4.9 miles of hiking • 1500' elevation gain •
Alone.
I Fell.
Trail fell out from under me as I stepped aside to let a dude pass by uphill.
Right near where the nasty icy slide/washout was this winter, above Weisendanger and Ecloa falls, but before the Larch junction.
An over-hanging mud cornice of a trail released without warning, and I fell into the thorny bramble 40ft above Multnomah Creek. Nothing but air and blackberries under my feet, and no solid holds at all to get back up.
Got out with the strangers help, a long 5 minutes. Banged-up bloody and muddy, but I walked it back to the car.
Lessons learned:
1. Always step to the INSIDE to let uphill traffic pass.
2.The green stuff at the cliff edge will support your weight (kind of.)
3. Thanks Stranger! This was 90% of a SAR call in the making.
4. If you plan on getting hurt don't do it at Multnomah Falls, so EMBARRASSING.
Comments
Roman
July 12, 2014
I like your #4. But agree with Jeremiah - it only takes a second. I once had close call a few years ago, slid off very steep snow bank FAR away from the trail... no traction devices... used my shoulder in a way one would use an ice ax, before I really started sliding - it worked.
Roman
July 12, 2014
err. used elbow, not shoulder.
Glad it ended well and that you had many people around who could help.
JM
July 8, 2014
Wow, this is sobering. I've been really lucky to have stayed relatively unscathed and no close calls over the years. It only takes one second. Glad you were okay, aside from your pride!