Day 28 / Mile 437.9

When I refreshed my Blog, to provide deeper insight to the Trail, I had no idea of it’s foreshadowing.

On Friday, about 7 miles out of town, I rolled my left ankle. It was on a descending, soft, smooth trail surface. It happened so fast…in a split second. Nothing smooth or reckless, but certainly not very graceful.

I got off it quick, recovered my balance, took a deep breath, and kept moving. It hurt! I “rubbed dirt in it”, “took a lap”, “sucked it up”, “shook it off”. And…I thought I had it covered. I persisted through the pain…thinking I had adapted and overcame.

At 10 miles, I stopped for water, snacks, and a brief rest.

Shortly thereafter the pain returned. I pressed on a bit further. At that point, I sat an assessed my situation. I knew I could make a few more miles, slowly. My options were back the way I came 2.5 miles to a campsite, 2 miles forward to an unpaved, unmarked road with a trailhead, or to SOS from my GPS.

Throughout that decision process I utilized strategies I’ve written about…STOP, BEASTMODE, Bounce. I will tell you this…it works! Difficult situations are easily made worse by poor decisions.

I chose forward…moving to what I thought would be the best extraction point. It proved to be the correct decision.

At the road, I had cell signal! Thank you to Mrs. Growler for the calm, reassuring voice. Thank you to the first strangers who stopped…who were more confused than me. A special thank you to the two men from Idaho who stopped, one volunteering to remain behind, while the other drove me back to town in his ATV. Lastly, thank you the woman at the Trout Lake Grocery who laughed and gave me “side eye” when I limped up to the register with frozen peas…she promptly gave me ice instead.

The best part of this story?

No. It’s not that people are good. That most will cross political, ethnic, and racial lines to help when needed. That most will donate, volunteer, or give of what they have. That even though I’m alone…I’m not really alone!

Yes…it’s that I’m okay!

I start hiking again on Tuesday!