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NOTE: This is part 3 of a mountaintop rescue story. Read part 1. Read part 2.
This next part of the story is quite a blur to me as I was both in shock and in and out of consciousness. Once I’ve finished telling my story over the next couple posts, Kelsey has given me permission to share her experience which she has so graciously written down for me. She sent it to me a couple days ago, and I won’t lie; it’s frightfully odd to hear about the terrifying things I was doing that I don’t remember.
So anyway, back to the story. There we were at the top of this mountain almost completely out of liquids. We had expected to come over the summit and find Tibble Fork Reservoir just below us. Our hike should have soon been over at that point.
Instead, we found ourselves overlooking Utah Valley. We hadn’t hiked to the top of the Box Elder Pass. We had hiked to the top of one of the Northernmost peaks of East Mountain in Alpine, the mountain that I grew up against.
My legs were more or less jello at that point, and I was worried (though I didn’t yet want to admit it). My Gatorade was all gone. Reuben was out of water. And Kelsey had half a bottle of water left in her bag. To go back the way we came would mean traversing the six miles of the insanely tough terrain we had just hiked up. The other option was to find a trail and try to make our way over the next pass which looked to be another two to four miles of hiking. We discussed our options and decided it would be easier to keep going than it would be to turn around and go back. We scrambled down past the rocky peak and found a little trail that looked promising, though we weren’t sure where it led.
I made it about 100 feet when both quadriceps completely seized up on me. I needed water, but there was none.
“I’m worried guys.” I finally said it. “I don’t know if I’m going to be able to make it off this mountain.”
We stopped for ten minutes or so and I ate a Clif Bar, hoping that the potassium would help. Things seemed to get better. “I’m sure I’ll make it if I just go real slow,” I told them.
We started baby-stepping along the trail (literally) to try and keep my legs from cramping. About fifty feet later they both cramped worse than before, this time cramping in my calves as well. “I’ll be okay, we just need to stop longer and I need to give my legs a longer rest.” Even as I said it, something told me I was in big trouble. Still, we stopped and rested for about half an hour.
During that time, I called Noah’s mom (who is one of the most dependable people I trust) and asked her to research wilderness remedies for heat cramps. She called back ten minutes later and wasn’t able to find much beyond drinking more liquids, stretching the muscle, and pinching your upper lip between your thumb and forefinger.
Eventually we tried baby stepping our way again, and for a hundred feet or so we were doing okay. But then we hit our first incline and after a few steps up, I was down for the count again. “Guys, I don’t know what to do,” I told them. Kelsey asked me to drink the rest of her water. I told her it wasn’t enough and that we should save it for if we get into more trouble. I really didn’t like that I was putting my friends into a risky situation on top of a mountain.
We rested for another 20-30 minutes and then I told Kelsey, “I have to do something. We’re going to be stuck on this mountain if I don’t. If I cramp up again, I’m just going to keep going as hard as I can and see if I can walk through it. Maybe walking it out will help. I’ll hurt like hell tomorrow, but at least I’ll get out of here.”
She asked me if I was sure, obviously concerned about my new plan. I told her, “I’m already stuck up here. I can’t walk. What’s the worst that can happen? We end up stuck again?”
Ummm… yeah. Famous last words .
Remember in my Death Knocked post when I told you all about almost dying in Las Vegas, and how I did something really stupid to my throat along the way? And how doing that made things spiral out of control?
Well, stupid is as stupid does. And my new plan was equally as stupid even if from the noblest of motives.
We started walking again and just as I assumed they would, my leg muscles cramped up. Instead of stopping, I kept walking. Within twenty feet the quads and hamstrings in both legs were completely cramped. I kept walking. Soon the calves in both legs cramped. I bit hard into my lower lip and kept walking, determined to move through the spasms and convince my body that it had to keep going. Then my shins joined the party. I kept walking. Somehow. Then the tops of my feet spasmed. Then the bottom of my feet spasmed. I tried to keep walking. When my butt muscles spasmed I finally collapsed, unable to inch any further.
I can’t tell you the kind of pain I was in at that moment.
And that’s when everything started becoming blurry.
I writhed on the ground for several minutes, massaging all my muscles the best I could. While lying on the ground, I asked Kelsey to take a photo. She didn’t want to, but I told her it’d be fine. We’d figure out how to get my broken butt off this mountain and soon we’d be laughing about it. “It’ll make a great blog post,” I said. She took the picture. It was one of the last things I remember before blacking out.
