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Only in Alaska do you hike up a hair raising trail to watch a local band play inside a glacier carved bowl... Photo credit: Jason and Nikki Wynn |
There wasn't much pain when I heard the popping noise from my ankle. It
was mostly shock and disbelief. Here I was, hiking down the notorious
Mt. Marathon in Seward, Alaska with my husband, Clark, and friends,
Nikki and Jason Wynn (fellow fulltime travelers from Gone With the
Wynns), on a drizzly evening when I took that single, fateful step. Just
a few hours before we'd climbed up the mountain, along with a hundred
or so others, to watch a local band, Blackwater Railroad Company,
perform a little concert (it was amazing!!). It was surreal. I mean,
how often can you say you hiked 2 miles, gaining 2000+ vertical feet, to
party on top of mountain with a bunch of other hikers? We were
surrounded by an alpine meadow full of wildflowers and a waterfall
taking in the experience...great music, dancing, dogs running and
playing...it was an unbelievable scene.
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Up hill through the fireweed. |
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The stream and wildflowers at the bowl. The perfect setting for a great night of music, camaraderie and energy from fellow nature lovers. |
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Through the slippery shale. |
That was two weeks and two days ago today and as wonderful as that
experience was what transpired afterward was one of the most amazing
things I've experienced in my entire life.
Once the concert ended we'd made it about a half mile down the shale
face of the trail without trouble. The trail was wet and quite slippery.
I'd already seen a few people with muddy butts and knew we still had
another mile and half of pretty hairy footing before we were safely on
terra firma. As careful as I was it still happened...my foot slipped off
a root. There were 5-6 pops. I grabbed for my right ankle and knew
immediately that it was broken as my foot turned at an all too sharp
angle. I sat down on the side of the trail as Clark ran toward me.
I knew not to look at it...I have a "weak" stomach and was hoping to not
embarrass myself by passing out. I was already berating myself knowing I
just caused my husband and friends a huge inconvenience. How on earth was I going to get off this mountain? My other thoughts were 1- How will I ever be able to trust my body again if it can break so easily? and 2- I think I'm going to poop my pants...please God don't let me poop my pants on top of everything else.
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All hands on deck! Getting tended to by some amazing people. Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
But then something beautiful happened. Within minutes a man stopped to
help. He identified himself as an EMT or mountain rescue (parts of the
night are a blur) and immediately started to assess my injury. His dog,
Lady, lay next to me, comforting me. Nikki and Jason didn't hesitate to
take charge of things too, directing other hikers to a side trail to
avoid walking over me, and calling 911. In the meantime, Clark was by my
side making sure I wasn't freaking out and assuring me I'd not only get
off the mountain but that the doctors would be able to fix me right up.
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Lady, and her owner, stuck by my side the entire time. I wish I knew her owner's name...he was the first person to help me and the last to let go as I was loaded into the Jeep. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude. Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
Then more people stopped to help. It seemed as though half the people
who had gathered for the concert were either EMTs, mountain rescue, ski
patrol, WFRS (Wilderness First Responders) or part of the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
As great as it was to be surrounded by so many capable people I have to
admit I got just a little tired of repeating what happened while they
all proceeded to take my pulse at the broke ankle (ouch). One guy, Ben I
believe his name to be, had been super prepared and had not just one
but two splints in his backpack...as well as two wool blankets
(even the other first responders were shocked...who brings splints to a
concert??). While we waited for the rescue team to arrive with the
stretcher I was very well taken care of by these, dare I say it...angels (even if some of them might have been a bit tipsy).
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I always say, if you're going to have to be rescued off the side of a mountain you might as well make it scenic... Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
Due to low clouds a helicopter was out of the question (darn it, I've
never been in one of those). It took about 45 minutes for the Seward
Volunteer Fire Department to arrive on scene. They were only able to
drive their Jeep up the trail a mile before the rescue crew was forced
to hike in. Once they arrived Amy (hero!) explained everything that
would happen and how the rescue would take place. These men and women
were going to painstakingly carry me off that mountain to where the Jeep
waited. I was strapped onto the stretcher and prayed no one else would
get hurt carrying me down to safety.
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That's Amy...she's a true hero. Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
At times the trail was so bad people fell (thankfully none were
injured). At other times it became so dangerous that instead of walking
the stretcher down everyone would line up on the trail, plant their feet
and then pass the stretcher through until there was better footing. I
later found out that some of the volunteers were actually helping to
hold the other up so they didn't slide off the mountain too. As I passed
through all of these hands I couldn't help but to stare into each face,
offering my thanks as I tried to hold back tears of gratitude (okay,
and maybe asking that they don't drop me).
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When first dispatched, the rescue team thought they'd be moving me down the mountain by themselves (there were 4 of them). But look at this scene...ALL of these people stayed to help! I love them all. Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
Believe it or not there was a lot of joking and small talk as well. I
was offered a piece of chocolate and asked about our visit to Seward and
our RVing adventures. I learned about a few of my rescuers...that Amy
and her boyfriend (another volunteer) were going to be visiting Southern
Utah (a favorite spot for us too) in the next couple of months and that
Isaac, an EMT was one of the singers in the band we had all just
watched perform on top of the mountain(we tried to get him to sing...and
then they tried to get me to sing, bad idea). And I saw people
make true sacrifices to save me as mosquitoes feasted on their blood and
tree limbs scraped against their arms. It took hours to get to the Jeep
and they all worked so hard, straining muscles and wiping sweat from
their brows...
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Only a mile left...down the Jeep trail and into an awaiting ambulance. Photo credit: Nikki Wynn |
I made it to the Seward Emergency Room, a block from the trail head, 4
1/2 hours after the accident, arriving just after midnight. Although I
had relatively no pain I was given and IV along with pain meds so they
could assess my leg and take x-rays. Shortly after I was told that the
damage was too severe for them to treat there and surgery would be
required. The fog presented a problem as the medevac wouldn't be able to
fly until sun up. At one point the ER doctor got a little rise out of
me when she talked about the possibility of a Coast Guard evacuation if
it was necessary to save my limb.
