Greenie-worthy
I hope you are OK, Bryan. And, I think your report is a good reminder -- that "anything can happen to anyone at anytime". I have a similar type of story to share. A few weeks ago I planned to hike the Wildcats solo, via the ski slopes, and do an out and back to grab both peaks. I was starting at about 1130 am or so, because I needed to stay home in MA to take care of some stuff saturday am before driving up.
I made REALLY good time getting up the slopes and was on the first summit within an hour. Another 45 minutes later and I was passing a group just before Wildcat A that were heading back and down the slopes. We talked. Nothing out of the ordinary. I felt great.
A minute later down the trail I slipped, quite benign slip on treadless trailrunners on some average rocks, and put my hands down to brace myself as a reflex action. But this time, my right hand went into a crevice of rocks and I felt/heard a *crack*.
"Oh ****" I thought, maybe even said aloud, "I hope I didn't just break my wrist". Adrenaline filled my veins and as I stood up, all I could feel was myself going back down, head was spinning, mouth went dead dry, couldn't see up from down, my feet felt like they were strapped to separate hot air balloons, and I knew I was near fainting. I sat down, and had the where with all to coach myself into taking out my rain shell and putting it on. It was windy and spitting rain that day above the trees, and the thoughts flittting through my brain were like this, "if you pass out, its likely that no one will come by here again today, you will be exposed to the weather, and that will be bad". After a few minutes rest I got on with tagging the peak, which was about a minute or two away (shameless, I know). Then turned back. Each step felt like an eternity, but within 15 minutes I was feeling strong again, and soon I heard the voices of those I had passed earlier. That gave me a boost and within an hour or so I was back at the parking lot at Wildcat, enjoying a PBR with some old guy who hikes alot and his friends who'd gone through to 19 Mile. I shared my story, which spurned thier stories of near misses. Wrist was bruised and swollen and tender for several days. Made for a good story at work.
First time ever hurt hiking in 22 or so years out there, mostly solo. Really minor in comparision to you, but goes to show the range of injury that can take place. Hang in there!
Yup, anything can happen at anytime to anyone. Hope you are on your feet and the trails soon.
