More mushrooms, heartbeat questions and a stroke survivor

A solitary mushroom atop a tree stump along the West Tiger 3 trail.

Today was a good one for mushrooms. The air was chilly at 9:45 a.m. in the parking lot at Tiger 3. I was cold, but I knew I would warm up soon and then the question would be staying warm -- a question that disappeared as the sun came out toward the end of the hike, burning off the fog. I was carrying a light pack of only 14 pounds, and I felt energized. I reached the 1.1 mile post in 40 minutes, making almost two miles per hour.

My pulse had reached 140 beats a minute at times. It was fast and light. And that brings up a question as to why the heart's beat can be light or heavy, almost independent of speed. It seems that the strength of the beat should indicate the blood flow, but also the speed of the beat as well. So why does it beat differently when you're hiking? I tried to Google the answer after getting home and was not able to find out.
(Next day research: What I'm describing as a strong heartbeat might be a "bounding" pulse which can occur after an extended run, or  with pregnant women, people with fevers and people under high stress and anxiety. I recall a bounding pulse when I was quietly sitting in a movie theater 45 years ago watchingThe Sound of Music. when Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp kids were trying to flee the evil Nazis and my chest was slowly and strongly thumping. I've noticed a less pronounced slow thumping heartbeat in my carotid arteries while hiking; powerful, but perhaps as slow as 100-110 bpm.)

Along the way I passed some people, including a retired nurse, Sharon, 74, who was recovering from a stroke. She recognized what was happening by acting FAST -- (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services). She called her partner, got to emergency care quickly, and greatly limited the potential damage. And now she was heading for the summit on Tiger 3, gaining 2,000 feet of elevation today. We talked about that and about weight control and I totally didn't think about asking her about heartbeat rate and volume. Doh!

I did notice, however, that walking slowly with her was almost as tiring as walking faster. I wonder what that's about?

Mushrooms on a log.

Statistics for the day:

Distance: 6 miles
Elevation gain: 2,000 feet
Conditions: Chilly, fog followed by sun
Load: 14 pounds of backpack

Statistics, year to date:

Distance: 1481.20 miles

Elevation gain: 56,160 feet  -- 1,484 feet to my fourth Rainier.

A final view before leaving the trail.