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Someone beat me in saying "Holy crap! I'm glad you're ok!", but I didn't think that in this case you'd find it to be redundant. So , Holy crap! I'm glad you're ok! I have to be careful with Southern Florida's heat and humidity when I skate because I do some pretty serious mileage. 9 miles is fairly average for me (at least until my next surgery) so I always have my Vitamin water with me. I've heard Gatorade is better for you, but I cannot tolerate the taste... ulck. It tastes like sweaty Kool-ade to me. I've heard of some gel band that you can freeze and then wear around your head or neck or where ever... that sounded like a reasonable smart thing to try.
Me too, Jacquie, and the suspense is killing me!
Get blocked when trying to access the story
I was out geocaching last year at a mega-event. Since no one in my family shares this hobby, I was alone on this trail (a move which will henceforth be known as Mistake #1). I also left the phone in the glovebox (#2) It wasn't terribly hot so I didn't bring any water because it's heavy(#3), but it was very very humid and the trail between caches was much more treacherous than I thought it was going to be. A whole bunch of up and down and up and down. My legs burned, my chest throbbed. I was so very thirsty, and it was too humid to tell if I'd stopped sweating or not. I stumbled upon the hike-in camp and there was a picnic table. I laid down(#4), and rested. A little voice in my head said "Go on. Go to sleep. You need the rest." A louder and more rational voice said "DO YOU WANT TO DIE? Get back to the car!" Somehow, I managed to get there. I'm pretty sure it was a major bushwhack by the most direct route since I actually marked the car on that trip, the one thing I did right. I finished off three bottles of water in the parking lot.
@coyotesgirl OMG It wasn't last year, it was two years ago. Last year we had sleet.
only when i was drinking.
Yep, after a long nite of drinking and karaoke at the dive bar!
Hate that when it happens! Makes ya feel like a alien! xD
No but I tell my hubby about his sleepy-time adventures (that he says he has no memory of) all the time. :)
Wow that last pic of you was kinda creepy, like you just weren't there at all!! glad you made it out!!
I was home in bed once, quite ill with a fever. I had checked my temp. and realized it was high and needed to tell someone. While I zoned in and out of it, I kept repeating the number to myself. When my kids got home from highschool I somberly told them "I am the river." They had no idea what made me say that, and thought I was really loopy, so called my friend for advice. What I was telling them was that my temperature was 103.7 which is a local radio station called "The River". We laugh about it now :) Scary to realize how easily we can "lose it".
I completely blame your misfortune on your sleeveless man shirt.
I just have a thing against man shirts without sleeves, I think tank tops and sleeveless shirts are great on the ladies but I just think they look weird on dudes, no offense intended :)
GATORaid??
Pregnant, contractions but not progressing. Morphine shot and an ambien. All I know is that my ex said I got a little crazy, but it didn't hurt anymore.
Have read the back story up as far as today: Drawbacks of hiking with others include inattention to surroundings and conditions missed cues in weather and topo features, as well as a reluctance to turn back BEFORE getting in trouble. Grab a copy of Andrea Lankford books mentioned here: http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/review/2010/ranger-confidential-living-working-and-dying-national-parks5641
@Jessica-that happened to me in Jr high as well. My mom refused to take me to the Dr for strep. They Said I was hallucinating and had a fever of 105° for 4 days. The Dr said I almost died. I don't remember talking to the wall when I was hallucinating.
Yes!!!...
Yeah. I used to sleepwalk on a regular basis, and I still sleep talk some times. I also had _almost_ scarlet fever when in junior high; I'm told I was delirious. I don't even remember being sick.
Yes- i've been told my entire life i ripped most of the skin off my ear in a fit of intense jealous rage when i was 2. There's no scar and absolutely no memory-guess i just have to take my family's word for it
Yes, I've lost about 5 hours after I crashed on my bike
Yes! Once I got sun poisoning with shock and said that we (America) bombed our own Pearl Harbor!
you are so very lucky to have gotten off the mountain at all...in this heat, very very little humidity....luckkkkyyyy
Yes!!!
