I lay on my back in agony.
Just moments before, I was enjoying a routine afternoon hike. I had come to this remote forest to collect acorns. I planned to use them to make Orange Acorn Bread for Thanksgiving dinner.
Strolling through the understory, my mind was a million miles away.
And that was the problem.
The Fall
I made my way across a steep hillside, the downhill plunged into tanoak and redwood trees fifty feet below. The trail, blanketed in dry redwood needles and tanoak leaves, undulated across the shoulders of the hillside.
Several steps into a steep descent, my minimalist hiking boots give way on the slippery humus. My right leg sails out before me and my left collapses underneath. I do an absurd parody of the “hurdler’s stretch” we all learned in high school. My rear end comes crashing down upon my left foot, which is doubled over, with the top of the foot against the ground.
The Aftermath
There’s a sensation of tearing in my left foot, and searing pain. I instinctively roll away from the drop at the edge of the trail.
Silence.
I remain still as I take inventory of my injuries. It doesn’t seem so bad. Perhaps I’ve been lucky.
But as I climb to my feet my left leg collapses beneath me. My left foot won’t bear my weight. I find myself on my back contemplating the darkening skies above.
It’s late afternoon, and darkness comes early to this dense forest. I’m on a little used trail and don’t expect anyone to find me by accident. The stillness that seemed so comforting a moment ago now reminds me:
I’m on my own.
Simple Math
I am about 1.5 miles from my car. And it’s all steeply uphill. But I’m determined to make the climb. There’s no way I’m spending a night in this forest. And there’s rain in tonight’s weather forecast.
Most people hike about 2 miles per hour. This would normally put me 45 minutes from my car. But hobbled as I am? If I can average a speed of 1.0 mile per hour, then I’ll reach my car shortly before sunset.
The Climb
I swear sharply as I hobble along the trail. The pain in my foot argues for me to stop. But I forge ahead, irritated with myself for landing in this situation.
I find a fallen redwood branch that is stout enough to use as a crutch. Holding it across my body with both hands, I use it to reduce the weight falling on my painful left foot.
Before the fall, my mind was flitting from thought to thought. Now I’m focused on returning to my car. My determination is reinforced by the lengthening shadows falling across my path.
After a while, I abandon my crutch. If I lock my ankle at a certain angle, and lock my left knee, my left leg will bear enough weight to lurch forward onto my right. This is easier and faster than hefting the weight of the tree branch with each step.
Trailhead
I arrive at my car just before sunset. Some passing hikers offer help. But at this point, there is nothing to do except drive home and treat my injury. The treatment is rest, elevation, and alternating cold and heat. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories help control the pain. The doctor will see me in two days…
Epilogue
A simple injury like a sprained foot is more serious when you hike alone. I am a well-trained, experienced outdoorsman. But it was still frightening to become disabled while alone in the forest.
I had the means to call for help if I needed (I carry a PLB). I also had enough equipment with me to spend an unplanned night on the trail. I would have been uncomfortable, but safe.
Most importantly, I was confident in my skills and knew what decisions I needed to make and how to make them.
Do you hike solo?
Do you feel confident in your ability to deal with wilderness emergencies?
Do you carry equipment to help you spend an unplanned night on the trail?
Leave a comment below.
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Whenever I.m out and about in the woods I wear a vest and carry my “possibles” bag. Between the two, I have enough comfort items for an unplanned overnight stay. I’ve been doing this for decades. Once on a fishing trip in Canada, Dad and I were “misplaced” for awhile. When our companions found us (in the freezing rain) they (having been worried about us) looked around at our little bivouac, smiled and said: “You s.o.bs wouldn’t have cared if we NEVER found you!” We finished a beer (to wash down the rest of the Trout baked on the side of a hot rock), hoisted the canoe and rest of the gear and called it good!
Gene, That’s a terrific story! If I’m ever “misplaced” for any length of time, I hope I’m as well set up as you and your dad.
