I am home.
A quick version of the event is:
* I was solo skiing the Kancamangus Brook Tr Loop (an old friend) in very nice snow conditions--blue wax. (Sun, Feb 11)
* a blowdown partially blocked the right side of the trail (descending Upper Livermore Tr, just below the height-of-land).
* As I skied around the blowdown, I suddenly went flying, heard a snap, and ended up lying on my right side in a semi-fetal position in the snow about 30 ft away from the blowdown. I hadn't been going that fast-- probably only ~10 mph. (My current theory is that an interaction with the blowdown somehow caused my left tip to go under my right ski.)
* It was immediately apparent that my left femur was broken just above the knee and that I had little chance of getting my skis off.
* About 5 min later as I was struggling to get my pack off, a Ski Angel named Andy arrived and removed my skis and pack for me. He then thermally stabilized me and got out my cell phone. We got a signal (!) and called it in. Jeff (NH State Trouper) and Cathy (WWV Ski Patrol) arrived 1-1.5 hr later and transported my carcass down to the trailhead with an assist from Jerry (?) of NH F&G. (I think there were others whose names I didn't catch). I was stabilized in the waiting ambulance and transported to Speare Memorial Hospital in Plymouth where Dr Gennaro and staff glued me back together.
Injuries: left femoral neck fracture, left distal (just above the knee) femoral fracture, left wrist fracture. (The X-rays are very impressive...) It appears that it may be 8-12 weeks before I can support weight on the leg.
I am currently getting around rather slowly using one leg and a walker.
Thanks to all who called me or visited me--you were a great help. And, of course, it sometimes pays to have a stalker named Tim (bikehikeskifish) who won't let you hide, no matter how hard you try... Boy, was I surprised to hear him on the phone!
I have a lot to do in the near future setting up my local medical support, healing, and rehabbing. Old friends (Debi (DebW) and non-VFTTers) have been giving me the special support needed in such situations.
I haven't read this thread (yet) and need to concentrate on the recovery process, so I am asking you all to give me a bit of time before calling and visiting. I'll let you know when. In the meantime, I'll read the thread and try write up the event in more detail. (Please hold off speculation until I can post a more detailed account.) Oh, and I might even try to answer a GPS question or two...
D*mn, missed the best snowfall of the season...
And in the words of the immortal Arnold: "I'll be back!"
Doug
PS. Typing with one hand is so slow...
