High Sierra Topix

Rockyroad wrote:I never thought that I wouldn't make it. No panic at all. Plus I was thinking Hobbes was coming down the same way the next day so would look out for him.

I hadn't seen a soul since the evening before on the west shore of TI lake. It was so peaceful & empty - it's impossible to imagine that SAR activity had taken place there the day before. I came to the waterfall and started looking around for a way down. If I had seen you down there, I can only imagine the adrenaline rush and complete change of experiences.

As it was, it's like one of those fantasy stories where you can have two alternate timelines, with mine continuing oblivious & unaware.

Rockyroad wrote:

hiac wrote:Thank you for your write up. Glad you are recovering. If you don't mind, I have some questions:
1) you mentioned:
I did ask them to reattach my tendon since I was worried it might shrink and lose elasticity.
later you said:
I was still half asleep but I also heard him say he did not reattach the tendon. I now realize this was best
is reattach good or bad?

2) you down climb the cliff, is it Class 3 or 4? is it slippery or lose rock?

3) do you need to buy extra insurance (besides your medical insurance) to cover helicopter rescue mission?

4) did you receive any Wilderness First Aid Training & Courses (such as from REI)? bring any first aid kits? Every time when I pack, I struggle on what first aid kits to bring.

5) do you ever have any thought that you will not make it? panic, recording will?

6) how do you prepare for the shelter for the night, in case no one come?

7) is it better to lower the backpacker first? in other word, backpacker cause the in-balance?
Hope you recover soon!

in that youtube video, 2:24, someone are naked there?

I'm glad that the hospital at Merced didn't reattach the tendon because I preferred to have that done at a hospital closer to home and with a trusted surgeon.
Cliff was class 3. It was slippery, solid rock.
Helicopter rescue was operated by CHP Air Operations. No bill.
I haven't taken any wilderness first aid training courses. I do carry a first aid kit but nothing in it could have addressed my injuries.
I never thought that I wouldn't make it. No panic at all. Plus I was thinking Hobbes was coming down the same way the next day so would look out for him.
I had my backpack with me so was prepared to pull out my sleeping bag if necessary. Also, the lake below me didn't seem too far. I still had one good leg and one good arm so wasn't totally immobile.
My backpack had nothing to do with the fall. I wasn't careful and just slipped unexpectedly.
The CHP Air Ops crew wore tan/beige uniforms.

When you climb down, do you face rock? Have you travel back to that spot and attempt to do it one more time, maybe with a partner? How does that experience change you except the lesson learned. Seems like you continue to plan for the solo trip.

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hiac wrote: When you climb down, do you face rock? Have you travel back to that spot and attempt to do it one more time, maybe with a partner? How does that experience change you except the lesson learned. Seems like you continue to plan for the solo trip.

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The last thing I remember was sitting on top of the granite slide, going through my options. So I guess I was facing away from the rock. I don't need to go back and try it again for closure. However, I am curious how the landing spot looks. But mainly, I'd like to someday do the loop I had planned out. If I did, I wouldn't climb down the same place.

Just curious when you were in the Lake Catherine area last summer. I went solo through there and then on to Twin lakes during the first 2 weeks of August. I'm a 68 year old female and found that route to be fairly rugged. I basically followed Roper's route, although I'm certain that I veered off of it at times. Wondering if I just missed you!

Also, you've validated the reason I carry the SPOT device and am encouraged that your rescue was so swift. I didn't have any dramatic event on my trip, but did end up with a very painful abscessed tooth, which then reaffirmed why I always carry a high-powered pain killer and an antibiotic. They saved me until I could walk out.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Sierrapam, thanks for reading my story. I'm glad you were able to work your way to Twin Island Lakes and enjoy the area, despite your tooth pain. Maybe I can complete the trip sometime in the future. Having the SPOT really saved me. Funny thing is, I just got rid of the SPOT and bought an Inreach. I would have had to upgrade to a Gen3 SPOT anyways but I liked the text messaging capabilities of the Inreach.

.....

I don't know how I missed this thread for a full year, but am so glad to read your account and that you are on the way to recovery. I have never gone solo except for day hikes on well populated trails. Your story illustrates how important it is for those going solo to take extra precautions re. itinerary and emergency communicators. Thanks for sharing the story.

2. Use a satellite communications device that pings your location at regular intervals. If I had stayed unconscious, I would not have been able to signal for rescue.

Thanks for this great post. I am glad that you are doing better.
When going solo I do use the 5-min tracking feature of the SPOT for this reason. A SPOT-3 can go weeks with no battery change, even in 5-minute tracking mode.
A corollary is to discuss with those watching your tracks when to call the authorities, and when not. For a time I was sending an OK message when stopping, but of course the individual messages don't always make it through. I often have one-hour tracking dropouts in some canyons. But combined with an itinerary, the SPOT tracks narrow the search area considerably.

Like Tom_H, I somehow missed this thread. Amazing story and good recommendations. CHP is great, their service is free though they fly pretty heavy and on a hot day are limited to where they can go at altitude.

I second Cameronm's satellite tracking settings. Five or 10 minute intervals obviously help narrow a search area. I know there's huge resistance to many kinds of tech on a hike but, boy, does active tracking make a search and rescue easier. I would strongly urge anyone hiking solo to carry some sort of satellite gizmo. Mav just posted a solo hiker in Yosemite who's overdue with a storm moving in. Only a rough idea of his route (and there's a reminder to use Mav's form to leave both in your vehicle and with a responsible friend or relative). For a Sat device I'd recommend InReach but SPOT is good too. And Cameronm is right that you want to talk over how long to wait before calling a lack of signal or signal not moving. NPS gets a fair number of calls from worried family not realizing the limits of the tech. When there's no afternoon check-in, say, they call NPS. I think I've posted elsewhere the limits and considerations for satellite signalling gizmos. Anyway, definitely consider getting one.

At the moment, I can think of 5 people in the Sierra over the last few years who haven't been found. All hiking solo, several on day hikes.

I got an InReach because as I age, the probability goes up on injury. Two sprained ankles and one hairline fracture on the left ankle (didn't know it was broken.) The two-way texting is a bonus. I can also use it for others who might be in distress on the trail. I do not let the family track me. Best left for an independent friend with a level head and knows how I hike.