- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
- Messages
- 34,252
It's coming up on a year since I had a life changing survival encounter. There are many who post about what if's. I survived a most challenging
survival situation that could have ended my life. I am still dealing with the after effects that I'm told will last as long as I'm here on earth.
I deal with pain everyday and it's become a way of life.
It started out as a late night walk to search for some good walking stick material along a stretch of railroad tracks not to far from my home. I broke a very important rule. I left no message or itinerary. I ended up at a section of track that had a lot of thick growth near the edges. Having no luck locating a suitable stick, I decided to turn back. I came to a section of bridge that I'd crossed earlier on the other side. It was clear evening and I
thought I could negotiate it without a light. Big mistake! I remember taking a step and experiencing a free fall.
The first thing I remember was the horrendous impact, followed by a tremendous shock wave of pain. It took me a minute or so to process the situation that I was in. I knew I was hurt real bad but, I thought I could handle this one. I was very wrong. I tried to move off the huge rock that I'd fallen onto at a height of at least 15 feet. I could not even get up on all fours. I tried to crawl on my elbows while dragging my legs and hips.
It was way too painful. I was really in a state of denial and thought I could crawl on my elbows out of the freezing cold stream and up a steep brush choked slope to safety. Man was I mistaken.
The feeling of being totally alone, with my lower body immobile in a freezing creek bottom triggered my primal survival response. I knew by then that I could not rise above mt elbows and knees. That was when the gravity of the situation hit me. If I passed out because because of shock or hypothermia, I would die in that creek.
I then assessed my situation and realized that contact was the only choice to live through this mess. I searched my pockets for a tool to help me get out of there alive. I had a Spyderco Endura and a Streamlight Scorpion flashlight.
I removed the soak and wet flashlight and to my delight it had survived the tremendous impact. The only land mark that I could see was an old warehouse. I focused the powerful beam on the side of it. I had tried hollering for help to no avail.
It seemed like forever, but a couple of women working the night shift had seen my bursts of 3 beams in succession from my light. They called 911 for help. It was another 25 minutes until l rescue arrived. It took the team close to an hour to get me out of the ravine. The pain by then was unbearable. I had broken my pelvis in 5 places and had bruises all over my body.
A powerfull flaslight saved my life that fateful, cold night. I now never travel anywhere without a good light and of course a solid knife. Most importantly. I always let someone know where I'm going.
survival situation that could have ended my life. I am still dealing with the after effects that I'm told will last as long as I'm here on earth.
I deal with pain everyday and it's become a way of life.
It started out as a late night walk to search for some good walking stick material along a stretch of railroad tracks not to far from my home. I broke a very important rule. I left no message or itinerary. I ended up at a section of track that had a lot of thick growth near the edges. Having no luck locating a suitable stick, I decided to turn back. I came to a section of bridge that I'd crossed earlier on the other side. It was clear evening and I
thought I could negotiate it without a light. Big mistake! I remember taking a step and experiencing a free fall.
The first thing I remember was the horrendous impact, followed by a tremendous shock wave of pain. It took me a minute or so to process the situation that I was in. I knew I was hurt real bad but, I thought I could handle this one. I was very wrong. I tried to move off the huge rock that I'd fallen onto at a height of at least 15 feet. I could not even get up on all fours. I tried to crawl on my elbows while dragging my legs and hips.
It was way too painful. I was really in a state of denial and thought I could crawl on my elbows out of the freezing cold stream and up a steep brush choked slope to safety. Man was I mistaken.
The feeling of being totally alone, with my lower body immobile in a freezing creek bottom triggered my primal survival response. I knew by then that I could not rise above mt elbows and knees. That was when the gravity of the situation hit me. If I passed out because because of shock or hypothermia, I would die in that creek.
I then assessed my situation and realized that contact was the only choice to live through this mess. I searched my pockets for a tool to help me get out of there alive. I had a Spyderco Endura and a Streamlight Scorpion flashlight.
I removed the soak and wet flashlight and to my delight it had survived the tremendous impact. The only land mark that I could see was an old warehouse. I focused the powerful beam on the side of it. I had tried hollering for help to no avail.
It seemed like forever, but a couple of women working the night shift had seen my bursts of 3 beams in succession from my light. They called 911 for help. It was another 25 minutes until l rescue arrived. It took the team close to an hour to get me out of the ravine. The pain by then was unbearable. I had broken my pelvis in 5 places and had bruises all over my body.
A powerfull flaslight saved my life that fateful, cold night. I now never travel anywhere without a good light and of course a solid knife. Most importantly. I always let someone know where I'm going.
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