Date: 2014-05-31
From: Harpers Ferry, WV

To: Harpers Ferry, WV
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

I got up early and went down to the motel's breakfast as soon as it opened at 6:30 A.M. After breakfast, one of the desk clerks gave me a ride back to the ATC office. I took a few more pictures and stared the short walk back to the AT. As I was walking, I held my poles in one hand and called Mrs. Gray Ghost on my cell phone. I was so excited about their visit and wanted to know all of the details about what time they were leaving and etc. In a few minutes, I reached the trail and turned northward. The trail was very steep with a big drop off on one side. As I was talking and walking with poles in one hand and my cell phone in the other, I made a misstep coming off one of the large boulders on the trail and lost my balance. I began to fall and unfortunately I was falling to the side with the big drop off. As I was falling, I tried to grab a tree to stop my fall, but with the heavy pack on my back, I couldn't hold on. The next few seconds seemed like minutes and will be etched in my mind forever. I hit the ground and rocks hard and started rolling uncontrollably down the steep mountain side. I was completely out of control and was helpless to do anything, but yelled as I continued to roll. I think it was a shrub or small tree that finally stopped me. I realized I could move al of my limbs and decided nothing was broken. Blood was dripping off my nose from abrasions on my forehead and nose. My legs, arms, hands, and thighs were covered in abrasions. I unbuckled my pack and looked back up to the trail. I had rolled about 50' or so, and I had to find a way to safely get up to the trail. The slope was so steep, I had to climb on all fours, looking for any rock, root, or shrub I could use to hold on to. I knew with another slip, I would continue sliding down the mountain. I would find a foot hold, life my pack and move it ahead of me, and repeat the process. Along the way, I was able to retrieve my cell phone and trekking poles. In about 20 minutes, I had made it back up to the trail with all of my gear. I sat down for a moment and thought about what I should do. I decided to put my pack on and walk back to the ATC office and get some help there. My right thigh was injured and my progress was very slow. As I reached the blue-blaze trail to the ATC office, I ran into Murphy and Moving On, and of course they offered to carry my pack for me and anything else I needed. I assured them I was ok and would seek help at the ATC office. I arrived at the office, my face and arms dripping with blood, and explained what had happened. They gave me a list of telephone numbers for trail angels, so I could find one who could take me to the clinic in nearby Charlestown, WV. I called Laurel, who runs a hostel just down the street, and she said she would be there shortly. I left my pack in the hiker room and slowly got into Laurel's car. By this time, several just arriving hikers saw what was happening and the word was spreading in our bubble. After a ten minute drive, we arrived at a clinic, and Laurel made sure I was able to get inside. She said for me to call her when I was finished, and she would pick me up. They examined all of my abrasions and cleaned them up. By this time, my thigh was very swollen and very tender to the touch. AS a precaution, they x-rayed it, and fortunately, there was no bone damage. They put bandages on the worst of the abrasions and gave me a bag of bandages and tape to take with me.Laurel picked me up , took me to CVS for a prescription, and to the adjacent supermarket to get something for lunch. Mrs. G.G. had contacted the motel and booked me back in for another unexpected night. I tried to pay Laurel for her time and gasoline, and she wouldn't even consider taking it. I continue to be amazed at the goodness and generosity of people I have met on the trail!I realized this accident was entirely caused by my carelessness and over confidence. My hike could have been over or even worse. I thank God for taking care of me everyday. I have learned from this experience, and it will make me safer the rest of this journey. Later in the evening, I had dinner with Jo Hawk, Steve, Mobius, and others. Today is a day I will never forget. Tomorrow, I will resume my journey north to Maine.