Like you, I carry essentials on my person as well as in my pack. An overnight stay can be an inconvenience, or it can be a survival situation. It dependis on how well you are prepared.
I often hike alone and this is my worst fear! That’s why I always carry an InReach and I have the 10 essentials plus a few other items to keep me comfortable if I should ever have to overnight it in an emergency. I do need to renew my WFA training though…
Glad you made it out without a significant injury!
Thanks, Katie! I’m happy to hear you’re prepared. We solo hikers really should carry a PLB (or similar device) and the essentials to spend an unplanned night out.
Having my ankle trapped by a moving rock below N Palisade while crossing a talus field, I would not hike alone off trail without an Inreach or PLB. Luckily my friend managed to push it off with his legs but took all his strength. Amputating my own leg (a bit like Aaron Ralston with his arm) was not an appealing option.
Wow, Peter, that’s intense! I can imagine scenarios where even carrying a PLB might not be enough. I’m glad you’re alright.
Hi Steve, Sorry about your accident. But take heart that it serves as counsel for your readers on being careful when hiking alone. As the “senior in years docent“, I joined the Park’ wilderness patrol and carry a Park radio. But it doesn’t help when hiking elsewhere. Having fallen a couple times – once on my butt going downhill – another time – a face plant while not paying attention to roots, I appreciate the need for caution and to have a situation ready pack. I hope you’re healing are able to get out and about. Cheers, Hal
Hal, thank you for the good wishes. I appreciate you sharing your experience. Hopefully, I’ll be back on my feet, and back on the trail soon. 🙂
I often day hike alone in an area without cell phone access. Could provide more details on the PLB or inreach devices as to how to obtain these.
Larry, a PLB and an inReach are different types of devices.
The inReach is a commercial system. It is similar to having an alarm company monitor your home. When you trigger an inReach, a signal travels over the commercial global Iridium satellite network to a data center run by the provider of the device. They then notify the government to go look for you.
A PLB (example: The RESQLINK family of devices) is different. It is made to government specifications and uses the 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT system. This satellite system is a treaty-based, nonprofit, intergovernmental, humanitarian cooperative of 45 nations and agencies. The satellites relay distress signals from emergency beacons to the U.S. Mission Control Center (USMCC) in Suitland, Maryland. It is like calling 911 yourself.
You pay a subscription for commercial systems. And the commercial systems permit you to send “I’m OK” messages. There is no subscription for a PLB, as it is a public service. But you do need to register the PLB with NOAA (over the Internet). There are also laws that govern under what conditions you can trigger a PLB.
You can purchase both types of devices at outdoor retailers or on the Internet.
I probably need to dedicate an article to discuss the differences between these devices and will do so in the near future.
Hiking alone is risky. Accidents can happen anytime. Glad to hear you’re safe. Safety should always be a top priority in any outdoor adventure. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you for the good wishes, Gavin! It is up to each of us to manage risk when in wilderness areas and make conscious choices about the level of risk that is acceptable and how to mitigate the risks we accept.
I go out on backcountry hikes alone in Maine. It is fascinating but can be eerie, which makes me more alert. I do day hikes, tell where the trail head is, don’t vary on it, have a contact time deadline, stick to the trail and bring a pack to get through the night in the forest if need be, though could do better on rain gear now that I think of it. I go alone because no one else willing to so I got used to it. I’ve been lucky so far but reading your story makes me rethink it somewhat. Exposure and injuries (such as falls like yours) top the list of problems out there followed by getting lost and then maybe dangerous critters. Be safe out there.
Andrew, I think you are doing all the right things. One thing I recommend is that you double-check that the person you leave your trip plan with understands why you are leaving the plan with them and cares enough about you to contact emergency services if you are overdue. When I started hiking, I left my information with a family member who thought I was making the equivalent of a Facebook post. The family member never actually read the contents of my Emails containing my hike information. It took me several months to figure it out. Thant’s when I purchased my first personal locator beacon (PLB). 🙂