Am I having a Heart Attack on the AT? Virginia Section Hike thru the Priest Wilderness

Join me on the hardest Appalachian Trail section hike thru Virginia and the Priest Wilderness during the hottest and driest hike I've experienced. This hike was hard due to the heat and humidity , but also the terrain thru this section. NOBO 809-813 Buena Vista - Cow Camp Gap Shelter
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[@toghikes]

Ramdino this is for you and everyone out there. I had 5 stress test over a three year period. Three trips to the ER. I was told my test were good and the ER kept sending me home. The only sign I had was a pain in the soft tissue under my chin after physical exertion. On my last trip to the ER the doctor was about to send me home. He decided to send me for a CT scan instead. I wasn’t in the CT machine but for a very short time and the tech looked very concerned and said the doctor was on his way to my room. I had 80 percent blockage coming into my heart and 50 percent in the right chamber and 50 percent in the left. I had to have a triple bypass. Here is what I want all of you to know. The reason the stress test came out good was because there was equal blockage in the right and left side. Stress test looks for unequal pressure between the two chambers. If you keep having problems push for a CT scan. YOU are responsible for your health care. If something feels wrong, there probably is. Get it checked out ASAP!

[@Ramdinohikes]

@toghikes , good advice and you are absolutely correct. No one will advocate for you like you.

[@Randee04]

And “they” say Virginia is flat. Yeah, right. I live here and know otherwise. Stay healthy Ren Ramsey, we need you! 💚🍀

[@rosemarymcleod4074]

Be safe and careful in this heat!

[@sugarbearspawtreks]

So glad you weren’t having a heart attack Ramdino! That’s something I wouldn’t wish on anybody … on the Trail or not. - Sugar Bear.

[@Ramdinohikes]

and youd know!

[@wandahale8118]

@@sugarbearspawtreks how are you doing now?

[@sugarbearspawtreks]

@@wandahale8118 Thanks for asking Wanda, I’m doing great. Went back to Asheville for a follow-up with the surgeon on the 26th and am checked off to drive. He said my sternum should be fully healed 8 weeks after surgery (July 30) and my local cardiologist saw me this past Tuesday and prescribed cardio rehab for me.

[@suehancock5573]

@@sugarbearspawtreksthat is all good news sugar bear! Take care & stay out of this heat! 👍😎

[@sugarbearspawtreks]

@@suehancock5573 Thanks Sue! Everything is uploaded to my channel… attack, pre-op, post-op and recovery. It’s a story of survival that I was compelled to tell and share. - Sugar Bear. youtube.com/@sugarbearspawtreks

[@mhelen7360]

Gracious, Ramdino. What a nerve-wracking day. The only consolation is that I guess you're still alive since the video got posted. I'm sure it was concerning to you though, and I imagine you will get another stress test, and lose that weight again, after this experience. Take care of yourself! We care about you. I'm behind on a couple of your videos and have probably missed an update on your dad's shoulder surgery. I hope it went well and he's recovering nicely. Hoping there's another video from you tomorrow :-)

[@Ramdinohikes]

Lol, im good. Tks for the kind words. Dad's surgery is the 15th. If I have any other issues i may get the stress test again andna CT.

[@LittlePegAMcKay]

click bait title. That's upsetting to me. There are people in the community who actually care about you. Please don't do that.

[@Ramdinohikes]

That's so kind of you. At one point I felt i might be and really pushed it too much. I don't want others to do that and really have a problem but tks for caring.

[@sulj3373]

@@RamdinohikesBy your funny face you made figured you weren’t. Hope you didn’t scare everyone. Although you took awhile to catch your breath at the end.😊❤🙏

[@sulj3373]

@Navy1977Same here.

[@stacymcmahon453]

@Navy1977 Exactly. If there was a real problem he'd have made the video from a hospital bed.

[@mhelen7360]

I didn't feel like it was a clickbait title. He posted what he was feeling like at the time he was hiking.

[@secondstep7652]

Great job! I appreciate your dedication to the trail.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Thanks for watching!

[@olddudeonthetrail72]

I had a similar experience on trail in heat and humidity last week. Long, steady climb, and I was sweatin' like crazy and feeling nauseous. Walking along the level portion up top for a good half hour, I still felt out of breath and was not bouncing back. Like you, I started to feel concerned. I ended up stopping for almost an hour to sort myself out. All that's to say the heat and humidity was probably the major factor kickin' your butt.

[@Ramdinohikes]

No doubt the humidity was a huge factor. That and coming out of the truck wide open.

[@1903A3shooter]

THE climb from RT-56 across the Three Ridges is a killer,

[@Ramdinohikes]

LOL. yes it was

[@cheesecrackers3928]

100 degrees today here in Luray.

