Back to the Ground

One Bad Drop, One Bold Bivvy, and Zero Sends

March 23rd, 2025
Leawood, KS

I injured my lower back while climbing yesterday. An intentional jump from a cave problem. Had I climbed down, I'd be able to climb today.

Google says it could be a muscle strain, a herniated disk, a spinal cord injury, or even a temporary condition (ie, suck it up, old man). It hurts to bend over, but at least I can walk.

I went for a several-miles walk this morning, only hurting when the elevation changed. I passed by a closed sleeping bag, in the middle of a grassy area, presumably a homeless person bivouacking, and with gusto; not even trying to stealth camp (stealth-camping YouTube videos have taught me that sleeping in public is legally equivalent to first degree murder or genocide).

On the return trip of my walk, the man was packing up his camp. I quickly detoured, down hill, to avoid passing him. I'd rather feel the hill-induced back pain than approach a homeless person with balls big enough to sleep so openly in America.

So now I’m home, nursing my spine with ibuprofen and gentle stretches, and watching technique videos that I’ll forget the moment I’m back on the wall. If all goes well, I’ll be re-injuring myself by next Tuesday.