strider, saying hello

“Been out of the loop for awhile, thought I'd drop by and say hello. Let's see, interesting BP related details to share.....

New pack - Gregory Denali Pro, found it on sale for 370 out the door at local store going out of biz. Saved at least 100 bucks.

New boots - Raichlie Montagnas (no longer made, just-like-new used pair, only 30 miles on them, never even been wet, no scrapes, perfect fit, 50 bucks! Saved probably 230 bucks off new price.

Took some damage while on late April hike. Went out to Oly NP ocean beaches to do beach cleanup weekend. Fell. Smashed face. Came home, dokker says broken right cheekbone and eye socket. Surgery reassembled face. Bone assembly and scalpel slices are now healed, but having ongoing problems with non and only partially functioning nerves here and there. May or may not get full recovery from nerve damage, only time will tell.

Need to get new pack and boots dirty. Haven't been on trail since coming back from beach in April. Not quite sure it's safe to tell my bride I'm going back out there..... but soon. Soon.

Would have de-cloaked a bit more frequently, but browser settings got mucked up awhile back. Result was inability to to successfully log on to TT. Never did figger the problem out. Finally gave up trying and installed new browser, log in functioning. Learning how to use Netscape now.....

Reengage cloaking device.”

“Good to see you Strider!
What in the heck did you fall on?! Glad to hear you're gearing up to get back out there.”

“Stay in touch Strider
:-)”

“Hey, you've been out of the loop for a while! I think you went missing about the time I showed up here.

I hope things heal up for you --- !”

“Strider - Glad to see you getting back on the bicycle! Hope the healing continues. Good luck with your wife!

How are your daughter and son-in-law doing? Haven't run into them lately.”

“Good to hear from you, strider. Your accident sounds not fun at all, but good to hear you're healing up. Check in more often - hey, I even manage to spam this board once or twice a week.”

“Welcome back. And you didn't even report to the injured reserve thread!”

“Welcome back to the funny farm, strider! Get back on that hiking horse as soon as you can.

so many mountains, so little time”

“Hey Strider, glad to hear your healing.

I haven't been around for awhile either, just don't have the time anymore.”

“Dropping out of warp, disengaging cloaking device, hailing frequencies open.

Thanks for the well wishes. let's see... in order:

Sassafras, I tripped over a piece f firewood hiding in the dark and fell on a campfire. Only minor burns (2nd degree) to fingertips because the fire was new and I wasn't on it for more than a moment. Unfortunately, when I threw myself off the fire (with a fair degree of enthusiasm I might add), I did a face plant into the pile of firewood I had just gathered. Not the best moment of my life....

Hodge, how was the latest Cali trip? Have you heard from Old Timer recently? Need to talk to that wizened fella about his next birthday!

Phil, kids are doing fine. They'll be up here for a week in early August, looking forward to that. Dom made the Dean's list for the second straight semester. This weekend, my bride is going to suffer thru my first time on trail since the face plant. I come home damaged again, well, maybe I just shouldn't come home if I get damaged again.

Kleetn, why haven't we ever met or hiked together? We live close enough, don't we?

Geo, I couldn't report to injured reserve - wasn't able to get logged on to TT for a few months. Never did figure out why, finally switched over to Netscape from IE last month, and that solved the problem.

Capn, when are you gonna take another plane ride up this way? You need to see more than just roadside attractions.

Switchback thanks for the wishes, and you too Tilt (I see that I missed you first time thru the list).

Oly's this weekend, yah hoo. Don't know where just yet. Don't particularly care. Any trail will do me just fine right now.

Reengaging.....”

“strider, I've been meaning to e-mail you about that free Olympic pass Lookingglass and I received from the beach clean up we did with you that weekend.

You guys and gals won't believe this, but with all of strider's injuries that weekend, it was a beach clean up weekend, and in his condition, he walked along the beach and cleaned up!

strider, I wonder if there is any way that you can still get the free yearly pass from helping that weekend? You certainly deserve it!”

“It's good to know you're still here and there.

I'd really like to complete that Bailey Range Traverse one of these years. I'd also like to do some paddling while there.

Hope all is well with you and yours.”

“... wandered in to check things out.