[@suzannemccoy9610]

Ramdino hubby and I went hiking yesterday in southern New Hampshire to a local hill. We are practicing elevation hikes so that we can hike up Mount Monadnock in the Fall. Yesterday was a killer, even though our temperature was in the low 80s at 9:00am the humidity was in the 70s which is high. The sweat was just dripping off of the both of us. We worry about heat exhaustion and heat stroke but we had plenty of water and snacks and stopped a few times. The app we had said we should have finished this hike in 1 hour and 40 minutes. It took us 3 hours to finish. I was extremely worried about hiking in this heat but it went ok. Thanks for the tip on the stress test. Stay cool

[@Ramdinohikes]

Heat exhaustion is no joke. Yall be careful.

[@randywineke5416]

The older we get the hills seem longer and higher. Ok to take breaks. Stay Safe and HIKE ON!!! Just a little slower.

[@Ramdinohikes]

That's the truth!!

[@Oceanwheel40]

Great video! I really appreciate you keeping things resl, candid, raw. I can learn alot as I continue to rebuild my dream of my AT Thru Hike after my 2018 attempt went wildly sideways. A few points: I would definitely try to get in the best shape you can before leaving on a thru hike this is one of the things that can set you up for success. The AT is really really difficult physically. 2.) Prepare mentally talk with other thru hikers use mindfullness techniques learn to get out of your head and truly enjoy and absorb the wilderness. 3.) Hike your own hike, do not compare yourself with other hikers. Take your time. Do not put undue pressure on yoursef regarding pleasing or appeasing others or hard daily goals you may have set for yourself. 4. Be knowledgeable about the trail, terrain, weather elements and have a clean balance between safety and risk. I am in my mid 50s and have learned an unfathomable amount from listening to hikers like yourself and many others. Due to my physical body I have to be ultralight. I have learned a ton about gear and have slowly and thoughtfully rebuilt most of my backpacking kit. I can not say thank you or be greatful enough to all the hikers who have given me guidance. It is truly a gift that keeps on giving. The hiker community has been awesome to me. 15:55 15:55 15:55 When my time comes for my thru hike I will be completely and wholesomely prepared and will have left no tern unstoned! I have not posted anything in awhile but soon plan to. Oh one cool piece of gear you should check out to battle the heat and humidity is this cooling towel called Arctic Rag Wear. It really does work. Thank you for all you do Ramdino. Oh, since I moved my life back to Maine I am going to try to do trail magic in Maine, I am following Brennan Hartman, " Milwaukee" and 6- foot they have a youtube channel and are great fun to watch.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Thanknyou so much for your kind words and great words of wisdom. Looking forward to your hike.

[@Judy-fi7ce]

No wonder you were tired along trail and at day's end, what with the long day and everything you did before you got on trail, along with the heat and humidity. Heat and humidity can put a real drain on the energy. Safe and happy trails!

[@Ramdinohikes]

Yep, it was a full day for sure

[@stacymcmahon453]

I've had that feeling a couple times. I want to say both involved very hot days, lots of exertion and dehydration. The dehydration being the key issue. It can sneak up on you when you're sweating buckets. Always worth taking extra breaks and drinking more water. Respond to conditions.

[@Ramdinohikes]

yea, last time I make a mistake like that on the water.

[@EarlyRiser71]

If someone says the "best" or "only" way to get in shape for a thru hike is to hike, they have revealed they know nothing about fitness or the body. There's a reason all sports have an off season training plan that involves very little specific training for their sport, and instead, work on strength, cardio and flexibility to prepare their body for the rigors and longevity of the season. Hiking (aka specificity training) every now and then is great for many reasons, but it's in no way the "only" or "best" training for most humans, especially those coming off the couch.🕓

[@Ramdinohikes]

@EarlyRiser71 Great words as usual ER. Those same YTer's who have said that in the past the "best way" to train for a thru hike is just to hike are now coming around to the correct way of training for a thru hike or even backpacking in general. Guess wisdom comes with age. Just bought your book. Looking forward to the pearls from it. Preciate cha!

[@KevinTOHanlon]

The wizard's name was Radagast, we left him at Devils Backbone brewery camp. Yes, I found your water bottle in my truck two days too late. Glad you survived, looking forward to our next drive togeather, Kevin

[@Ramdinohikes]

@KevinTOHanlon Thanks again, buddy greatly appreciate the ride in the conversation.Tell elvis I said hi

[@Hikealittle65]

Ramdino 15 miles is no joke in this weather listen to your body .lm 65 and i know how you feel i really take it easy in this weather. Be safe hike on my friend🥵🚶👍

[@Ramdinohikes]

I am def rethinking mileage in the heat.

