the Iron Gate is, turn right on the paved road, and hike to another vehicle you've parked at the Capri trailhead. This will take you about 3 hours depending how long you loiter at the Ranch.

P.S. I don't recommend hiking beside the speeding traffic on Sunset back to Will Rogers like we did the 1st time. I kept insisting, "See, it IS a loop!"

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Check out the routes on Sparkpeople.com's Fitness Maps

Click here for the Sissyboomer route

Click here for the more challenging route

Cock the hammer, it's time for action!

2008-11-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

"Movin' em back, click-click goes the gun. Make 'em run boy, make 'em run boy, make 'em run..."

-Lil' Putos - Cypress Hill

This past Sunday rocked, yo. I first stopped at Ventura to check out the Channel Islands Visitor Center. The weather was pretty crappy, so there wasn't much of a view, but I did see taxidermied island foxes like my wildlife biologist friend was working with this summer on the Islands. There also was an elephant seal replica, and mammoth bones. Oh yeah, you heard me, there were pygmy mammoths on the Channel Islands back in the days of yore and yesteryear. Who knew?

I didn't dawdle because I had to drive to Oxnard for the Main Event.

OK, I know I might lose you here, but I must confess, shooting guns makes me deliriously happy.

Yes, I know, it's serious business to shoot a gun. Before you scold me, I promise I won't throw my set in the air, and wave it around like I just don't care.

Think I'll load a clip, let's see if you can deal with it

My friend gave me a lengthy demonstration on gun and safety basics first, such as how to make a gun safe, and simple mechanical information that was all new to me. I asked a thousand stupid questions, "So, how long will it take for me to be able to somersault and shoot at a moving target?" or "How do I hold the flashlight, cell phone, and gun at the same time as I'm chasing supernatural evildoers?"

My friend proceeded to tell me that the way guns are portrayed in the movies and television isn't very accurate. What?

"Even very experienced shooters don't jump in slow motion and shoot their weapon sideways. The sights are at the top of the gun, not the side."

Grab my gat, and load up the steel

After my safety briefing, we went to the Shooters Paradise of Oxnard, and judging from the name, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone with my pleasure of guns.

I shot a .22 Ruger Mark II, Beretta 92FS 9mm, and a Ruger .44 Magnum Super Blackhawk. The latter is my fav because it produced smoke and fire, and I got a couple bulls-eyes with that action. It also has the best name. In fact, I'm a little surprised that the Hill never worked it into some lyrics, "You better run boy, better, run, I've got a Super Blackhawk as my gun!" Maybe they prefer weapons with one syllable?

"This is a Russian Roulette gun!" I said excitedly, spinning the barrel of the Super Blackhawk. The good thing about a gun range is that it's loud enough to drown out comments like that one.

H to the motherf***in K homeboy, H to the motherf***in K

When we were finished, I went out to the store area to check out some guns, because now of course, I really want to buy one. As I hummed Cypress Hill, I asked the gentleman sporting tats and a holstered HK (because you need to pack heat at a shooting range surrounded by guns) if I could look at the Glock I was eyeing. When I held its hard plastic handle, it felt so right. I remarked, "It's so light and fits my tiny, girl hand perfectly. It feels like a toy." Yikes - it feels like a toy. Glocks don't have external safeties either, because it "adds to the simplicity of use", which makes sense for law enforcement weapons, like the one the DEA agent was packing on YouTube, (as long as you don't walk around with a loaded gun and your finger on the trigger).

The Sales Guy showed me a couple other guns that I wasn't going to buy, and he talked to me like I understood all the complicated lingo he was throwing my way. Thanks to Sarah Palin? You betcha!

As my friend and Packin' Heat Sales Guy chatted about the nuances of gun ownership and California Law, I started to see gray and was ready to end this excellent adventure.

We ain't goin' out like that

Target practice is a fun sport. You don't get scrapes down your arm like you do with archery, and it's not boring like darts. Yes it's true, there is no cardiovascular benefit, but it's a healthy way to seek stress reduction. The folks at the LAX Firing Range compare the sport to yoga, because you can "enjoy euphoric rushes of energy combined with inner peacefulness".

