|
 I
very nearly died the other day
It was a nice clear crisp morning as we pulled into the Spray Lakes
Road parking lot. The thermometer read -2'C. I backed the car into
the far corner to be as shaded as possible, knowing it would be
a clear sunny day.
As we started the hike up Chinaman's Peak we crossed the Spray Lakes
aquifer. It was so calm the mountains reflected on its surface perfectly!
 The
hike up was mellow and very slow, taking lots of breaks. Last time
we did this we didn't really have anything in our packs (not skiing)
and the snow was fresh, not the refrozen junk and water ice we were
scrambling over on our way up. The views from the ridgeline are
quite spectacular for what is an hour and a half's hike without
ski gear.
After a short scramble across some soggy scree we were at the top
of town gully looking down on Canmore. Gear on and time to go.
The ground just dropped away
One turn 2 turns DISASTER! I just broke through the surface layer
and dropped 70-80cm straight down. I then started to slide downhill
very quickly. I tried to stand and ski, gaining speed all the time
whilst still trying to ski left or right out of the slide. I headed
into the gut of the chute at about 45 degrees, doing (at a guess)
around 100kph (60mph). At this point my skis were ripped off - tail
first...
From here on I was tumbled, whilst being thrown
airborne for seconds at a time, all the time trying to swim. When
the slope widened beyond the choke, the snowpack ripped out wide
and dropped another meter. Eventually I slowed to about 10kph, now
flat on my back on top of the debris, still with both poles but
no skis, hat or shades. I rolled right for a few meters onto the
stationary snowpack beside the slide.
The slide from above,
taken two weeks ago. |
From afar you can see how far I fell |
The slide path, taken from
the hospital parking lot |
The path of the slide
I had gone 300m (1000ft +) vertically, and just a little more horizontally.
Looking down from above I slid round the corner, but don't remember
this turn (the red line). From a far you can see how far I fell.
Closer in, you can see where I think my skis were ripped off (blue
dot) and where I rolled out of the slide (yellow line).
Above me some 200m (5-600ft) was a screaming and rather distressed
looking Mel with one pole and one ski on. When she laid eyes on
me waving my pole she stopped screaming and started hiking upwards.
Looking up and around I could see one of my skis sticking out of
the snow, and I hoped the other one might be around somewhere. I'd
retrieved my hat from the sliding debris. The only thing I'd definitely
lost was my shades.the second pair of black Oakley's in an avalanche
- note to self never wear black Oakley's skiing again!
 Need
to get out of here
Ok I'm in one piece... sort of . Time to get out of here .I started
to, at least tried to, hike up to get my ski. I very quickly found
my left shoulder hurt a lot and my left knee hurt like hell and
wouldn't work properly. I proceeded to drag myself uphill to my
ski. By this time Mel was now not far above me and now on 2 skis
- a very welcome sight. She managed to find my other ski.not far
above and brought it down to me.
Both skis on and time to leave. Skiing amid debris
is no fun, but when the debris is starting to set and the snow along
side is bottomless slop its is even less enjoyable. Couple that
with trying to mono because my left knee wont co-operate and the
fact that I'm on Super stiff Bros that have to be driven hard (at
least by lightweight me) to turn. I started screaming at my skis,
telling them they will co-operate.
It's not over yet
Right near the end of the snow either my legs or my concentration
gave out completely and instead of gaping my way down I tumblled,
my good leg beneath my bad one which twisted. I just lay there and
screamed for a bit. Mel swam, wallowed and crawled here way up to
me and undid by bindings. Leaning on my poles and Mel carrying my
skis I hobbled to the snowline.
 From
here we could see the lower car park and it wasn't even 1pm. We
decided to try self evacuate and avoid calling in Parks Canada to
collect my sorry arse. With both pairs of skis on Mel's pack and
now in my hiking boots we set off slowly.
Scree, shrubbery, bits of snow bits of ice and rock.very
slow going. At some point I dropped one of my boots off my pack
but didn't notice for quite a while. It took poor Mel quite a while
to scramble back up and retrieve it.
The long walk out
Looking down where I have to go I am disheartened - loose scree
is tough at the best of times, no fun to hobble through. Through
scree, and then wood and finally across the dog park - it took me
4 hours to hobble probably 3-4km. Lots of time spent just leaning
against my ski poles trying not to loose my sense of humour, with
the ever-resilient Mel now carrying not just both pairs of skis
but one of my boots as well.
Before heading to hospital we headed up to retrieve my car. I was
now in major discomfort but not pain. My shoulder didn't like being
used and my knee had completely seized up. Back at the upper parking
lot my diligent parking had paid off. Nice cold water still in my
spare water bottle; both Mel and I had run out of water hours earlier
and were suffering a bit from dehydration, with the temperature
now up to 20'C.
Please put on this gown
At Canmore hospital they made me strip and wear a gown. I was complaining
about my knee not my arse, but that was bare anyway. My knee by
now had a bit of swelling maybe 1cm but not much more. The doc pushed
and pulled and twisted my lower leg, causing me to wince and squeak
a few times, but he said that I'd probably stretched/partially torn
my lateral ligaments and done some meniscus damage.
As I wasn't in a large amount of pain I should stay
away from painkillers as that would let me walk on it and do more
damage. So along with my first set of crutches I was discharged
from hospital. On my drive home I felt the need to pay Tim Horton's
a visit for Donuts and coffee.
Swapping skis for a TV
My season is over. Ouch. Just as I became unemployed and had time
to ski, I am now stuck with TV and internet for entertainment for
the foreseeable future.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mel for getting me out of Town
gully. Solo I would have had to abandon most of my gear followed
by calling in the emergency services.
Report
from Tom Greenall - Natives Senior
Resort Reporter.
Season workers lost in Tignes
Backcountry riding is a dangerous activity and always entails a
risk. Sadly, only last week, two more season workers lost their
lives in Tignes. Our thoughts go out to their friends and families.
There is a thread on the chat room where you can post
your comments. Ed.
Mail
this page to a friend
What do you think? Tell us in the Chat
Room |
