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Tricky Landing

6/26/2014

 
We are starting out with another dreary day. We are in the fog with a light drizzle. That description would describe yesterday as well. We did have times of heavy rain. Remember folks, when you are hiking in wet conditions, be extremely careful. The ground is slick. It is not the best day to attempt to make your fastest time up the mountain. I say this because we have had a couple injuries over the past couple of days, due to the wet conditions. We had to fly one person off with a broken ankle. That is not the way you want to spend your day, waiting on the skies to clear so the helicopter can make its way to the mountain. We were lucky and had an hour window between 4 and 5 p.m. The other way down would have been a slow and painful ride off on horse back. The guest was an excellent patient and the Park Rangers hiked up and took great care of him.
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The helicopter made several passes assessing the wind around the mountain.
The high yesterday was 60º with a low of 52º. The rain kept it a little chilly up top. The wind was blowing a bit. That made it a bit tricky for the helicopter. It was interesting to watch as the helicopter flew around the mountain to try and assess the weather pattern. For those of us on the ground, we were not sure why it was taking them so long to land. The pilot said the clouds were causing some pockets of wind that we could not tell from where we were. I have much respect for those brave folks who fly those helicopters. I am sure the wind currents through the Smokies are pretty tricky.

Someone yesterday asked about the photographs on the blog. For the past several months, the photos have been taken with my phone. I have been experimenting with close up shots trying to see how much detail I could get with the camera on my smart phone. I do have a professional SLR camera, but I have not used it in a while. The macros you have been viewing are from my phone.
doug y link
6/26/2014 02:19:09 am

How fortunate the person with the broken ankle was that it occurred in the vicinity of a facility that is know for its rapid responses to various injuries, the Lodge of course. With every such case, and these will occur from time to time as has been experienced, the lodge crew has exhibited great care and quick responses to accidents. This is just one of the qualities that makes the lodge such a tremendous place !

tomk in SC
6/26/2014 02:27:22 am

That brings up a few questions with potential learning opportunities:
1: How did the ankle break? Tripped? Uphill? Downhill? Leap?
2: Where did it break? At the lodge, below the lodge, how far? How was the victim moved to the lodge?
3: What sort of footware? High boots, low boots, tennis shoes?
4: Was the victim using poles?
5: How old, roughly. Spring chicken or graybeard like me?
Aside from a break being painful, movement had to be plenty unpleasant. Spring chickens heal fast. Graybeards take some time, Best Wishes.

IN Tony
6/26/2014 03:20:27 am

I am curious. Where does the helicopter land?

Marilyn
6/26/2014 06:25:16 am

IN Tony....I believe there's a clear area away from the main buildings of the lodge for helio landings.

Jenny B. link
6/26/2014 07:04:04 am

A friend and I attempted to climb LeConte yesterday off-trail via Cole Creek. We ran into several problems and ended up going over to the next stream valley (Bear Pen Hollow) and dropping down. One huge problem for us was the slick rock. Lower Cole Creek has big sandstone bluffs. You could get up in dry conditions but with the rain it was like dealing with ice.

Barbara McCollum link
6/26/2014 07:41:12 am

Great suggestions on slowing down in wet, slippery conditions. I fell last week descending the Gregory Bald trail in wet slippery conditions and ended up with a sprained ankle. Fortunately, I was able to hobble the rest of the way down the mountain. Was using trekking poles, wearing Keen boots, and I'm not an oldie, but a 55-year old in pretty good shape. It's a humbling experience and one I don't want to repeat again any time soon!

norman acworth, ga.
6/26/2014 11:13:36 pm

Barbara did you hike your 700 miles last year?

Barbara from Rome, GA link
6/26/2014 11:47:21 pm

Yes I did Norman! How did you know? On schedule to hike more this year!

norman
6/27/2014 02:29:06 am

Barbara, good for you! i went to your site; liked the Rocky Top hike pic &/ writing. book marked it a long with Jenny B.

Barbara from Rome, GA link
6/27/2014 04:08:17 am

Great Norman! Thanks for following along.


Comments are closed.
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