If you're interested in trying out target shooting for yourself, go online and check out your state's Department of Fish and Game and enroll in a Hunter Safety Class. I'm going to take the 10 hour course offered at the Redondo Rod and Gun Club for $20. They cover basic firearm safety, State and Federal laws, personal liability, wildlife management, survival and more. The instructor said it's a lot of info to pack into 10 hours.

If there is a gun range near you, check and see what Pistol Safety and Shooting classes they offer. The LAX Firing Range has a beginner firearms training course available by appointment only, and they offer more in-depth tactical classes as well. I'm looking forward to the Night Fighting class taught by Special Ops and Law Enforcement Instructors which will most likely help me live out my X-Files fantasies.

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To learn more about firearms, download this informative study booklet for the California Safety Certificate. It is a CA requirement to pass the test in order to purchase a handgun, but the guy at the LAX shooting range told me that "anyone with a pulse can pass it".

Fear and Adventure Therapy

2008-09-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

...examine carefully whatever terrifies you and see the voidness... - The Tibetan Book of the Dead

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

A few weeks ago, at the top of the first rappel of Suicide Canyon, I asked, "Hey guys, I don't feel scared anymore. Do you think that's OK?"

Unanimously, my friends said, "No!"

Why did they say that? Isn't it good that I don't feel anxiety before a drop? It's not like my lack of fear causes arrogant complacency leading to my inevitable doom, does it?

Besides, I enjoy fear. I dig horror movies, roller coasters, spicy foods, and adventure sports; "the best thing about rappelling is that you can almost die!" When something scares me, I interpret it to mean that a) it must be something I care about, thus my hesitation and/or b) it will be super fun to try. I want to go cave diving like nobody's business.

Being the curious cat I am, I had to find out more about this wacky emotion called fear, so I researched it like crazy. Well, I'm no neuroscientist or evolutionary biologist, and sadly no bookstore sells "Emotions for Dummies". Who knew it could be so frickin' complicated?

Fear is not a simple emotion

My earlier drafts of this blog were very ambitious. I tried like heck to explain the complexity of the brain and how it interacts with the rest of the body, but the more I read, the more my head hurt. I had flashbacks of the Career Aptitude Test they gave in high school, when the lady said, "I know you want a career in science, Pam, but I'm afraid all your strengths lie in the arts, so you should just stick to that." I imagine her patting my shoulder, "I think it's cute that you tried to understand millions of years of evolution." Bite me.

You never forget your first

The first time I did a canyon was quite exciting and scary. I had no training, and never rappelled before, but I believed I was with the best person I could possibly be with, the Prez of the ACA, so I trusted my leader and felt safe.

At the first drop, when I was hanging over the edge, he said to me, "There are 3 very important rules you need to know about rappelling. But, no matter what you do, you can't ever forget the first, most important rule."

"What's that?"

"Don't ever let go of the rope."

I will never let go, Jack . I don't remember the rest of what he said, but I was able to do it. It was an exhausting day for me. I had crappy balance, and must have fallen a hundred times during the boulder-hopping portions. When we reached the last rappel, which just happened to be the highest one, the girl in front of me freaked out a bit. Suddenly, I got scared; my palms were sweaty, my heart pounded, my stomach was in a knot. I felt worried that I could die, and that no one knew where I was, and after my boss noticed I didn't show up for work, it would take weeks for people to find my bloated body, half-eaten by fishes at the base of the falls. Who would call my parents and let them know?

A shirtless guy with a backpack hiked up to where we were, "Hey cool, are you all rock climbing or something?"

I found my escape route; "Yeah, you know, this is crazy. I'm going to hike down with him."

"No, you're not. You're going to rappel down with the rest of us." Rich was a rock star of persuasion, and said all the right things to talk me onto that ledge, (something about how those people below were watching me, taking pictures, and that I'd be in their photo albums. I know, predictable, right?) and I will be forever grateful to him. He helped me go beyond what I believed were my abilities, and I stepped out of my comfort zone. I got a reward for my risk, and naturally, I wanted to feel that level of excitement again.

I'm jonesing...I'm jonesing...