[@CraigBaughan-mg3hf]

Lovingston Spring, the closest water to the south, often runs dry; and Priest Mountain Shelter spring is sometimes polluted. Tye River Gap elevation less than 1,000 feet, Priest summit over 5,000 feet, Three Ridges to the north about 4,000 feet. There's usually water at the Harper Creek shelter. It's a very hard, dry section of the AT.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Only place for water was at shelters. Harpers creek had plenty .

[@lulamaeatliberty4632]

If you started at Rt. 60 then it looks like you had a 2,000 elevation gain right out of the gate, with no warm-up. Tough way to start your day indeed. 😀 Take care.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Very true! and exactly my mistake.

[@solonutiket564]

I've been going thru the same thing. Stopped running class V in my kayak and now limit myself to 20; waterfalls or less. Gets harder every year.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Getting old sucks, but I aint quitting til I'm 6' under

[@dragonblaze9742]

I've had that happen a few times from working to hard hearing your heart beat and you can just feel it in your chest without your hand its a crazy feeling I'm one of those really sweaty people hiking and work next year me and my wife will be trying to do a through hiking starting a week before February ends just take it easy Ram

[@Ramdinohikes]

Absolutely and awesome to hear about the thru hike

[@suemoore1965]

Thanks for sharing ❤

[@Ramdinohikes]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamiewatson9713]

Clickbait. Upsetting to see this especially since a fellow hiker just died of serious heart issues.

[@Berry_N]

So agree.

[@Ramdinohikes]

tks for tuning in and supporting the channel anyway

[@sandyhunt-hv2kb]

I met you at The Priest/Three Ridges doing Magic with the almonds ❤️ I need to do the area going South from back of Priest to Buena Vista💪

[@ltanderson7916]

Hang in there Ram!

[@Ramdinohikes]

Its all good

[@jamesbonner5989]

Long hot day, enjoy the sandwich, stay safe and hydrated.

[@Ramdinohikes]

absolutely

[@wandahale8118]

Goodness. Be careful hiking strenuous in this heat, knowing you have partial blockages. Maybe take a hiking buddy. My brother in law had a heart attack a few weeks after his stress test was good.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Well that's disconcerting

[@bevgipson1959]

Gorp! I haven’t heard any of the younger hiking crowd use that term!😂

[@Ramdinohikes]

That's for us that remember the guy who was the spokesman for Granola ,Will... now I cant remember his name ,lol

[@suehancock5573]

Ramdino please take care of yourself you are important to all of us! 😢 long hot day, not enough water, all up hill, anyone would struggle! 🤯. Just to be on the safe side get a check out once you get home! Rest up & hike on! 🇺🇸🙏

[@Ramdinohikes]

Wow, that is so kind @ suehancock5573

[@garyburgan503]

We care for you. Please take care.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Thank you so much. What an amazing community we have.

[@MinaS-dp6zf]

Ramdino please take care of yourself. Wouldn’t hurt to get checked out again. God bless 🙏🏻

[@Ramdinohikes]

Agreed. I got something big coming up in 2005 so I might just do so 😉

[@sulj3373]

My mom passed her stress test but a few months later they found 90% occlusion after her heart attack. 11 hour surgery. Same with Bill Clinton. 😊❤

[@Ramdinohikes]

OK, ya'll are staring to get me worried.

[@sulj3373]

@@Ramdinohikes Sorry just want you to be aware. You were unusually struggling on the hike and still short of breath afterwards so maybe just check with your cardiologist. 😊❤️🙏

[@mathfan0918]

It's really been hot lately!

[@davidlooney3018]

Hydrate. Hope you packed some LMNT😊

[@Ramdinohikes]

Always!

[@robertdesrosiers4743]

slow and steady dude say hi to sassafras jim for passin thru

[@Ramdinohikes]

Will do

[@Jerrylance-ty1re]

Mt man let's be careful out there 👍👍

[@Ramdinohikes]

No doubt

[@norushat4life]

Hi Brother, #NoRush here , I only hike on average 3-5 miles a day when I'm on trail as a rule , if I feel a cramp, shortness of breath , or the like I sit down and make a coffee ☕️ 👣🤠💜☕️

[@Ramdinohikes]

Yea, Coffee is not my first thought in 90 degree heat, but I do enjoy a good cup of Joe in the AM. and yes I did sit down a lot on this section.

[@rebeccar1036]

Serrapeptase and nattokinase…. My 70 year old friend had some blockages and his out-of-pocket functional/integrative doctor had him start taking it, 6 months later and new scans show clearing of blockages. I’m not so sure low cholesterol is a good thing… lots of information on YT.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Thanks for sharing!

