Bummer - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I hit the trail last Monday and am home already. What a bummer. Coming out of Neel’s Gap I slipped and fell and sliced my arm open on what I hope was the only broken glass on the trail. After policing up the glass I hiked 2 miles back to Neel’s for my trip to the emergency room. I thought I would only need some stitches and I would be back out there. However, I severed a tendon and a nerve so I will be out of commission for several weeks at least. I will get back out there just not sure when. It is just A HUGE bummer!

Big Slick

#2

Ending your hike because it’s not what you want is bad enough; ending it because of injury really is hard. I’ve known a few who had to get off the trail that way. Getting momentum back to go hiking later in the season is especially hard. It is almost easier to wait a year and start from scratch. Alternatively, can you rearrange your mental plans to do a southbound hike, starting in July? You should be healed by then, and it might be better than starting alone so late in the season when the south is hot and overgrown.

Ginny

#3

Crappy deal. :frowning:

Toes

#4

I was in Mtn Crossings when a guy came in telling to please call the EMTs, as someone had fallen and gotten cut pretty badly.

Sorry to hear of your unfortunate incident. Hope you heal soon.

Tabasco

#5

sucks brother man… but special K ain’t going no where soon… she’ll wait fer u

Aswah

#6

I thought about a SB hike but I just can’t do it, so I was thinking of a flip flop or something. At this point I have no idea when I can get back, I should know tomorrow after my surgery. I know Special K isn’t going anywhere but it is just a bummer, but oh well, what can you do. I do have to give a big thanks to all the guys that work at Neel’s they were great and a special thanks to Fred who shuttled me around and got me into Gainesville to rent a car for the ride home. We shall see what tomorrow brings.

Big Slick

#7

Best of luck with it…keep us posted.

Mini-Mosey

#8

I do sympathize with your situation. But there is a lesson in there somewhere that will benefit you.

Good luck, I hope you get well soon.

Tha Wookie

#9

wow, Big Slick… it appears that you handled the whole incident very well – all prayers and white light and postive energy to your speedy recovery and return to the trail.

If you don’t mind the questions - which tendon and nerve did you sever? Did the operation go well?

Wild Hare

#10

Since I can only hike the same sections, NY-NJ, I get to see this amazing thing; Glass keeps reappearing! it’s almost like someone wants to plant broken glass on the trail. Now that I’ve read your post, I’ve made up my mind to carry a nice thick trash bag on my hikes to pick the junk up (since I’m only out for 3-4 days max). Not exactly my favorite thing, but who wants to ruin a thru-hike!

DoubleRev

#11

Hey, Big Slick!
It is a bummer, but no worries, brother!

You have plenty of time to heal, recover and get back out there. I just hiked 338 miles to Erwin and had to take some time off for what looks like a stress fracture in my right tibia. Nothing showed up on x-rays, but got an MRI scheduled that should tell the tale. I’ll probably be off for six weeks.

The Trail will still be there!
Just think how much nicer the weather will be later in the season. :wink:

~~Blackbird

Blackbird

#12

My sister had to get over 40 stitches in her leg because some idiot threw a bottle in the woods and she fell on it, and I’ve cut my feet going barefoot about 5 times. (you should be able to go barefoot in nature)
I don’t understand why people do this, laziness, ignorance, malicious intent??? It just seems to go way beyond littering, by throwing glass around you are endangering lifes. whatever the reasoning, that sucks for you and your plans. I am truly sorry and hope your healing is quick.

gang

#13

You just never know what the trail will teach you! I had a serious accident BEFORE I even got on the trail last year, so I was only able to hike 1100 miles in 2004. But I am filled with gratitude for each of those miles, and will never take them for granted. The journey is often unexpected and not at all what you had planned, but it is nonetheless your journey and your adventure if you let yourself adapt to the new situation and keep your dream alive. The dream may be a bit different than you had expected, but it may turn out to be even better. You just never know. Good luck and enjoy the trail in whatever way you can!

Rainbow

#14

I know where you are coming from dude. I was having a Discectomy/Lamenectomy of my L-4 disc the day before Zero and I were to begin our month long training hike along the AT.We were headed for the PCT this year. On march 20th I was parylized from the waist down due to Cauda Equina Syndrome, today I am walking un-aided for up to 100 or so steps. The spinal surgeon seems to think Zero and I will be on the PCT 2006. Just keep the mental part as positive as you can and TALK with your hiking buddies and it will work out. As Wookie said, there is a lesson to be learned. I feel that as Jardine says the person is a tripod and I had been sorely lacking in my spiritual leg. With a large dose of humility learned in the last month things are improving. So again, look for the positive in the situation. Zero has been my inspiration thus far to recover. Did I mention look for the positive? peace yo-yo
ps feel free to email me if you get bummed to badly or you just want to say this sucks again

YO-YO

#15

Firs of all thanks for all the kind words of encouragement.
They go a long way in getting me motivated, so thanks again. Here is the skinny for those interested. I had my 1st surgical consultation todaym and unfortunately there is nothing he can do now since I managed to get poison ivy close to my cut. So I have to wait until that is cleared up before they will take a look inside and see what is going on. I have good movement in my hands but some defintie nerve damage and that is the big concern. As far as my tendon goes, I may have lucked out and severed an “extra” tendon that we all have. Who knew. Anyway I will know more next week. Again, thanks for all the kind words and I will update next week. See you out there and no worries I will find the lesson in all this and make sure I enjoy the trail as much as I can, no matter how many miles I get to put in.

Big Slick