January 17, 2019 - Ice Traverse Blackrock Preserve

January 17, 2019 - Ice Traverse - Black Rock Preserve, Cornwall, NY - my son and I were training for a Mt. Rainier climb - we were negotiating whether we could do a 2 or 3 day trip (he was a 1 or 2 day; I was definitely a 3 or more day trip (not proud!)), and so we were doing these huge treks around Black Rock Preserve  (on this day I was by myself). My wife was totally pissed when I brought up the idea of doing some winter training on Mt. Washington in N.H. (lots of previous fatalities))... so, Black Rock was the compromise! I should note that my son and I did the Presidential Traverse in 2018 over three days: nine mountain tops (including Mt. Washington); 20+ miles (staying at the Madison and Lakes of the Clouds huts); and we trained all through the fall - we felt we were ready for it! However, in March of 2019, I herniated a disc lugging a treadmill from my basement to our new exercise room on the 2nd floor and could barely walk for a week; received an epidural to help heal the nerve damage in my spine. I asked the doctor if I’d ever feel my right foot again and he informed that it takes time to grow the nerve back at a rate of a millimeter each week… Still waiting!