There have been plenty of studies about "thrill-seeking genes", or "the adventure part of the brain". Scientists found that the long version of the D4 dopamine receptor gene has been linked to sensation, or thrill-seeking behavior. Yes, well, it's also been linked to drug abuse, alcoholism and schizophrenia. People with the longer version of D4DR are more sensitive to fluctuations in dopamine levels than people with the shorter version. If they are not constantly stimulated, they may feel depressed. When dopamine levels increase, they sense thrills more intensely than the average bear. Therefore, just like an addict, the person craves more excitement just to feel normal.

Some articles tout that the desire for extreme sports has finally been explained biologically, but I'm not so sure, and this is when it would be handy to have a neurobiologist around. How do you explain the amount of suffering that goes into mountaineering, or any tough sport for that matter? You have to push ahead, and get through it. Climbing K2 isn't a cheap "fix", that's for surezees. I think that it's more about goal-setting, facing challenges, solving problems, enjoying parts of nature people seldom see, and how great it feels when it's over, and you're having a beer and a laugh with your friends.

Are you a sensation or thrill-seeking, "Type T" personality?

Of course there's a test to measure if you're a "Type T". I scored a 33 out of 40 on the Sensation Seeking Scale, , with a 10 out of 10 for the 1st three dimensions, so if you score similarly, you have an intense need for "varied, novel and complex sensations and experiences, and the willingness to take physical and social risks for the sake of such experiences," according to Professor Marvin Zuckerman, the designer of the questionnaire. Feel free to take the survey and post your comments.

Love your fear

Someone asked me what to do if you encounter a snake on the trail. She said that she's terrified of them, and always freezes, and doesn't know what to do next. I told her that some evolutionary psychologists believe a fear of snakes is natural, and has been passed down from our ancestors. Those who were fearful of poisonous snakes were too afraid to taunt them, and survived, therefore passing along a deep-seated knowledge that snake=bad.

It's good that she freezes, because then she won't step on it, or make sudden movements. I suggested that if she must hike among the rattlers, that she makes noise while she's hiking (just like in bear country) so they can get out of the way, and should carry hiking poles or a walking stick to use in the unlikely event that one would strike. (According to a study done by the National Safety Council in 2003, the odds are 1 in 145 million that you'll die by a snake or lizard bite.) If you back away slowly from the snake, it will most likely lose interest and move on. This handy video explains exactly what goes on in your brain after meeting Mr. Snakey-snake.

Every experience we have is accounted for, changing our brain, building memories and secondary emotions, making it easier to face future challenges. My first rock climbing friend told me that he believed his sport made him a better person. He said whenever he pushed his boundaries and overcame obstacles in frightening situations, it built confidence and character that he could apply to his "real life".

I said, "So rock climbing is like Adventure Therapy?"

"Exactly."

I imagine scuba diving through caves with low ceilings would make ordinary life seem like cake.

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For more on fear and memory, check out this video. These videos are part of a touring science exhibit for kids called "Goosebumps, the Science of Fear". Right now, it's at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts.

Alcohol and Exercise Don't Mix? Shock.

2008-09-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin

Yes, it's a Saturday and I have a weekend of bacchanalia planned. Also, in a few weeks, I will also be tested for the Green Glove in my Savate class. So why am I online looking up info on alcohol and its effects?

I know that alcohol consumption isn't good for me or my training, but I guess I wanted to find out how bad is it, really? Here it is: the good, the bad, and the sober.

So, there's "bad"? Thanks a lot, Captain Bringdown.

At first, everything I was reading was quite encouraging; "Beer Beats Water for Hydration", and that "One Or Two Drinks A Day May Be Better For Women Than None" (that article seems suspect since the source is the "University of Newcastle". With their delicious brown ale, what else are they going to say?)

I found that beer contains a slew of protein, B vitamins and isoflavanoids (which have been shown to slow the growth of some cancers), but unfortunately, for most of us "non-moderate drinkers", the news isn't good. So what does that say about God, Ben?

"Everything is better in moderation." What's moderation?

I can tell you that if you are a moderate drinker, it's all roses for you. As a moderately drinking female, you must imbibe in no more than one glass of beer a day. The amount is lower for a woman than a man (who may have 2 drinks a day) because we have smaller bodies, more fat, and smaller livers than a guy. Whoopidy, doo, look at me! I'm a man and I have a bigger liver! Whatever.

