Date: 2012-05-18
From: Whitetop Mountain Road Campsites

To: Galax VA ER and Home
Miles today: 7.0

Last entry for 2012 - I may as well finish the Journal with the beginning of the day.Last night, SEVERE t-storms rolled over us. The rain started at 2145, very gently, with thunder in the background. It gradually got harder and harder. Eventually, about 2230, intense lightning, heavy rain and some brief, severe wind were hammering us. The lightning was so fast and intense, that there were many times I couldn't even BEGIN to count the seconds between flash and sound to see how far away it was. It was right over us, evidently. The flashes were so bright, that I could see a round formation that I think is where the optic nerve is connected to the back of the eyeball. The other campers stated they could see the same thing. I was trying to remember how tall the tree next to my tent was! The storms finally blew past around 0015. Up and out of camp at 0850 officially, but 100 meters or so down the Trail was a good spring, so I watered up and was gone by 0900. Very rocky trail, running with water from last night. Not too many campsites up to about the Mt. Rogers side trail, but some. Had lunch at 1245-1330 at one of them. I was really getting hungry! My hiker appetite has kicked in,apparently.In the Thomas Knob shelter at about 1400. Talked with a couple of hikers about last night, got more water and started up the Trail at 1430.At 1445, about 200 meters from the shelter, on a sidewalk flat portion of the Trail, in a mud puddle like the numerous mud puddles I had slipped in during the last 5 hours or so, my right ankle twisted under me, slamming me down into the puddle hard on my right side. I found caked mud in my right ear, sideburn and hair many hours later. I undid my pack and rolled out of the puddle and attempted to stand, which I could not. The pain was severe and I could feel my ankle beginning to swell. About 10 minutes later, 3 section hikers came along and helped me to a campsite about 50 meters from the shelter. They carried my pack, while I had to walk one step at a time with both hiking sticks. They stayed with me for a while, then continued on at my urging. I set up camp about this time. Unable to stand, I removed my boots and put my crocs on and crawled around on my hands and knees. Try putting up a tent while crawling, sometime! Not easy, not fun. Several other hikers came by, both hiking and from the shelter to check on me and offered to help, but I was "stupidly stubborn" as my wife is fond of pointing out and said no. I wanted to treat this as a survival situation to relay to my Scouts later. I passed out twice from the pain, both times as I was crawling around, I banged my ankle against a tree. After my tent was set up, as I believed I was going into shock, I lay down for about an hour. About 1630, still in severe pain with the swelling covering my ankle bone, I sent a note with some other hikers, asking that the Rangers check on me the next day. I had 2 days of water, 6 days of food and shelter. "Shoto", AKA Bear, an EMT who was thru-hiking, came by twice to check on me. The first time he looked at my ankle, he looked me in the eye and stated the ankle was gone for at least 5 weeks. This had happened to him the previous year as well. About 1730, after 1000 mg of Ibuprofen at Shoto's urging, the pain had eased somewhat. I hobbled out and started looking for crutch materials. As I found a good stick and was going back to camp, the Rangers came up in a 6 wheel vehicle. The Assistant Park Director had called them to check on me that night and I was glad she had. I agreed at that time to be transported down the hill. The other hikers came and helped take down my camp. I gifted the food to whoever could use it. Shoto got the candy bars and other hikers were very happy with the other food I had. Someone joked that it was like a bunch of buzzards picking over a carcass, but I was just happy someone could use it to push on with their hike, as mine was over. The ride down the mountain was extremely painful and sent me towards shock again, with my right side shaking uncontrollably, chills, etc. The Galax ER x-rays showed NO broken bones, just a severe sprain and possible reduced dislocation of the ankle. I wish to thank the EMT, the Ranger station who asked them to come up and the Galax, VA ER for the wonderful care and treatment I received. Severe pain, immediate severe swelling, inability of the ankle to bear weight has doomed my thru-hike attempt for this year. It's not going to get well fast enough for me to resume and complete the hike this year. I'm not sure if my problems with my feet the first time was God's gentle hint that this year was NOT my time and my sprained ankle was a more firm attention getter, but I have decided this is NOT my one time shot, that I will re-try in 2016. I can pay off bills, re-work gear and actually train for a year or so before beginning again.Thanks to everyone again for your prayers and support. Look for another Trail journal in 2016. God bless and take care.