Welp, around February 6th, I had the unfortunate pleasure of breaking my collar bone (or clavicle). The whole weekend started out pleasant enough, but soon took a turn for the worse. I was riding Echo Mountain with my buddies Ben and Aaron. Ben suggest it was a good place to ride because it was kinda setup like a hybrid of Tussy and Big Bear (a couple runs and features all over the place). Ben was doing some work for “chill” as well, and it was only Aaron 3rd or 4th time riding a board.
The day went pretty awesomely beforehand – found some locals to ride with and we were progressing pretty good. I actually start to get comfortable on single barrels again. Hit a board-slide a 12 stair bar, and lots of spiny-spins. But then nearing the end of the day I hit a up NEFF box a bit too hot and fast and ended up launching on and over it. Unprepared for this, I got inverted and came down about 12 ft on to my shoulder.
As soon as I landed, I heard a pop-crack. I sat up and felt my shoulder. I noticed a reasonably large tenting of skin. Adrenaline started to kick in, so I got up and rode the rest of the away down to the bottom of the run to meet up with Ben. The way Echo Mtn is setup, the lodge ski patrol is at the top of the runs, and there was no way I was going to take a snowmobile uphill. I got on the lift with Ben, and started the ride up. About halfway up, the adrenaline started to wear off. Things started to get black and I tried to focus to stave off the onset of shock. We put down the bar, so I wouldn’t fall out and Ben gathered up shamble of accessories (gloves, hats, etc) . We reached the top. I got a on awaiting snowmobile and was taken to Ski Patrol.
Ski Patrol got me taken care of by getting me high on some fermoral (type of morphine). They took all my information, gave me another dose and got me a ambulance. The ambulance ride was the worst, the road was so bouncy, that I swear my bones were popping in and out of place the entire 1hr + ride to Denver Emergency. They gave some more morphine on the ride to help the pain, but it this time it was doing a thing.
I got to Saint Anthony’s Hospital and they had the entire Trauma Ward waiting for me (which seemed very unnecessary). After realizing I wasn’t dying they took some xrays and more morphine (I prefered the fermoral, didn’t make me as queezy). I’m not sure when my bones was set but Aaron took me back to the their apartment, and he also kindly drove the Blazer back from the mountain. I was greeted by the new Husky puppy which immediately noticed I was like that of a wounded gazelle, and proceeded to stalk my right arm.
I ended up getting surgery about 1.5 weeks later. I received 7 screws, 1 pin and a plate of titanium. No more boarding or climbing for a good while, until my bones fuse again. Until then I am trying some new hobbies, like gardening, reading, and photography. Here’s to hoping to the return to adventures in about 2-3 months and continued airport security hassles for a long time to come.
Hey man, sorry to hear about your spill. That looks like a mean injury, too — if it needed surgery it’s no joke. I hope you enjoy your enforced time out — sometimes it’s good to take time for reflection with the quieter things in life.
Easy
K