Well, I went hiking the other day, but it did not turn out like I planned. Started out good, it was a beautiful day. I had seen a cool looking cave near a waterfall the other day when the family and I had gone out exploring, so I thought I would attempt to get to it and check it out. Well, I started on a well worn path, which then turned less worn until I got to a place where water run off was. I was near the edge of a roughly 15 foot straight drop and then a 90 degree slope of another 20 feet or so. My gut told me to go around the wet area, and normally I would have listened, but did not for some reason.
So I took the step, slipped and fell over the cliff. I landed on my feet, but they could not take the impact (not as young as I used to be), so they gave out and I rolled over. I landed on my butt and continued to slide another 15 feet or so, until I finally came to a rock and tree and stopped myself. Survival instincts kicked in and I did a personal inventory…nothing missing or gushing blood. I then realized my glasses, hat and wallet were gone, so I had to climb back up 15 feet to get them back. I realized that something was not right with my knee and my foot as my foot hurt bad and knee kept giving out.
I was worried and not quite sure how to get out as I would have to climb back up. So I wandered around and luckily ran into a guy who was fishing. He could not believe it when I told him, he said people had died on those cliffs and I was lucky, which I did not question! Then he told me the “easy” way up, as I had apparently taken the “hard” way down. So I finally made my way back up the gorge and to my car and home.
I made it to the doctor and after series of X-rays, came away with my foot broken in three spots, sprained thumb, multiple cuts and bruises. I have an appointment for a MRI on my knee next week to see if there is any soft tissue damage, but no bones were broke.
This is not what I had in mind when I listed go hiking more often as a goal, but at least I am still here to hike another day!