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The x-ray showing the multiple fractures and severe dislocation. FYI: one's ankle should not look like this... |
But it turned out I had plenty of feeling in my foot and since my pain
level was low I would be able to rest somewhat comfortably until
morning. My right ankle was placed into a plaster splint but no
adjustments were made. I tried to sleep for the few hours I had before
the plane would come for me. In the meantime, Nikki and Jason had gone
to check on our pets (we had traveled by RV to Alaska and have two cats
and a dog with us). Clark waited until we had some kind of game plane
and then eventually went back to the RV to gather some of my personal
belongings. Then he too tried to get some rest.
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4:20am in the Seward ER...trying to get some rest before flying to Anchorage. |
Some time after 9am the LifeMED arrived at the tiny airstrip in Seward.
Once again Isaac, the singer/EMT, showed up to transport me via
ambulance to the plane (apparently he didn't sleep much either). The
amazing LifeMED Alaska crew and paramedics secured me in the back of a
plane so small that not another person could have fit (I think there
were 5 of us including me). They also gave me some pretty good drugs
while I joked that this was some strange way for me to finally get an
aerial view of Exit Glacier (not knowing that we actually would fly over
it). One of the paramedics was nice enough to grab my cell phone and
snap a couple of photos for me...and of course, I took a selfie in the
plane. After all, it's not every day you get airlifted in an emergency
situation.
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Why wouldn't you want to take a selfie while getting medevaced? |
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A view of Exit Glacier from the plane...hey, if you gotta endure the tragedy you might as well make the most out of it. |
A short ambulance ride from Anchorage International Airport and I was in
the ER at Providence Alaska Medical Center where I had the best care I
could have hoped for. Eric, my nurse, was super supportive and told me
exactly what was happening. Since Clark was having to move our RV from
Seward to Anchorage all by himself he hadn't arrived yet but Eric made
sure I was comfortable and pain-free when it came time for the doctor to
do something called a "reduction". A reduction is basically a resetting
of dislocated and fractured bones...and it happened to occur while I
was awake. However, Eric administered a drug called Versed which has an
amnesia affect so even if it did hurt, I don't remember any of it
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My swanky room at Providence Alaska...I somehow managed to get the whole
room to myself..and had some great views. It wasn't really a private room but somehow they managed to keep me roomate-free until about 3 hours before I was discharged. It was wonderful. |
By early afternoon I was in a room and awaiting surgery. Clark had
arrived and then went to get something eat and take a nap. The poor guy
was working on less sleep than I was and he was still having to take
care of everything. A little after 8pm, 24 hours after the accident, I
was wheeled into the OR and underwent surgery where I received some
screws and plates to hold my ankle together. A day later I worked with a
physical therapist to practice with crutches, tackle some stairs and
learn a few safe exercises which consisted of leg lifts, leg extensions,
side leg lifts and leg curls on my stomach. I asked if I could add in a
few simple yoga poses like cobra and updog (sans feet) and got the
go-ahead. Two days later I was discharged with my very own crutches and a
hundred ten pound splint.
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All better now! |
Prior to this I had never even been inside and ambulance. I had never
broken a limb either. Suffice it to say I hadn't been medevaced. A few
weeks before this accident, while in McCarthy, Alaska, a tour guide had
said something that stuck...people come to Alaska to face their fears or challenge themselves in some way. I probably shouldn't have taken his words so literal.
I've received an amazing outpouring of love, support and prayers from
hundreds of people...some of whom I haven't even met (yet). I cannot
begin to thank all of you for your care and concern. It is as humbling
as it is heartwarming. Everything about this accident (aside from
actually breaking my ankle) has been magical and all of the pieces have
fallen into place (no pun intended). The story sounds too good to be
true...an adventure of a lifetime, lessons to be learned, and faith in
humanity restored all wrapped up in a crazy mountain top concert and
rescue. I still pinch myself to see if it was all a dream. Alas, my
aching ankle reminds me it isn't.
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Now this is a good look. |
I'd like to take a minute to thank our friends and fellow RVers who
helped us get through the first few days of this accident. Thanks to
Jeanette and Eric of JenEric Ramblings for taking care of our animals and informing other friends of the incident. Thanks to Josh and Marie of Ardent Camper for visiting me in the hospital and bringing me gifts. Thanks to Taylor and Beth Bank of The Learning Banks
for the coffee, food and lovely apron for Clark...also for all of the
generous offers to help us with household chores. A big thanks to Nikki
and Jason Wynn of Gone With the Wynns
for convincing us to go on this hike...I mean, for not only keeping
your cool and calling 911 but for your help in literally carrying down
that mountain, taking photos (despite the dirty looks from some of the
rescuers), walking the dog and bringing me homemade lattes. Also, to my
husband, who pretty much has to take care of me no matter what, I am
still forever grateful for how he has unselfishly taken care of me. From
buying groceries to cooking my meal, from helping me get dressed to
washing dishes, and for holding me in his arms when I feel overwhelmed
and sorry for myself...he has been my rock.
Note: I'm posting this account to both my personal/yoga blog, Learning Curves, as well as my travel blog, Tales From the Mutiny.
I'll be writing additional posts for Learning Curves which will include
seated and chair yoga sequences I'm able to do along with progress
updates. In Tales From the Mutiny I'll be posting more about our travels
in Alaska, including all of the great adventures we had prior to this
accident. Feel free to follow along either (or both) blogs. Labels: Alaska, Anchorage, injury, Mt. Marathon, Seward