First post-COVID-19 hikes

As I detailed here, I came down with COVID-19 symptoms Dec 16, 2020, was in pretty serious condition, and eventually recovered at home with supplemental O2 and some strong drugs. My d-dimer and blood O2 levels classified me as a serious COVID case, and only my previous fitness kept me from the hospital (or worse). My first two hikes after 5 weeks of recuperation (during which I lost 17 lbs) were to "Squirrel" on Blue Diamond Hill. Both tracks are shown on the map, with the Jan 21 track in blue, and the Jan 23 track in red. ONLY THE SECOND TRIP IS SHOWN IN PHOTOS. The first trip was 7 miles at 2.8 mph, but I was whipped at the end. I was already faster by Jan 23. In order to avoid the parking mess on Jan 23 (Saturday), I parked on the wide shoulder west of the entrance to the Red Rock scenic loop, and headed trailless to muffin ridge. My lungs are still scarred from the COVID pneumonia and microclots, so I get winded more easily. In the Jan 23 trip, I made it to Squirrel in 1h 12m, with many stops on the steep.

Pics by Harlan W S
January 21,23, 2021

Jan 21 in blue Jan 23 in red	View to Vistors Center steep initial climb to muffins	View NW over Muffins to White Rock Hills back left
On Squirrel, click for movie 1x speed	"Leave No Trace" gone strange. Two days before there was a cairn here; the cairn had been here for years. Someone tore down the cairn and spread the rocks.	Snow on the Spring Mts. in the distance.
I really meant to head to the ridge in middle distance, to retrieve a sling. Turtlehead lit up in back.	My shortcut earlier.