If you drink "moderately", you may be reducing the risks of heart attack and cardiovascular disease, and lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure.

This doesn't mean you can save it all up for the weekend and drink your five drinks in one sitting. It doesn't work like that. "A little bit is good, but too much is very bad..." warns Dr. Denke, a researcher at the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

So how bad is "very bad"?

Guess what causes that crappy hangover feeling the next day after a long night of drinking? It's a chemical called acetaldehyde, which processes the ethanol in your body from alcoholic beverages. It also damages certain genetic building blocks that can be efficiently inserted into your DNA. When the nucleotides are altered, it can cause mutations that lead to can... Whoa! TMI! Let's stop reading this, shall we? I've got parties to go to!

Fine, I don't drink like an idiot. What does it have to do with my performance in sports?

Whether you drink occasionally or frequently, alcohol is no good for the athlete. Since alcohol dehydrates you, the abundant water from your muscle cells are used for re-hydration purposes. Even though you're drinking Gatorade, you're burning muscles instead of fat during your workout. This also means protein synthesis is decreased, so drinking after a workout impedes muscle growth and maintenance. See: Alcohol and exercise don't mix - Sports

Beer sucks in altitude as well by sapping your body of its fluids, and may contribute to Acute Mountain Sickness. Obviously, that didn't stop us in the Hims as you can see from the above photos.

Alcohol interferes with the absorption and utilization of vitamins and minerals, which slows the processing of carbs and protein. Speaking of carbs, beer has a crapload of calories too. But check this out, it's an awesome guide for how many calories you are consuming in your favorite beer.

So Heferweizen has 152 calories and 11.8 carbs? Hey, at least it's not a Big Mac! And I add extra lemons to it...and that's..fruit.

Hope you found this informative. Holy cats, look at the time! I've got to hurry up and get ready! I have to pick up my friend and drink moderately tonight.

Wasp Attack at Mary Jane Canyon!

2008-09-14T17:27:00.000-07:00

"You know what's really bad when you're in a canyon? Killer bees. I mean, where can you go?" Ken King, 2006 Anchors Workshop at Stony Point

It was a glorious Sunday, and I was finally going to do the legendary Mary Jane Canyon, which got its name from the marijuana once grown there. I knew it was now devoid of ganja, which is just fine by me. I am slightly nervous about the possibility of getting tied to a tree and shot in the head, after stumbling upon somebody's grow.

One of my friends has a fantastic house in the woods close to the trail head where we all were meeting. I didn't realize that there would just be two of us, and the others were staying behind to clean for a party.

"So, it's just you and me?" I laughed nervously to my friend as we started out. I thought, "Hmmm, do I have sufficient canyon rescue skills in case we're in trouble?"

As if he heard my thoughts, my friend said, "If something were to happen to me, just follow the stream to our friend's house and get help. You would have to leave me behind."

"That's not scary at all," I muttered as we crossed the stream into some woody brush loaded with lo and behold, my best friend Poison Oak.

As I might have mentioned earlier, I just got over a bad case of poison oak, which caused me to take those crazy-making steroids. As fun as that was, I suggested that we skip Mary Jane and we hike the trail towards Vasquez instead, to steer clear of all P.O.

The bugs were really bad. They weren't biting us, they were just a pain, swarming in our faces. I asked if we could stop and spray the 100% DEET (which I now call 100% BULLSHIT) on us again.

My friend sat on a rock and I sprayed him all over. When it was his turn to spritz me, the stupid sprayer thingie swung around when he pushed it down, and he sprayed himself in the eye. He shouted, and I ran to get my camelback to flush out his eye. He started to scream louder, "WTF! Bees! Bees are stinging me; get them off me!"

He ran towards me, and I took a stick and carefully wiped them off his back, so I didn't rile them up any further.

The one thing I knew about bees, was that the only way to escape a swarm was to run away. I was looking at all the boulders and the trees and thought, how do we run through this? Luckily, there was no swarm. Unluckily, my friend was bit about 20-30 times.

The only thing we could do was to hike back to the direction of our friend's house. We couldn't take the road back because it was far above us, so we would have to find a trail and start walking. He told me that he didn't have an allergy to bees, but I knew that even if someone didn't have an allergy, being bitten so many times could be dangerous.

