Conditions Report
Report from August 8th, 2019
Brought to you by Cerro Catedral
Yesterday morning, we headed into the backcountry knowing we wouldn’t find much good snow, but excited to explore a new zone.
On our way to the new zone, we did find good snow in the ever-reliable mini-spines and the skiing there was fun.
When we got to the new zone, we weren’t sure about the conditions but hoped for the best.
I dropped in first and the first 3 turns were punchy, variable, and weird.
Then, one ski punched into the snow and I was sent careening into the granite wall.
Bang!
I was shaken up good.
It took me a while to get myself together, get my gear back on and navigate the horrible, sun cooked, breakable crust for 2,000′ down to the valley floor.
I was spent and my knee hurt but I was ok.
I know to always go to skin anytime you get hurt, so as a matter of principle, I pulled my pants up and took a look at my knee not expecting to see much more than a skinned knee.
I was wrong.
I had a 3-inch, full depth laceration in my knee and it was gaping wide.
It’s always interesting whenever you first see a significant laceration in your skin.
Right away, you know your day is going to take a major turn and that you’re headed to the hospital.
I was worried that I may have also broken my knee cap and potentially some ligaments.
Greggy and I made a plan and from that point until hitting the parking lot only took us 2 hours and 30 minutes.
We nailed it.
Straight to the hospital, 7 special stitches from a trauma surgeon, an x-ray, and the analysis that I only damaged the skin and bruised the area with the hard hit.
Relief.
Big relief.
Go out and get a beer with Greggy relief.
Today, I’m on the couch per the surgeon’s orders.
72 hours of inactivity and no skiing.
If all goes well, I’ll be skiing again early next week.
To be honest, I’m exhausted and looking forward to the rest.
I think that being overly tired got me into this situation in the first place.
I should’ve taken yesterday off since I was so tired.
Lesson learned, again.
SNOW NUMBERS:
FORECAST:
PHOTOS:
or as Arlo Guthrie says: Luckily, I didn’t go over the edge…I went into the wall.
glad that turned out OK, Miles. It always mystifies me: how does the skin get sliced and the pants are unharmed. a crashing mystery.
Damn… That’s a nasty one, glad that you’re otherwise OK.
Even though that’s a freak injury.
Do you wear knee braces? I wear these, with knee cups.
https://www.asterisk.com/products/cell
Dude, so glad you’re ok! Heal up and get back at it, which I know you will.
Blessings
Thanks, Rico. Can’t wait to get back out there.