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Mahoosuc Notch NH, An Unfortunate Trip Report, 7/15/09

billski

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Billski's unfortunate adventure

http://www.sunjournal.com/node/35994/

All I can say is that the rescue team was top-notch, competent, responsive, capable and compassionate. I was overwhelmed by their support and response while I was at an ultimate low. Kudos have been dispatched as I convalesce. They definitely saved me and I intend to thank them personally.
 

wa-loaf

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Wow Bill, that's some story. Hypothermia and everything! Glad you came out alright. Here's to a speedy recovery. :beer:
 

deadheadskier

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Glad you're okay

One of the through hikers didn't happen to be a red headed fellow named Phil from Washington DC? He's a very good friend who is doing the AT right now and would have been in that area around that time.
 

billski

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Glad you're okay

One of the through hikers didn't happen to be a red headed fellow named Phil from Washington DC? He's a very good friend who is doing the AT right now and would have been in that area around that time.

They were "Root Beer Float" (Steve Parrish) and "Ninja Bear Blue" (Dave Evans), both of Georgia.

There may be "trail magic", but these two were 'trail saints."

http://www.sunjournal.com/node/36456/
 

billski

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It could have been worse. I am cognitively with-it, thinking, talking, processing just fine, though still fatigued. I fell 6-9 feet and landed smack on the right side of my skull. I had brain bleed, inner ear bleed, cracked skull, lacerations and loss of hearing on one side. Sounds bad, huh? Unbelievably I am expected to recover completely without surgery. My wife escorts me through the house as the wooziness and hearing loss persists. The pain has subsided for the most part.

It took 2 1/2 hours to get me off the rocks and get a 911 signal, a total of 8 1/2 hours till I was off the mountain , another hour on a 4x4 ambulance over logging roads and 2 days in ICU. Been interviewed by reporters, on national newswire and on Boston TV. Not the kind of attention I had aspired to. The GPS was tracking the whole time, I just pulled out the unit and mapped the rescue onto Google Earth, it's pretty interesting to decompose. It's been quite a ride.. But to my wife's disappointment, I'm still eager to get back up the mountain....

Some images are here
http://www.iabsi.com/ski/2009/2009-07-15-Mahoosuc/

Followup story here: http://www.sunjournal.com/node/36456/



Thanks for the vibes.
 

Beetlenut

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Good Luck, Bill! And take it easy until ski season!! I'm headed up this weekend to that general area for a day hike. Might want to see a good chiropracter to get things put back from the impact. Glad you're around and coherent enough to talk about it!
 

playoutside

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Crazy story. Sounds as though you were very fortunate to encounter your "trail saints" and rescue crew. Be well. Focus on healing, don't try to hurry it along. Good to see you are well enough to share your adventure.
 

billski

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Thanks guys. Here are a couple google maps images with the GPS track overlaid. Where the blue line ceases is where i bit it. The short cliff runs up the sides were scouts looking for a helicopter rescue spot (none).

GoogleEarth_Image%201.jpg


Looking SW - Berlin NH is 13 miles out.

GoogleEarth_Image%20route%20to%20notch.jpg
 

deadheadskier

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so did you have the pleasure of hoping in the tube to get a brain MRI? I had the pleasure myself a few weeks ago. I'm not claustorphobic, but it was an odd sensation
 

billski

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so did you have the pleasure of hoping in the tube to get a brain MRI? I had the pleasure myself a few weeks ago. I'm not claustorphobic, but it was an odd sensation

Two Cat scans, one MRI. Up there there it's a portable MRI on a tractor trailer, moves between hospitals. You have to go outside to get to the MRI. I just close my eyes. The MRI when it's idle sounds just like our clothes washing machine!
 

deadheadskier

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The one I was in made all sorts of racket. But the tech was easy on the eyes, so that was nice after spending 45 minutes in the tube.
 

kingdom-tele

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DAMN! That is a crazy experience, glad your OK Bill, the notch is a bitch for sure, if I had been alone hiking it 4 years ago I would still there, snow collapsed and I went in a hole with no bottom (backpack got hung up) - hoping for a quick recovery for you
 

billski

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the notch is a bitch for sure, if I had been alone hiking it 4 years ago I would still there, snow collapsed and I went in a hole with no bottom
THAT is freaking scary. I can easily see how that can happen. The S&R lead is right, the notch leaves an impression on every hiker, one way or another. Even though most people make it safely through, there isn't much margin between you and disaster. The locals fear it's going to become "discovered" and popular. I don't think so. Keep sending them to Mt. Washington, please!
 
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