I thought about all the things I didn't have in my first aid kit; no tweezers, Benadryl, or an EpiPen. I made my friend hike in front of me thinking that I might be able to see signs of Anaphylaxis better from behind.

45 minutes later, we reached our friend's cabin, and assessed the damage. We were ready to take out stingers, when we realized there were none, thus concluding that he was attacked by wasps instead of bees, and by "wasps", I don't mean White Anglo Saxon Protestants, I mean yellowjackets. He had lots of bites that we put lemon juice on, and gave him Allegra to take. As the redness and pain faded, we were all relieved that everything was going to be OK.

Now what the heck should we have done?

I know I screwed up, so I had to go home and consult my Wilderness First Aid reference books, and other materials, so that I'm better prepared if this were to happen again. Here's the great stuff I found out about stinging arthropods (order Hymenoptera):

What is the difference between wasps and bees in the first place?

Luckily, the hymenopterans we encountered were wasps, (or yellowjackets), instead of bees. The reason I say "luckily" is because generally, people allergic to bees will not be allergic to wasps. The honeybee venom protein that causes Anaphylaxis is different than the yellowjacket venom protein. However, rarely, a person can be allergic to yellowjackets and not honeybees. There are only a few unlucky bastards that are allergic to both. Really, you don't want to be stung by either, so what's my point again?

To visually identify, bees are more robust-bodied and hairy compared to wasps. Wasps and bumblebees can sting multiple times, because they are able to pull their stinger out of your skin and survive. Honeybees have barbs on their stinger which remain hooked in your skin, and once the bee tries to fly away, it's torn out of their abdomen, and continues to pump you full of nasty venom for up to 20 minutes. While you're cursing in pain, you can soothe yourself with the thought that in a day or so, it will die.

European and Africanized honeybees look alike and have the same type of venom. So why are the Africanized ones called "killer bees"? Is this a racist thing? Actually, we can blame this all on the Brazilians. In the 195os, Brazil imported honeybees from Africa because they thought they'd get tastier honey. Instead, we got "killer bees" that are more aggressive, swarm more often, and usually sting in greater numbers. They are reported to have entered the southern U.S. in October of 1990.

But what do I do in a bee or wasp attack?

If you're being stung or caught in a swarm, don't swat at them, it pisses them off. Spraying them with bug spray doesn't work either, so don't bother.
Don't jump into a lake or stream! Like a creepy X-Files episode, they will hover over you until you surface for a breath and sting you all over your face.
Bees target the head, so the best thing to do is to cover your head with a jacket, towel, or bandana, and run like there's no tomorrow until they are no longer chasing you, which could be a long way. Africanized bees have followed running victims as far as a quarter of a mile before giving up!
Find shelter, such as a car, cabin, or tent and then assess the situation.
Remove stingers as soon as possible. Some experts say do not remove with tweezers because it forces the poison into the body, and instead scrape the stingers out of the skin. Other sources emphasize quick removal, regardless of the method. Remember, after those little guys bite you, their stinger continues to pump you full of bad stuff, so get it out immediately. If you happen to have a Sawyer Extractor in your First Aid Kit, you may use it to remove the venom from the sting site if you get to it in time.
Take an antihistamine, preferably diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Excedrin P.M., AllerMax) right away to stave off itching, swelling, or an allergic reaction.
Clean the sting site. Wasps have dirty stingers, and there is a higher chance of infection if you don't clean up.
Apply cold packs to relieve pain and swelling.
Seek medical attention if you have a reaction such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle spasms, convulsions, or have difficulty breathing.

An estimated 50 to 100 people in the U.S. die each year from bee stings, usually in less than an hour. My quiz was worded wrong - the honeybee is the most dangerous animal in North America. Most people die of Anaphylaxis, however, a non-allergic individual stung anywhere between 500 to 1,400 times may die from the venom's toxicity. Wasps on the other hand, can use their venom to kill their prey, so it's a bit stronger. It's estimated that 100 stings from a wasp can be potentially fatal in people, yet human death by wasp is very rare. Unless of course they have an allergic reaction such as Anaphylaxis, then they're toast.

