ThisIsNotMic

Sponsored runner. Injured knee, waiting for surgery and hooked on cycling. I went out and got a 2011 Trek 1.2 H Compact. It's been all I need, until I started to want to climb hills, rather, mountains, like Mt Washington. Here's the setup: 50/34 Compact crankset, 11-26 cassette. It's just not the gearing I need for climbing, it's been great riding around town and the small short steeps. I'm not a rich man and not looking to invest heavily until I see what happens with my surgery in the next couple months. Suggestions on a quick, inexpensive fix? I don't want to change the crank then change the derailleurs then the chain then brakes.... etc. Can I just pop out a middle cog and load in something else? Any help would be much appreciated.