My trip partner blew out his Achilles playing flag football. His first surgery was an attempt to repair the Achilles, the surgery did not hold and he re-injured the tendon 3  months later. He then had a second surgery where the removed a tendon from his foot.

That said he was planning on going on a trip 6 months after the 1rst surgery, until he re-injured the tendon. There was nothing to indicate that he was not going to be able to go. With injury he backed out. He had the second surgery in September and he did go on the trip the next year (In late August).

He took it slow and carried a ski pole, but never used it. By the end of the trip he even carried the canoe and a pack on a couple of portages. (We single portage) The only other change he made is switching to a hiking boot, from a wet shoe.

My buddy was 32 at the time of his injury,