Did you ever wonder how an injured person feels "mentally" on the trail? When someone becomes injured on the trail, the way home can be very long – as I found out first hand this winter. I would like to relate my feelings and thoughts that went through my head during my injury only as a learning tool for leaders and future leaders of groups into the woods. I found it to be quite a learning experience for myself.

In January I joined fifteen other hikers for the Zealand Winter Hut trip. Day One was beautiful with fresh snow, lots of sunshine and smiles. Some of us even hiked the 6.2 miles to the hut in shorts. Suntan lotion was the tip of the day. Day Two brought flurries and cooler weather. Lots of options for hiking that day. I chose the 2.8 miles up Mt. Hale with six other hikers. Wayne Newton and Val Taylor were to be our leaders. We were moving at a steady pace and not having much of a problem with blowdowns from the recent ice storm. The trees were covered with snow and the trail had been broken out recently. We reached what appeared to be the summit of Mt. Hale, but after tramping around the area, decided we had not quite reached the summit. It was then 1:00 p.m. and after a lunch break, decided we did not have time to continue on to the summit. A little disappointing, but the appropriate decision. We had just started down a steep section of trail, when I was stretching out my leg to reach a flat area to land on my snowshoe – BAM – I felt a twinge of pain, my knee lost it’s strength, and bones shifted out of position. Rather than land on a knee which would not hold my body weight, I collapsed and rolled on my side sliding down the incline.

My first thought was "get up out of the snow, you’re going to be all wet." With help, I was able to stand and then tried to put weight on my leg – NO LUCK. Then my second thought was to keep moving as long as I could. Don’t let the muscles cool off and perhaps tighten up. My group was very willing to help in any way that they could. Brian Wood put my pack totally inside of his huge backpack and carried it out for me. Virginia Armstrong carried my water bottle and even gave me her cloth hankie (some times it’s those little things that get you through !) With the aide of my two ski poles, I was able to hobble – hop, jump and even slide up and down the trail back toward the hut. Sue Sharkie and Wanda Rice helped to support my climb up the short steep areas. The going was very slow. More thoughts that were running around in my head were, "I feel so bad to slow the group down like this", "I want to get out as far as I can under my own power". "If I really need help, all I have to do is ask, but I want to do as much as I can on my own."

In Mountain Leadership School they teach you to encourage an accident victim to do as much for themselves as possible. Not only does this make it easier on the rest of the group, but I know that I felt a lot better being able to do as much for myself as possible. Even though I truly believe my group would have done whatever was necessary to get me safely back to the hut, while I was able to move and function under my own power, I wanted to get as close as possible to the hut before asking for help. At one point Wayne looked me in the eye and said "How’s your knee?" I looked at him and replied, "it hurts" Then in his own special way, Wayne said, "I can use my axe and put you in my sled and haul you out". "I know", I replied. And I truly believe that he was willing to haul me out in his sled – but the axe ?

As luck would have it, we arrived back at Zealand Hut without the use of a sled. Lots of ice and snow on the knee, elevation of the knee and Vitamin I (ibuprofen) helped reduce the swelling and pain.

Day three now became the interesting day. How would I get out the 6.2 miles to the Route 302 parking lot? The knee was still stiff and sore. A sled ride out was still offered, but I felt that if I didn’t have a heavy pack, I should be able to make it out under my own power. The plan was that I would only take with me necessary gear: food, water, crampons, winter jacket, gloves, mittens and a dry shirt. My extra gear was to be left on my bunk for group members to pack out for me. I guess that is one way to get out of helping clean up the dishes from breakfast!

Bruce was to accompany me out. He also carried my snowshoes, just in case they were needed. Out of the hut we go with crampons on. My first order of business was to arrive safely at the bottom of the steep pitch from the hut. I soon found that this was best accomplished by the "seat of my pants" method. We (or actually I) made pretty good progress. We arrived at the summer parking lot area just ahead of the rest of the group. Had a quick snack with water and vitamin I and then off down Zealand Road before the muscles cooled off. It was a beautiful spring day with a couple of inches of fresh powder. I was able to continue out under my own power. When we arrived at the car, my leg was very swollen and sore. But the good news was that we had made it out.

My hike out that day was very long. The distance gave lots of time for thinking, "What would the out come of my knee problem be?" I already had a torn ACL from a ski accident six years earlier. "Was the ACL totally gone now?" "Will I ever be able to hike again?" "And if I can hike in the future, how long will it be before I’m back on the trail ?" The main things I realize from this problem on the trail is that an injured person does not want to be smothered with help. I felt so much better being allowed to do as much as I could on my own. But I knew help was there for the asking. A huge thank you goes to the 1998 Zealand Group for their "support."

The outcome of my accident is now rehabilitating from ACL reconstructive surgery. The prognosis is good, I should be able to do all the activities I enjoy and at the level that I have in the past.

I’m looking forward to seeing you on the hiking trails this Fall.