Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

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MooseTracks
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Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by MooseTracks »

I firmly believe that if I keep telling the boys that I really am a fragile flower, that someone will start to believe it.

My buddie Paul, who had crashed at the Moose Lodge for the weekend, and I headed south early Sunday morning. After a quick bite at, where else (??), the High Sierra Cafe in LP, we drove south to meet up with Tom and a wonderful gaggle of other hikers at the Pine Creek Canyon turnoff (south of Jawbone). The objective of the day was Cross and Chuckwalla Peaks (come on, Chuckwalla? Ranks right up there with CLLLLLLOOOOUUUUDDDRRRRRRRIIIIPPPPPPPPPEEERRRRR!!!) Tom filled me in on the Baldy fun as we drove up the 4WD road to the parking spot.

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It was windy and chilly in the hills, and a Sierra Wave loomed overhead as we started up the jeep roads.

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Wildflowers lined both sides of the road, although a lot were still closed against the chill and wind of the morning. They opened later when the sun finally emerged from behind the wave.

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So maybe I was transfixed by the flowers. Maybe I was tired. Maybe I didn't have enough coffee that morning. Maybe, maybe, maybe... I dunno what was going on, but I was the world's biggest moose in a china shop Sunday. I'm not a klutz, really. First one rock gave way, sending me into a bush (hey, at least it wasn't a cholla!), leaving a nice road burn on the side of my leg. Then, right below the base of Cross, I was traversing when: left foot down, rock gave way, fell forward flat on my face. I actualy didn't feel my hand get sliced, I just know it was bleedin' like a sumbitch when I stood up. And then I saw parts that I really shouldn't see. Ew.

More scared than anything, and with Alice's help, I stumbled down to the bottom of the drainage while the rest of the group 'mobilized'. Thankfully someone had a squirt bottle with water (try takin' a fire hose to sunburn, that's about the feeling, but at least it got clean!), and others had plenty of gauze and Coban. Tom made an outstanding operating table with his hands under mine! Once patched up, and a little shaky, I got up, donned pack, and, well, started for the peak! :o Yup, it's a sickness.

After a few steps, and some gentle encouragement from the peanut gallery, I turned around, and Tom and I headed back to the trucks. We were in no rush, and of course I had to get in my moment of bliss for the day:

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(Note the bandaged hand being so tenderly cradled. Actually, it really didn't hurt beyond stinging!)

The two of us made it back to the green thing and enjoyed a brew:
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Then headed back to Ridgecrest to the ER, where we just couldn't stop giggling:
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Now, yes, there are pics on my site. No, I won't post them here, and I would ask the same of others. The cut was about an inch long at the base of my first finger on the right. When the PA (Yeah, Frank!!) came in to start numbing it up, I just gritted teeth and tried to hold still. Eight stitches later (seven remain, he had to redo one), I was GTG and wrapped for my next match with the outdoors:

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I took Tom out to dinner as a thanks for staying with me in the ER (actually he was only there to do the photojournalism, Cori would be SOOOO proud!). And as long as I could hold my margarita, I knew I'd be fine.

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There are mixed responses I've already heard. Either I need to A) slow down a bit and maybe take a weekend off :o ; or B) whatcha doin' next weekend?

In all seriousness, it was a freak thing, not overtly life threatening or serious, but I was very glad to have been with some great people when it happened. Thanks Glenn, Nate, Kathy (I seem to have broken my leg.), Alice, Paulie, and Tom!! :grin:

I hear the dunes at Stovepipe Wells are nice this time of year...

Rest of the pics are here.

-L :cool:
"Why do I climb? Quite simply because the mountains and I had to meet." - Colette Richard

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics621
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by giantbrookie »

Goodness, you're doing some nice climbs but getting damaged in the process. Nice taste in beer, by the way.
Since my fishing (etc.) website is still down, you can be distracted by geology stuff at: http://www.fresnostate.edu/csm/ees/facu ... ayshi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by KathyM »

The things we fragile flowers have to do to get attention... Saaayyyy is that PINK tape wrapped around the wrist?? =D>
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by MooseTracks »

Damaged? Ahhh, it's only a flesh wound! :rolleyes:

Kathy, no. No pink. Ever. :\ :lol:

-L :cool:
"Why do I climb? Quite simply because the mountains and I had to meet." - Colette Richard

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics621
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by Snow Nymph »

You did a great job getting the pics of it all! Just as I would have! :D Proud of you, Moosie!

My face hit ice while snowboarding in 2002, and I had a concussion. I was out of it for about 5 min, but apparently I told SnowDude to take pix of the blood on the snow. When I looked at pix on my camera, I had already taken one! :eek: Even when I'm out of it I'm taking pix!

I HAVE to see those flowers! Sometime soon!

Hope you heal fast!
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


http://snownymph.smugmug.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by tomcat_rc »

well I have aimed for Cross 3 times this year without sitting on top - the flowers were cold in the morning and did not want to open up until midday - I bet the afternoon show was even better.
Yeah at the hospital I was surprised they let me take pictures. I have two of the actual stitching being run through the bloody flesh - how is that.

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and of course - finish it off with "high maintenance women" shot:
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more pictures:
http://tomcat-rc.smugmug.com/photos/276 ... 9e-L-1.jpg
mountain hiking is addictive:
I can quit anytime I want - I just choose not to want
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by MooseTracks »

I'm not high maintenance, just expensive!! :lol:

Thanks, Tom, for everything. =D> =D> =D>
"Why do I climb? Quite simply because the mountains and I had to meet." - Colette Richard

http://www.flickr.com/photos/moosepics621
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Re: Fragile Flower: Cross Mountain Area

Post by Quandary »

Wow, the flowers were amazing! Even though maybe you did get a bit closer to them than you wanted. ; ) Nothing a nice, cold beer pressed firmly to the wound won't fix, or even if you drink the beer. :)
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