Broken Hip Nixes Bryce and Zion?
 

Hi
I was planning an early November trip to Bryce and Zion National Parks, flying to Las Vegas, when I broke my hip on April 3.

At this point I'm really worried that even small hikes might be beyond my capabilities come November. I'm healing but it's slow. I haven't had any complications yet (as if a broken hip and femur weren't complicated enough), but I'm surprised at the very slow progress I'm making.

So I'm looking for trip ideas. We have a ticket to use in the continental US by the end of this year. Early October might be the earliest time we can get away; maybe September.

We like big scenery, history, good food, and don't think a trip that involves a city and city walking would be good at this point. Places I'm thinking about for a "drive and look, stop a little, drive and look some more" kind of trip:

New England, maybe Maine but wide open
Coastal California (I don't think I can do Yosemite if I can't do Bryce or Zion)
Is Colorado a good choice?

Suggestions, cautions, ideas, are all welcome. I need something to plan while I sit here.

So sorry to hear about your broken hip, Tuscan. I had a similar dilemma last year (except it was a shattered shoulder) and couldn't manage a long flight. We ended up deciding on Palm Springs. We stayed near the downtown area, so we were within walking distance of more than a dozen good restaurants. We also drove out into the desert a couple of days - I highly recommend Joshua Tree National Park.

Take care of yourself!

So sorry about the hip!

How about driving the Blue Ridge Parkway? Or the Natchez Trace, but it's flatter and I found it less interesting. If you have time you can add Skyline Drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway. You'd need to fly into Charlotte, I would think. Knoxville or Asheville would be closer but likely fewer flights. Lots of good food in Asheville, and there's Monticello at the north end of the BRP.

How awful :(

Actually, Yosemite wouldn't be too bad. I'll post more when I get home (posting from my phone is too slow)

But the Valley is pretty flat, shuttle buses go everywhere, and you can see a lot with only short walks or from the road

The Skyline Drive/Blueridge Parkway is a good recommendation . . . No walking required! If you can wait until late October (check dates for this year) the foliage will be beautiful. Do book hotels in advance during fall foliage time. We didn't and had to drive over an hour out of the way to find a hotel when we exited the drive in North Carolina. Be sure to exit near Bedford, VA to see the D Day Museum. We had been to the D Day memorials in France the spring before this trip and were very impressed with this. It does require some walking but not a lot.

Actually, anywhere in Virginia is a beautiful drive. Williamsburg is wonderful but does require some walking.

I hope you'll make it to Zion and Bryce eventually. We did both, along with Arches, and each was beautiful in its own way. Try to stay in the park lodges when you go. You could get a good flavor of Zion while riding the shuttle bus around without any hikes and could see quite a bit of Bryce with just short walks from your car to the viewing points. Arches does require some hiking.

Do you really think you need to cancel Bryce and Zion? I've never been so I have no firsthand experience.

I do however have firsthand experience of breaking a wrist a couple of days into a 21 night stay in Hawaii. That meant not snorkeling, no swimming, no hiking, no paddle boarding - no lots of stuff. But we still had a blast although I did worry waiting for my husband at the head of a muddy trail when he extended the hike for about an hour.

Heal well.

Hip and wristvarec2 different issues for hiking


Maine to see the fall colors?

Wondering what you mean by slow healing? Maybe you're being a harsh critic. April 3 is only a month ago, not so long - and November is still 6 months away. Of course, a lot depends on how much walking/hiking physical activity you did before the break, severity of break, age maybe etc......

Did you just have your hip pinned, or did you need a total replacement? That certainly makes a difference.

Just asking because I broke my hip many years ago just before age 60. It wasn't a hairline fracture (it was broken all the way through) but it wasn't displaced either.... They pinned it. It was Halloween and I told the surgeon I had hoped to go hiking in Panama in January. To my surprise, he said he thought I'd be fine to do that by then. (We're talking hikes up to 6 or 7 miles at most - no rockclimber me - but definitely up and down on uneven ground trail in rainforests. ) I did my PT, I water walked, etc as recommended/permitted. And, physically I WAS ready in January, and we went and had a wonderful time. I will say though that I always remember a new feeling of vulnerability.
A particular moment when my husband did just a little hop across a very narrow stream ..... and I was suddenly very fearful of following. Think I ended up finding a different way across/around. Often it's the feeling of vulnerability that takes longest to "heal." You're the only one who will know though what you feel comfortable with. Good luck with whatever decision you make! Lots of good alternatives out there as folks have described.

I think you could probably still do the trip. You may not be able to do any strenuous hikes, but the easier trails doable.

I went on a week long easy backpack with somebody who had hip replacement surgery 6 mos prior. You have to consider what kind of shape you were in before, what you want to do--walks on the rim/canyon floor vs. up and down, and how much work you can do to get there.

Slow progress? It has only been a month. Did you have the hip replaced after the fracture, pinned, or something else?

Yellowstone might be a 2nd choice. It is essentially a drive, walk a bit (1/2 mile at most), drive, park on side of road, etc kind of place. Terrain is mostly flat. Sure, there are some serious hiking possibilities at Yellowstone, but also some nice little walks from parking area to what you want to see. And also plenty to see from the car. But October is a little late - if you can swing it earlier in September it could be a plan because it snows really early out there.

I'm not sure I'd cancel the trip to Zion and Bryce. Zion has a couple of paved trails that are very easy if you want to do some walking, and at Bryce, you can enjoy the overlooks with very short walks. Instead of cancelling the trip entirely, I'd cut back on the number of days at each park and instead do a drive over to Monument Valley, which you can see by jeep. Then maybe make a loop down to the Grand Canyon (or better Canyon de Chelly) and back to Las Vegas. It's a bit more driving and less hiking, but the scenery is beautiful, and the weather would be ideal in late September or October.

But I like the idea of Yellowstone as well, and the scenery there is also very beautiful.

My Dad had a hip replacement at age 77; in 4 months, he was back to playing tennis.

glover I can relate to your post about feeling vulnerable after a catastrophic injury. Very well put. I still get nervous and a bit of vertigo trying to hike down steep slippery trails.

Yes newtome, a hip and arm are different. I guess I failed to make my point in which doing many activities with a broken wrist 2 days into a cast including dangerous hiking would be very different then a hip injury and getting along 6 months later. It's only been a month. It takes time and healing before any progress is made. It seems to early for progress.


tuscan, upon reflection I realize that my situation is much different. When I slipped and fell, I had already visited the islands numerous times and got in the snorkeling, power hang gliding, kayaking, atv tours, horseback and mule riding and strenuous hikes. It is likely that because of that, I was easily able to adjust to a no activity holiday. I just didn't want you to prematurely cancel what could still be a workable but adjusted adventure.

Best wishes

I think that Bryce and Cedar Breaks can be done in your condition, as well as Arches and Canyonlands. These are sights where overlooks (close to parking with wheelchair access) are worthwhile, even if one cannot explore further.

While it may be true that the trip is still possible but with limitations, wouldn't it be better to go somewhere where the limitations would be less and save this trip for when the OP has healed?

<i>wouldn't it be better to go somewhere where the limitations would be less and save this trip for when the OP has healed?</i>

Depending on the OP's age and previous athleticism (tennis, bicycling, skiing?) or lack thereof, even with complete healing mobility on the trails may be problematic.

One of my trips to Yosemite was on crutches -- it sounds like you will have more mobility than I did.

They will even issue temporary disabled parking placards at the entrance kiosks.

Have you spoken with your doctor and physical therapist? They may be able to tell you what might be expected after 6-7 months and if your trip would be feasible for hiking etc.

BTW, hope you get better soon. So sorry.