[@kb2hiker]

The title did catch my attention for sure. But then, watching the video, I wondered if you were having an issue. I had a heart attack while backcountry Philmont in 2015 when we endured flash floods, a scout was killed, buildings and animals washed away. I didn’t even know it until I got home to Delaware. 100% blocked Widow Maker. God delivered me home, miraculously! Headed for a nuclear stress test in the next few weeks just to make sure things are good. You may want to do the same. I just got back from a cross-country trip with family that included Jeeping CO and UT, along with hiking out of Whitney Portal and the Mist Trail up and over Nevada (I backpacked up this in younger days) in Yosemite. Want to start formal section hikes on the AT (I have done lots of it informally) so maybe we can connect sometime. Take care of yourself. Carry more water😂

[@Ramdinohikes]

Good luck on the stress test. Sounds like a great trip. Love Utah. Soooo many awesome parks.

[@amynapier3551]

You are better than this. The hiking community supports you. You don't need to be desperate with click bait.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Tks for your kind words. I wanted folks to watch because it is important to me that others learn from me being stupid and pushing it in the heat and humidity.

[@dragonblaze9742]

Yeah I'm in VA to its not flat

[@Ramdinohikes]

Absolutely not!!

[@KevBoneT]

​Radagast is the name of the wizard we rode with. ​@@Ramdinohikes

[@gregorydinio9385]

That’s what wrong with the online hiker community there is almost as much bad information is there is good. I don’t see any old school hiker seasoned hikers on KZbin. There is so many things you can do to stay hiking fit all year around. You do weightlifting, interval, training , body weight exercises. Lunges are a very good exercise to keep your legs strong. Once you able to do lunges for several minutes continuously the you add weight or your pack. Don’t settle for being sub par just because you’re older. Some of the strongest people in the world have still reported strength gains in there 70’s. You do it if you want bad enough.

[@Ramdinohikes]

You re right, I just cant get motivated to exercise regularly. I got to many other irons in the fire.

[@gregorydinio9385]

@@Ramdinohikes start small, you can probably find 5-10 minutes to exercise. Doing some of these body weight exercises for 5-10 can be pretty intense. Once you develop a routine it will get easier. Remember you’re important too. If you want feel free to message me for more tips.

[@lindatipton413]

I just don’t know how anybody can hike in the heat and humidity. I don’t think I could do it. I go hiking about 530 or 6 o’clock in the morning for a couple hours and I’m drenched. Please stay safe and don’t get overheated. Could just be the heat… the hill… or the hill and the heat!!😵💦❤❤❤❤❤

[@Ramdinohikes]

Yep, heat , hill, going too fast. The next 2 days I was good. Hard , but no coronary issues

[@lindatipton413]

@@Ramdinohikes ❤️

[@melshea2519]

Bueno vista social club!😊 BACON WRAP

[@Ramdinohikes]

What times it open?😄

[@melshea2519]

@@Ramdinohikes B.V.S.C. is a music group!👍👍👍✌️

[@stattravels8109]

🙏🙏🙏 for your health journey. We are masters athletes and do CrossFit regularly. Consider joining a CrossFit community. See if your insurer will allow you to get some visits with a nutritionist. Keep it simple. Sleep. Drink Water. Eat healthy 90% of the time. Walk. Lift some weights. Hike! Hike! Hike!

[@Ramdinohikes]

The hiking part I will do, not so sure I got the time for cross fit

[@user-yj7bm8wi2r]

Tacky. You’re better than this. Anything for a click, I guess. Boomer cringe.

[@Ramdinohikes]

Welp, tks for watching anyway.

[@user-yj7bm8wi2r]

@@RamdinohikesWELP I sent this message to your sponsor, ELMT. I don’t think Ramdino on the trail is a good representative of your product. Look at his latest video. He pretends he has a heart attack. Just one week after a hiker died from a heart attack on the trail. He’s also very rude in his replies to comments. A few of my friends have as well.

[@scottwolf13780]

Lots of long ads

[@Ramdinohikes]

Yea, unfortunately there are a necessary evil to keep the content going, but thanks for sitting thru them and helping to support the channel by doing so. Hey it's free.

[@lockmckinnon6692]

I thought I was having a heart attack Tuesday! I went to the er and was in full blown a fib. No heart damage. I see my doctor Monday for follow up and am planning on asking for stress test. I have no energy and my confidence level for another at section is not very high. Good luck on getting straightened out. 🏕🏕🏕

[@Ramdinohikes]

I think im good, just gotta slow down., but tks

[@lockmckinnon6692]

@@Ramdinohikes I had thought about tagging along with you but that same thought process you were talking about happening on trail kept me home. I don’t want to put others at risk if I have a problem. The section you are hiking between Punch Bowl and Rockfish Gap is my next section.