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From Rick Kent's Facebook page Had a great time in Englestead Canyon on Friday. Saturday not so good. At the 1st rap into Gunsight Canyon a huge boulder next to the rappel station decided to roll loose and I was in the way. The good news is that I managed not to fall 200 feet down the exposed face. Bad news is my lower left leg was crushed resulting in numerous fractures. Since we hadn't yet completed the 1st rap Darija was able to go for help as I sat in a precarious position. NPS SAR decided to bring in a chopper and used a short haul lift to pull me and my rescuer off the face. At the hospital in St George it took a plate and 9 screws to reattach all the fractured pieces. The foot surgery went about as well as could be expected though one or two things couldn't be salvaged. The drive home from St George yesterday was miserable. Pain seems to be coming under control today finally. I'll be on crutches for a couple months. I'm not sure how long it will take before I can get back to hiking. Right now I'm really just thankful that the rock didn't kill me. I easily could have fallen 200 feet to my death. Guess that's about all for now. I need to get back to some rest.
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Best wishes to Rick for a full and speedy recovery. Broken Tib/Fib is not fun (been there, done that). He'll be back on the mountain after some healing and a good PT program.
Sounds like it could have been MUCH worse.
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?ref=name&id=1477964166
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Best wishes for a quick recovery.
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Rick, so sorry to hear about your accident. Best wishes for a rapid and complete recovery!
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Glad you are alive and wishing you a speedy recovery.
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Rick, sorry to hear about your misfortune. You will come out of this much stronger. Keep up a good attitude!
The Mountaingoat
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My best wishes for Kent. I had a half-ton boulder incident on the Mountaineer's Route on Mt. Whitney that left me with a rotator-cuff injury.
Kent's crushed leg is a setback, but like he says, at least he wasn't killed.
Over the years I've broken my legs a few times. One foot is no longer perfectly straight when I walk forward, but does not affect my hiking and is only noticeable to me.
I've been through therapy a number of times and highly recommend that Kent gets into therapy as soon as possible.
We look forward to Kent's complete recovery for using his leg again for his passion for the mountains.
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Ouch! Rick always was a master of understatement: "Saturday not so good."
Best wishes, Rick.
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Rick,
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Shin
Last edited by Shin; 10/20/10 12:19 PM.
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John (souloscrambler) started a club earlier this year called the Screw Brothers after he shattered his leg in a climbing accident up in Canada. (I'm a member because of a rock climbing accident I had in the late-70s. Left ankle pinned back together.) Last I heard from him, his recovery is going OK. Hopefully, RK's will too.
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Hi Rick glad to hear you are Ok.Gives us all a time to reflect on these outdoor adventures .Take care Doug
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So glad what "could have happened" didn't happen. May you have a complete recovery Rick.
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Sorry to hear about your accident Rick and I'm glad it wasn't any worse. Prayers for a speedy and thorough recovery.
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Howdy Rick,
I am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
My left ankle is held together with a plate and screws. The fibula was in numerous pieces, similar to your fracture. I'm missing a big chunk of bone and have reduced motion but can still hike and backpack.
Please get the best physical therapist possible -- instrumental for your recovery.
Sending healing thoughts your way.
From the heart,
Ellen Coleman (the blond you flew by on Skyline last fall)
Last edited by Ellen Coleman; 10/20/10 08:42 PM.
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I also recommend getting a bone growth stimulator. I had a non-union until I started using one.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen
Last edited by Ellen Coleman; 10/20/10 08:40 PM.
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Wishing you a speedy recovery Rick. I'm glad you have a good prognosis for healing. I hope to see more trip reports from you soon.
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Glad to hear that you are going to be ok.
Considering the alternate outcome (that I don't even want to think about), welcome to what can be called "Mount Whitney installed Hardware Group".
Take your time coming back and do it right. The earlier you push it, the longer it's going to take.
Remember, the mountains aren't going anywhere.
Why Yes, I am crazy. I'm just not stupid.
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Rick, sorry about your accident. Have a speedy recovery!
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Rick, so glad you're still among the living, considering the close call you had! I suppose climbing may be the ultimate "game of inches". The leg situation truly sucks, but hoping for a speedy recovery for you. Sounds like you will have plenty of similarly-experienced company on the board to commiserate with.
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Rick.... ditto everything that's been said. Thanx for sharing your story, reminding us all of the risks we take out there. So glad you're able to tell us the story. I am certain you'll be back at it as quickly as you can be.
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