April, Is your mom and dad on vacation? We are having a girl cousin reunion on Sunday, August 5th. Cousin Pat Naderman will be in town and would like to see everyone. I sent your mom an e-mail message but haven't heard from her. Marla
Wow Dan! That is a truly frightening experience! So glad you are a-ok!! I can only think of 2 times when I didn't know what I was doing. #1 would be sleepwalking a few times around age 11 or 12. #2 was after son #2 was born, and I was still pretty high on Demerol. My mom told me I was talking up a blue streak, but not making one iota of sense. I only recall trying to tell her how much I liked the wallpaper border in the birthing suite. LOL! Everything else is a blur! Well....except for the fact I had another son. :)
I went hiking today in the Santa Monica mountains trying to get to Sandstone Peak, the highest elevation point. I was well hydrated, stopping to use a restroom TWICE on the way up, and brought about 2 liters of water with me. In Malibu, it was 66 degrees. At the trailhead, my car didn't register the degree differential, and my cellular service was out. As best as I can tell, it was about 90 degrees with high humidity. I made it 1 1/2 miles before I was struck with a throbbing headache, intermittent nausea and dizziness. I figured the best thing to do was turn back around, and then fell down. Hobbled back to the car, where I saw my face was practically purple and I was no longer sweating. When I got back down to Malibu, I stopped at a fire station to see about my scrape. The firefighter told me I was smart to come down, as I looked as though the heat got to me. Next stop for me would have been heat stroke, and as I was alone... I don't even want to think about it. All I know is that my body went into shock at the heat differential... I'm not necessarily low carb but I can't wait to hear what you think that contributed to your body's breakdown. I'm still in bed with a wicked headache.
Awww man! This cliffhanger stuff is killing me, Dan!!!! And that's knowing it obviously turned out ok. Thankfully. So glad this is a blog from you and not some tragic story in a paper.
How about same place, but WAAAAYYY earlier, so we can read more of this awesome story! And how about the rest of it? Please and thanks! *waiting anxiously in anticipation
Carol, same time and place! :)
Once we were hiking up to a falls in which we intended to swim. It's not much of a hike, but it gets a good 117 degrees in the shade up there. We found a girl passed out in the trail with a gigantic boom box next to her. Apparently the people she'd been hiking with had been drunk and gone down ostensibly for help, leaving her alone and waterless. Luckily we had plenty and were able to do first aid on her. The ONE good thing they'd done is called Search and Rescue, because it wasn't much more than 45 minutes until the chopper came to just above where she was to pick her up. Booze and heat= not a happy mix.
wow! yeah, i've been in a similar situation while hiking in california. i wasn't a hiker or into drinking water at the time.. i probably had a few sodas earlier in the day. at first i was having a hard time staying upright.. losing my balance and such... i just wanted to get to the top of the trail and back to the car. about 100 feet from the car I just remember seeing the asphalt coming quickly at my face. My friends were trying to keep me hanging on by having me recite The Walrus and the Carpenter! I barely remember coming to while they were pouring water on me.. and I'll never forget the feeling. It was like my dry sponge of a body was soaking up every drop of water it could. It was definitely scary! I can't imagine going through that and being 6 miles in!! It's never really hot here in Alaska were I live, so I haven't had any issues since then. I'm proud of you though for getting out there! Its such a big beautiful world... and now you know more about your body, what it needs, and what it can handle. Come up to Alaska, and we can go on some awesome hikes WITHOUT the excessive heat ;) The invite is open!
Just awful!
Dying to know what happens next, pure torture having to wait. Same time and place tomorrow?
That is a scary looking picture! You can tell just by looking in your eyes that you are in very very bad shape. So glad you lived to tell the tale.
I don't think I would have been attempting a 7-mile hike in the mountains because I'm not all that outdoorsy or athletic. But I have worked summer harvest crew on the desert high plains of extreme western Kansas, eastern Colorado, and southwestern Nebraska. These are areas of the world that routinely see daytime temps in the 100 - 115 F range. And, of course, there is zero shade in the middle of a corn, bean or wheat field. Inevitably, at some point during the hottest of hot days ... the a/c would go out in the semi-truck I was driving. Also inevitably, the boss-man would procrastinate a day or three before going to town to buy freon because we were cutting and time was money -- blah, blah, blah. So my solution to the high temps, no shade, some times no a/c, and working outside all day everyday for weeks on end was to water down my Gatorade 50/50 -- half water, half Gatorade. I'm not a big fan of straight, plain, luke-warm water ... so I mixed it down with the Gatorade to give it a little bit of flavor. ;) Straight Gatorade is okay for a short-term solution, like after football practice. But if you're going to be out there for awhile, you really need just the water to stay hydrated. So, it wasn't on top of a mountain, but I have survived high temps and potential life-threatening situations buy using my head and a lot of water. ;)
in college I was part of a field botany class that takes place in Baxter State Park (North end of the Appalachian Trail). we took a planned hike, with ranger input, that should have taken most of the day going slowly but nothing too rigorous. at the end we would meet our van that was parked there waiting for us. we ate breakfast before leaving and took only food for lunch, and enough water to make it for a 'day hike'. luckily we also took a water purifier, compass, map, flashlight and matches/lighters. turned out that several parts of the trail were completely washed out and we had a hard time staying on the pre-determined path and at one point lost the trail. used the map and eventually got to our van...which was parked on the other side of a huge gully where the bridge had been washed away and fast, angry moving water separated us from our way home. long story short, we spent the night over night on the side of a mountain in Maine in May. bear sightings didn't bother me as much as the onset of dehydration and fatigue. glad you're OK!