What the freak is Anaphylaxis?

Call 911! Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction you can get from insect venom. Symptoms include swelling of throat or tongue, hives and trouble breathing due to airway constriction. Anaphylactic shock is caused by rapidly dilating blood vessels. If you are in the backcountry, and you don't have oral or injectable epinephrine on hand, the victim will die.

People that know they have bee allergies tend to carry with them an EpiPen (or 3) prescribed to them by a Dr. A second injection should be given in 5 minutes if the symptoms grow worse, and again in 15 minutes if the conditions don't improve.

As soon as the patient can swallow, they should be given between 50 and 100mg of Benadryl, and then 50mg every 4 to 6 hours until they get to a hospital.

Hi happy! Isn't hiking fun???

POISON OAK - My Biggest Foe in a Canyon

2008-08-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

Mondays are always really great for me.

"Hey Pam, what did you do this weekend?" a co-worker asked.

"Well, I did such-and-such canyon, and check it, I've got poison oak all over my legs," I said, revealing lovely pink welts to my friend who looked at me with shock and horror.

"Don't touch me! I don't want it!"

Then I have to explain that there's no way she/he can get it from me unless they lick my resin-y backpack or rub themselves with my hiking boots. By this time, they've already scampered away and announced to the rest of the office to steer clear.

This time, I've got a nasty case of it. I contracted it two Sundays ago when I did Suicide Canyon which was overrun with the stuff. I decided to go to the Dr. since my sexy rash seems to be immune to the Technu Extreme, Zanfel and caldyphen. He prescribed steroids that have the side effect of mania, which I am really looking forward to.

"So is this going to improve my performance in kickboxing?" I asked, showing the Dr. my guns.

"Unfortunately, no. Prednisone is a catabolic, not an anabolic steroid."

Boo.

Anyway, here's some facts about poison oak to hopefully eliminate further confusion.

What makes me itch?

IT'S THE URUSHIOL!

Poison Oak is a Toxicodendron species which contains the allergenic compound urushiol, or oleoresin. You need only a billionth of a gram of the nasty chemical to cause a rash. Can you believe that action? If you don't clean your clothes or gear properly, urushiol oil can stay active for up to 5 years on most surfaces. Five years??? That's just craziness. Since it contains water-insoluble glycoproteins, you can't just rinse it off in a stream. It's best to wash off the oil with mild soap and water as quickly as possible, ideally under 10 minutes and up to 2 hours. Most canyon hikes go way beyond 2 hours, but experts say it's still worth it to change out of your poison oakey clothes, and cleanse your skin with Tecnu, Goop, or Dial Ultra-Dishwashing Soap at the car.

What can I do to prevent it?

I always get it in the same area - on the back of my legs and butt due to the inevitable ass glacade down a hill. My Dr. told me that the oleoresin can seep through clothing, including rubber and latex, but not heavy-duty vinyl. He suggested I hike in leather pants, but I'm pretty sure he was kidding. (I am going to re-think my glove choice though, and pick up some thick vinyl ones.) When I asked what I could do to avoid it next time, he said that there are some barrier creams on the market such as Ivy Block which leaves a yummy clay-like residue on the skin, has to be reapplied every four hours, and its effectiveness is questionable. "In other words, you're screwed!" Nice.

Can I catch it from another person (or spread it to the rest of my body)?

Not unless they chase you around and rub you with urushiol that's been left on their skin. Wouldn't that be hilarious? This would be funniest to try on the trail. Let me know how that turns out.

Only if you scratch yourself, and it's under your nails can you spread the poison to other parts of your body. If you use soap and wash your hands really well, you should be fine.

Another misconception is that the oil is somehow trapped in the skin and can be transmitted that way. This is not true. When the papules are oozing, it is not poison oak juice, it's just seeping pus. Isn't that much better?

What freaking good is it?

I am constantly wondering why the gov't thought another weed was a bigger threat to society than this one, and left the PO free to reproduce. Apparently it's a necessary part of the food web, and birds like the western bluebird and hermit thrush really dig it and find it tasty. Whatever.

Also, some treehuggers think "the red lobed leaves are pretty in the springtime". As you know, I am dark inside and fail to appreciate its evil beauty.