Date: 2007-07-29
From: Culvers Gap

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 8.8
Weather: haze

July 29, Man DownHappy birthday, Dutka!Still didn't want to hike this morning but we did. We started around 9:45 andtook our first break at a pavilion on Sunrise Mtn. after a little more than fivemiles. I had lunch and as I ate my bagel and cream cheese, I was stung by a waspon my left eyelid. Good thing I'm already on steroids. The darn thing landedright on my eye and as I tried to remove him, he stung me. Jerk. I was prettybitter. The humidity was high and the fog was very thick - we couldn't see much on topof Sunrise Mtn. It wasn't exactly ideal hiking weather. And, after gettingstung for the second time in a week, I'd had it. Luckily, the rain that hadstarted when we got to the pavilion let up so at least we had that going for us.Ronin left, then Young Eagle, then me, then Melk. All was fine and good forabout an hour until I came upon Young Eagle sprawled out on the trail with oneof his shoes off talking to a guy and his daughter. He'd slipped on a wet rockand turned his foot. The top of his foot was very puffy and he was visibly in alot of pain. Luckily, the man he was talking to was an EMT in the nearby town.After a few minutes, he decided to call his crew up to help extract Youngle.Poor Youngle.The crew showed up about a half hour later with what they called a StokesBasket. They put Young Eagle in the basket and carried him down the trail inshifts. About halfway down, the fire department took over carrying him. Melk andI were following with his pack and poles. Yellow Snowman and Redwood came backup from the shelter to help too so they helped carry Youngle and then his pack.Luckily, we weren't too far from Mashipacong Shelter and there was an accessroad there. They carried Youngle there and transferred him to a stretcher forthe ambulance. Melk and I decided we should head to the hospital with him incasehe needed help getting around. Plus, Ronin was trying to get ahead of us anywaybefore his trip home this coming weekend.The man that found Young Eagle drove Melk and I to the hospital to wait for himand that's where we are now.We talked to Ronin to let him know what's going on and now we're just wating...Turns out Youngle sprained something in his foot and will have to leave us forabout a week to heal. Melk and I are mourning the loss of the marshmallow in thes'more that is that A-Team. It's a very important role that only Young Eaglecan fill. But, when he comes back, we're going to Maine. - Sound of the TV, the AC, and Melk saying "ahhh".Post Trail Thoughts:This is precisely why I was scared, from then on, to hike on boulders in wet conditions. If the rocks had been dry that day, Young Eagle would have stood on Katahdin with us.Even though the situation was a downer, I was glad to be there to see how a woods rescue worked. It was really amazing how so many people came together to help - and, looking back, I still can't believe how lucky Young Eagle was to fall just in time for the EMT to and his daughter to find him.Also, I should have known at the time that Young Eagle's foot would not be healed in a week. I think I was in denial. We called and emailed him for updates, always hoping for good news but the good news never came.It was a rough day. It was pretty bitter about getting stung on my eyelid too!