Dude. We gotta hear the rest of this.
When I was 12,woke up in the middle of the night with a screaming headache and sore throat. I told my mom, who felt my forehead, said I was running a fever and probably had a cold. The next day my fever was worse, as was my throat. The third day, my fever was so bad that no otc fever reducing medication worked on my fever. She was still convinced I had a cold. By the fourth day, I was sound asleep on the couch when I suddenly sat up, turned, and began a conversation with the wall. That's what convinced my mom that there was something wrong with me. I hallucinated all the way to the Dr.'s office. When they saw my throat they yelled at my mom for waiting so long to bring me in and that if she would have waited another day, my throat would be completely closed off and I would suffocate to death. Apparently my tonsils were so swollen they were just about touching. My diagnosis? Strep throat. My mom felt guilty, I spent the first day of school sick at home, and got all the ice cream I wanted. I don't remember talking to the wall, or the ride to the Dr's office.
While I was in labour with my daughter, who is now almost 4, I was apparently moaning to my husband to take me home, because I wanted beer and nachos. The pain was so intense I don't remember this, but I believe it. Beer and nachos can make anything all better!
I gave myself heatstroke when I was 20. I'm 43 now. I say "gave" because I too ignored symptoms that I knew were signs of trouble. Ever since, I am prone to heatstroke and know that if I don't drink ALOT of fluid, even if it's just hot... or cold... or windy... anything that depletes your fluid, I start getting a "numb" feeling in my arms and my mentality. That's the only sign I let myself get to anymore. I have found that copious amounts of high spf sunscreen helps a little too. It keeps your skin from turning against you as well. Very glad that every thing worked out. Looking forward to tomorrows post.
Thankful that as of now, it appears you survived your ordeal. I do hope you don't have lasting effects from it.
Aw, I was hoping that this was the final chapter. (For some reason I thought it was a three post deal.) Looking forward to tomorrow.
And you have lived to tell the tale..... So glad! This is scary! Can you post the next part now? Please! Sooooo impatient!
This sounds completely horrific - like one of those Reader's digest stories -WOW!
And yes there was a time when I had a concussion because a 45lb olympic bar fell on me when I was at the gym. I went home and went to sleep (bad idea) and the next morning I think I bathed 3 times because I couldn't remember if I had used soap. I drove to work. Eventually my co-workers decided I was incoherent and called my BF to take me to the hospital. I don't remember much of that day. I was concussed pretty badly but I had survived the worst of it. I should have been seen much sooner.
I hope you learned to take water and not just Gatorade when you are going hiking :)
Once you get heat stroke you are VERY suseptable from there on out. Please do the best to take care of your self. You may not be able to do things you once did. Glad you are okay!
Dan, I feel your pain. I have heat related things happen to me my whole life. I literally cannot take the heat, I get sick, woozy, out of it, you name it, it has happened to me. I had a boyfriend at one time, we had done something fairly strenuous outside and it was summer. I don't remember if we were hiking or doing yard work or what have you. I knew I was very overheated, I felt drowsy really really drowsy. I had been lying on my couch for about an hour, I really don't remember. I just knew I felt super sleepy. He finally figured out that I was semi conscious, he had medical training and knew the signs, I was hot but not sweaty. He drug my butt up and put me in a tepid shower, I felt really crappy that rest of that evening and most of the next day but, I was fine. I shudder to think if he hadn't been there, I was so out of it I had no idea I was so sick and could have died.
Holy crap! I'm glad you're ok.
Dan, I'm starting to think you should just stay home and do less risky things. :P So glad you're okay!
Wow! Again, glad you made it out alive. I will say the first time I saw that last pic of all three of you posted, I thought he really looks ill. I watch a lot of survivor shows, just because it is interesting and probably something that would happen to me (bad luck). One thing that did impress me about those shows are the amount of times people had gone on vacation and knew absolutely nothing about the location or what to do in an emergency. What you don't know can kill you evidently. I can't imagine being in some of those horrid situations with my kids! Glad you are fine and I guess sometimes we all have to learn the hard way.