The Big Hurt
As my first ever blog goes this one may be a bit painful,but here it goes.
The trip started out fairly uneventful.I Was in search of a hidden fall on the Trent river. As it turns out it was actually not far from the actual Trent river falls which I had been to on several occasions in the past.As I had captured several shot of the hidden falls and a a few from Trent falls I had always wanted to shoot it from the other side of the river but being that the snow packs were still fairly high and the not so recent rain made the creek a little trick to wade through unlike in the summer time. So decided to head back to the highway and cross there and scout if there had been a trail or path that skirted the south side of the river. Luckily or unluckily depending on how you look at it there was such a trail. Well it started out as a quite an impressive trail as if atv's had frequented it. as I walked I could hear the falls getting closer and closer and as i reached the area visible of the falls I could see that I was past them a little bit.As I back tracked looking for a trail down i was not in any luck.As I was about to call it a day I noticed that there was a less inclined way down. As I gazed upon this steep graded cliff I became weary if I should continue but as im thinking this ive already started my decent.Im now about fifteen feet down and i notice that the bottom is quite always down there and to get back to the top would be tricky considering i am packing a good amount of camera gear a tripod, aluminum I might add and not carbon fiber which is considerably lighter, note to self, and water and provisions. As I almost always try and be as prepared as I most possible can. Which always adds weight as most of you may know.So as I am perched on the side of this steep embankment which is mostly loose shale. and for some reason which I cannot figure out I loose my footing and start to lean to the right.Making sure as to protect my camera which yes,I know it is a bit foolish and my personal safety should first and foremost but I didnt see it as being too risky.Well I was wrong and as I take my next step I would realize just how wrong. As I fell I landed on my right shoulder and as soon as it made contact with the ground all i could hear was and feel was this unmistakable "pop", as my shoulder has popped out of its socket.I have broken and sprained a good number of my joints but have never have I had this happen.This was a new feeling of pain altogether plus you have no mobility with that arm.So as I stood there in quite a bit of agony my choice was clear, I would have to attempt to go down cause climbing up with one arm was no option.I am now only four or five step from where i dislocated my shoulder. When i try to pop it back into place with no luck. But as fate my have it or just dumb luck i lose my footing again and down i go on the same shoulder and again "pop" it goes back into place. Elated at first but still reeling in discomfort I now make my way down to the bottom sliding on my ass as if i was tobogganing down a snowy hill only this was dirt, rocks, mud and small branches not white fluffy snow. now that im at the bottom I now have to cross this river, which in retrospect I should have just crossed in the first place. But I did not want to get wet.So now im left with no choice but to wade through this river with one arm grasping my walking stick to brace myself as i ever so slowly wade across this knee deep river. Luckily I found the area with the shallowest and least amount of rapids to go through and soon I was on the other side.Now all that stood in my ways was the trail that went up the steep ravine which was guided by ropes to pull your self along to the top. Needless to say it was a bit of a struggle to push to the top with one arm and a slightly heavy pack but i finally made it to the top no worse the wear and now was a short twenty minute walk wiched seemed like an hour considering the pain i was still in to get to my vehicle. Once at the vehicle i new i was going to be ok even if it was an hour drive.
My lesson I have learned in this unlucky incident was that no matter how cautious or careful you think are there is always a chance that something can go wrong. And when things do go sideways you need to be prepared for anything.I was lucky that I was not far from my vehicle and within cell phone range.Things could of been alot worse and I could have been even further from civilization. With that being said I always make sure im good for at least a couple of days in the wood but and injury can change everything very quickly. So heed my warning be prepared.