We Carry Everything We Need And More

As we start out for a day of hiking, climbing or searching we carry everything we need and more in our backpacks. We carry the medicine cabinet, i.e. sunblock, foot powder, insect repellent, aspirin and a comb. The kitchen cabinet i.e. food, stove, pots and pans and snacks. And of course lets not forget the utility closet i.e. map and compass. knife, flashlight or candles and all of the ten essentials. Some of us even try to carry the kitchen sink, at least that's what it felt like the last time I lifted Pat's backpack.

If you properly selected and fit your backpack this load shouldn't be too hard to carry. The harness padding should not be too hard or soft. Standing at the trailhead a soft harness feels great, but a few miles down the trail you may wish for a harder version. A large pack should also have lift straps to transfer the load to the hips. And a hipbelt should feel comfortable but have enough rigidity to support the load. The three main areas of your body that help carry this load are your back, shoulders and hips.

BACK
Eight out of ten Americans between the ages of 25 and 45, even the most fitness- minded of us will experience back pain. It could vary between an annoying ache or an intense pain, however; when it comes to back pain it's very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause. As man has evolved over the millennia to an upright posture it has caused the lumbar (or lower back) to bear most of the weight of this evolving posture. The fact that man has been carrying things on his back since the stone age has led to back injuries being one of the most common in the anthropological record.

As climbers, hikers and rescuers we carry everything we need on our backs so our risk of back injuries increases. The three most common problems are disk injury, joint injury (sprains) and muscle or soft tissue injury (strains). From your head to your tail bone your spine consists of 33 roughly cylindrical bones called vertebrae. They are separated by fibrous rings with jelly-like middles called intervertebral disks. This amazing setup allows you to bend and rotate from your neck to your hips. The main disadvantage is there is no large bone to act as an anchor, so if one joint or disk gets injured the whole system goes out of whack. Soft tissue injury is caused by injury to the muscles that support your spine and usually manifest themselves as aching muscles or muscle spasms.

SHOULDER
Most shoulder injuries consist of separations, dislocation, subluxation or tendinitis and bursitis. When you sprain the ligaments that stabilize the joint between the shoulder blade and collar bone you have what is called a separation. If the ball of the upper arm bone (humerus) is pushed out of its socket a dislocation has occurred. A subluxation is an incomplete dislocation. However, the shoulder injuries that affect most climbers and hikers are tendinitis and bursitis. Tendinitis is an inflammation of the muscles attached to the bone . Bursitis is an inflammation of the lubricating surfaces of the joint.
The vulnerability of the shoulder to injury comes from its design which sacrifices mobility for stability. the shoulder is formed by ball and socket joint. The ball is the head of the humerus bone and the socket formed by the shoulder blade and the collar bone. All this is held in place by three stringy muscles known as the rotator cuff. Activities such as climbing that require you to have your arms over your head can lead to inflammation of these muscles.

HIP
The problems with the hip mirror the problems with the shoulder; both are ball and socket joints and both can be dislocated, sprained and strained.

Tacoma Mountain Rescue Board Meeting May 28, 1997

Call to order: 1931 hrs.

Board members in attendance:

• Balance sheet was reviewed. Motion was made to accept the report seconded and passed.
• John Miner will be given the pager that Hugh West has turned in. Hugh has asked to be retained as a sustaining member.
• Tom Miner submitted a request for reimbursement to cover travel costs for the certification of Rocky Mountain House Mountain Rescue Team. Motion was made, seconded and passed. Total cost was $335.86.

• May 7-8, Mt Rainier, missing snowboarder.

• Tom Miner taught swift water review, 20 members attended the Wednesday night class, Tom and Pat Lillie instructed 15 on the Saturday training.
• Next month, survival overnight.
  
• Unit climb of Mt Olympus June 26-29, Jim Andrues leading.

• About $1,100 has been spent on new gear with $450 of that for helicopter SAR gear.

• Nothing to report.

• September 6-7 will be the McChord Air Show.
• May 3rd was the Mountaineers Self-Help field trip, had five instructors and fifteen students.
  
• TCC Safety Fair was staffed but had poor turn out of visitors.

• Voted in at Field Support were Steve Stowell and Joe McEvoy.

• Frank Russel Company is sending the Unit Information on investments.

• Plans for expanding the Hot Line to cover training updates, Unit climbs, and social events were discussed, Jeff Sharp will pursue the changes.

• WMRA accreditation letter needs to be sent to National MRA. TMRU still supports the SARVAC standards.
• Donation of a lifting sling was made to the Unit by Tom Marcus of Advanced Rescue Technology, a value of $250.00 Thanks to Tom.
• Steve Bailey is the new program manager for DEM.
• Banquet speaker: Alan Givotovsky to start a search for one.
• Web page taking shape, Gus Bush showed what he, Alan Givotovsky, Rus Brinton, and Larry Crum have to date.
• The Unit will pay for Alan Givotovsky's flight so he can attend the MRA business meeting in Provo, Utah. Cost about $240.

Kit Party

The following members attended the kit party on May 7, 1997:

Shorty Williams John Simac Bill Weber Ed Hrivnak Tammy Knapp Jack Leiman Bob Renz Jim Andrues

They made 270 Kits.
There will be no kit party in July so Shorty can go on vacation.

Rescue of Two Climbers on Liberty Cap DEM #97-1040

This rescue occured just as I was putting the rucksack to bed. More next month.

©Copyright 1997 Tacoma Mountain Rescue