The Cost of a Mistake - Open Ankle Fracture

Eric had a sobering story to tell yesterday and made me really thoughtful. He and Val went with one of their EMS co-workers in Pagosa and his wife rock climbing at X-Rock, on a climb we were on not long ago. This guy really likes climbing and climbs ice and rock. He is quite comfortable with leading and good at it as well. He was leading an easy route, twelve foot high route and placed one piece of pro approximately half way up the route. As he came 4 foot from the top of the climb he peeled off and fell. Who would have thought but his pro pulled and he fell to the bottom.

Eric and Val saw the pro fling from the crack as he went skidding by. But it wasn't until his wife yelled did they realize that he had been hurt.

Quickly they ran up to her and found him with an open fracture of both his tibia and fibula (both bones sticking out the side of his ankle). He hopped out with the help of his wife, Eric and Val and rode to the hospital and 2 hr orthopedic surgery by his step mother-in-law. How long until he recovers? No one knew last night. One person with that kind of break can't stand/walk for more than four hours...even years after the accident.

Thank God (and I mean Thanks be to God) that he wore his helmet.

Sobering. When I talked to Eric he and Val were going out to dinner. They couldn't go any place fancy cause he still had blood on his pants. Wasted blood. Preventable blood. What if? What if he placed more pro? What if he had placed it differently? What if...? Somewhat futile questions. he made a mistake, a boo boo, a slip up (no pun intended) maybe two...easy mistakes to make.

Really I cannot blame him for his mistake. It is a mistake climber's die for every day. It is the mistake of comfort, experience and over-confidence. It is a mistake that could have been me, it was an easy climb after all, it could have been my brother, our friend Jesse or Kris, Thad, Kim...it could have been you. So don't blame him. Look inward, don't scoff at our friend because he made a mistake. Check your attitude and on your next climb (or other adventure)...think about the result of a mistake and decide if it is worth months of lost work, a lifetime of lost outdoor experiences, a lifetime puffed out with the slip of a rock, a hand or a foot.

It made me look inward. It reminded me of the stakes that I play with when I climb and the results of a simple mistake. It reminded me why I enjoy climbing, it tests you not only physically but it tests you mentally as well. What a sport. Take chances but THINK about the risks and the things you can do to lessen those risks.

Dirty Feet

Yesterday we went to a State park not far from here and hiked about 3 miles in a loop. It was sad, yet amusing, how many people didn't do that loop. The trail was cleared of pine needles at the beginning and at the end but in the middle it was a lush soft carpet of mostly undisturbed needles. We saw white tail deer and lots of little squirrels. It was peaceful and enjoyable. My soul has been needing time away from people and I didn't know it until I got there and felt myself relax. Not sure how you are...like that some people cannot seem to get too much of a crowd. And as much as I love people my soul and spirit still need the quiet of the forest.

Why dirty feet....well Charles hiked in his Teva's and I hiked in my Chaco flip flops. :)

Homesick

It is the weekend we went out for our first backpacking trip in Pagosa Springs last year. It makes me homesick. I miss our friends. I miss our family. I miss our mountains.

Not sure what we will do. Have to get parts for the Bug before we can go anywhere very far so probably stay around here. Bet we will have fun though whatever it is! Must go so we can decide. Hope you all have fun too.

I am having an urge to read Thoreau...have any of you read any of Thoreau's books? Any recommendations?