Let’s talk surgery first, then we’ll get into the Skookum Flats hike. Apparently my name should have been Humpty Dumpty, because I keep falling apart. I found out less than a month ago that I had grade 4 (a.k.a. bone-on-bone) arthritis of my right shoulder AC joint, so last Tuesday my most-wonderful orthopedic surgeon put Humpty Dumpty back together again. I had an open distal clavicle excision and acromioplasty. Apparently other body parts were jealous that my knees were getting all the attention, and they decided to very vocally express themselves. Surgery is done, healing is going freakishly quick, sutures are out, and I feel wonderful now…
So, on to Skookum Flats trail. I needed a not-so-steep trail since I can’t yet use hiking poles with my right shoulder. Skookum Flats was a perfect post-op hike, mostly flat, beautiful deep forest, and of course I hit my favorite wildflowers at their peak. Everywhere I looked there were trillium, calypso orchids, mahonia, skunk cabbage in full bloom. I hiked a wonderful, flat 6 miles on a gorgeous sunny day, and only saw 3 other people the whole time. Skookum Falls still had a decent amount of water, which was nice considering how unseasonably warm it is and our lack of snow pack this winter.
Nature therapy is the best rehab out there, I got to check another trail off my list, and I got to see some of my favorite native wildflowers.
