OK here is a new topic. For all those that have done a continuous Thru-Hike. How far did you get before you fell the first time? Going down to one knee is considered a “FALL”. Has anyone ever thru-hiked without Falling? I only made it to just north of Low Gap Shelter in Ga.
Subman class of 03
SUBMAN
My first fall was my second day into the Smokies, somewhere between Mollies Ridge Shelter and Derrick Knob Shelter. Day 22. Would’ve been sooner and a LOT more frequent if not for my trusty poles. I’m sure of it.
Leki-Less
since i know you subman, i’ll post. i fell within 100 steps from springer shelter, wrenched my left ankle and thought, gezz, i’m a long way from society…lol. now and then i just walk it off.
not to minimize the serious falls that have claimed life on the AT. Yogi i think it was, saw a pack, a guy fell getting water and died slipping on ice…you would have to investigate it, but that is what i think happened in 02…she heard about it in PA…much later in her hike.
i also know of folk who broke limbs and ended their hike.
there are also folks, who get multiple abrasions from serious but not hike ending falls.
i met a guy in 04 who fell out at dragon’s tooth. there are several places you could get hurt. he broke multiple ribs and kept carrying his 30-50LB pack. when i talked to him, he was a little disoriented, and yet hike more than i did.
i fell many times since and plan on hopefully running into some more falls, cause it means i am out there hiking and having fun.
oh, willow 04 fell when i dropped her into dismal creek falls…does that count.
burn
Although I did not finish my hike yet, I fell the very first day on my way down from Springer. I had hiked up from 42, signed in, then was headed back down. Before I even got the the parking lot, I slipped on a rock, and fell to my knees, skinning them pretty bad. I felt so stupid!
My worst fall was, of course, the one a Dripping Rocks in VA, about 15 miles south of Waynesboro. I did a face plant that gave the Dripping Rocks new meaning. Twelve stitches later I was ready to head out the next morning.
The church hostel there has before and after photos of me. Red Hat
Red Hat
I think everyone falls we just hope that we can escape without serious injury.
One of my first falls was inside the “fat man squeeze” shortcut section near Mt. Rogers and the Grayson highlands. I hit my head on the rock roof and fell backwards into the inverted turtle position. My biggest problem with a 40-50 lb. pack was to right myself again.
I’ve also fallen down hillsides after heavy rains. Those can tough as you crawl back to get on the trail. I remember climbing over a downed pine tree over the trail in the Nantahala forest and as I straddled the tree my pack shifted and was catapulted to the ground…ouch.
Doc Holiday
I remember telling Pigpen and Celtic (SOBOs I camped with in the Smokies) that I had already fell four times in the first 200 miles. They said “big deal” and “you will loose track.” I did stopped counting, but throughout the entire hike I’m sure I fell more than 30 times, most happened in the snow and ice in the first half of the trail. When I hiked with Freeman through the heaviest snow, he was able to count my daily falls even though he was usually out of sight. The body-sized print in the snow gives it away everytime. I also remember falling a lot in Vermont during mud season. AND in Maine on all of those wooden boardwalks/planks.
The best falls are when you fall backward onto your pack, all impact is absorbed by the pack and it usually ends up being a pretty good resting position.
Interesting topic Subman–I WONDER if anyone has thru-hiked without falling.
Hydro Heidi
My first fall was on the approach trail. A branch on the ground got in between my feet. On my second step I went right down…we just completed Maine which happened to be mostly a mud pit this time of year, I probably fell over 30 times just in that state.
piker
I also am interested if anyone has not fallen during their thru-hike (I consider a fall when any part of your body between your wrists and ankles touches the ground). In 1990, I made it to Maine wihtout falling, having my first one in Mahoosuc Notch. The pressure was off then (like a picther losing a no-hitter in the beginning of the ninth inning), and I fell several more times in Maine. However, this year I set my personal best at the age of 55. I only fell once - going up the Webster Cliff Trail out of Crawford Notch in the Whites. I credit my passion for dancing the last ten years with helping improve my trail balance/agility.
warren doyle
I figure I have to answer to this one being my trailname was “Wipeout”…you get that sort of trailname when you fall flat on your face going UPhill right in front of your hiking buddy. I actually don’t remember exactly where that happened, but it was somewhere in GA or NC.:lol
Hey…at least I didn’t fall on Katahdin!
Wipeout
Last year on the PCT Toek was hiking in front of me as we approached the Canadian border… less than a mile to go he stepped on some wet grass and went down for the first time of the entire hike! I would’ve been so pissed!
trainwreck