Arclite, the Bailey's are still there waiting for you. Who knows perhaps schedules might even let me play the next time. I've been getting a few post-damage dayhikes in, still no overnighters yet. Dayhike up Copper Creek to Tubal Cain mine last weekend, temps in the lo 80's. Temp in the mine, maybe 40. Dramatic change caused the new metal in my cheek to do a bit of aching. Made me wonder what winter's going to be like. Maybe I can get a second job as a weather station....

First post-faceplant overnighter will probably be in early October. September is looking booked solid with a series of family events, so that's that. This will be the first summer in maybe 25 years that I haven't gotten any BPing trips accomplished. May thru September with no bag nights, pretty dam' pathetic. Especially with that new pack in the garage screaming "I want to get dirty!"

LH, no joy with the free permit - I wasn't "on the list" they had for the 02 cleanup and it's been too long to get me added. Oh well, it's only 15 bucks.

I don't check in often, but if anyone feels a need to get in touch more efficiently than by posting a 'Hey Strider!" thread on TT, the e-addy hasn't changed since '98.

Happy trails.”

“Strider - How do you handle the metal detectors at the airport!

Are you coming down to So. Cal sometime soon?

Keep on healin'!”

“Hey Strider - Nice to hear from you. I'll send an email soon”

“Good to hear from you strider, keep in touch!

The Right Coast TrailTalkers Salute You!”

“Most joyous Christmas whishes to all.

Let\'s see, news from the Northwest since I\'ve been here last.... Damage from broken cheekbone / eyesocket is (hopefully) finally settling down. It\'s only been 8 months. The nerves are still giving me pockets of numb, but the big pain flareups in my jaw seem to be gone, at least for now (knock on wood). I may never regain full sensation in my upper right jaw but that will be OK as long as the pain issues don\'t return.

I\'ve gotten a few bag nights in the last couple months, but am still waaaay below my usual nummber. I went from April 25 until October 8 without a day under my pack. First time in at least 25 years that I went a whole summer with no trail time.

My son wanted a hike for his birthday (Dec 17), so he and I went to the ocean last weekend. It was unbelievable. While making camp, he was working to shorten up a pole for the rainfly corner while I was putzing with the fire. Long story short - I get whacked with the end of the pole. IN the face. Directly outboard from my eye. I came home with a reeealy nice shiner, very colorful. I kinda look like Petey, the mutt from the Our Gang comedies....

Fortunately, the hit (a) came in on the left side of my face, not the right where last spring\'s damage occured, and (b) the stick was pretty small in diameter. The hit was sharp but not weighted. Nothing broken, just this oh-so colorful shiner. The last black eye that I carried (before the glorious year of 2004) was probably in 10th grade. 35 years later, two in the same year.

I\'m seriously considering upgrading my trail gear collection. I\'m looking for a good deal on a lacrosse helmet or a catchers\' mask.

What the .....

Wow! We were just caroled! About 25 people just hit us with about 4 carols. Two families, the Welches\' and the Alexanders\', with kids and grandkids in tow, are wandering up the street singing like mad. Gotta run if I\'m gonna catch up.....”

“Merry Christmas Strider.....cute about the mask......hahahahaha.....I, myself have been considering knee pads.......”

“strider, we need to see you post more. There are almost a whole new set of charactors here since you were posting all the time.

As for your face, since it's become a ritual for you to get a black eye on one of our beach trips, I think the first person that joins you on the next beach trip should just punch you in the eye and get it over with, lol:)

What, carolers at your door and you didn't shoot them with your b.b. gun? Ya know, they'll just come back again next year:)”

“Strider - Nice to hear from you. Glad things are improving. How about some safety glasses?

divinity - TMI”

“omg...lol..hahahha.....knee pads cause I am always bumping my knees on my desk at work...sheesh......they stay bruised,.....”

“heya Strider maybe we need to get together and trade war stories sometime.....I have 3 plates and something like 28 screws holding my left cheekbone together.....I was lucky tho and didn't have much pain at all.....the main nerve was pinched and by the time it healed and I could feel anything on that side of my face it was pretty much healed up!
The good news is 10 years later I very rarely even think about it anymore....so hang in there it'll get better!!


I can definitely relate to the catcher's mask thing....for years my wife told me the only way I could play softball again was if I wore a hockey goalie's mask!!! lol
last edited: 12/23/04 9:45:40 PM”

“yep - that's what I thought of too - a goalie mask - sort of like the one seen in certain horror flicks - I could just see the reactions of strangers as you come hiking down the trail”

“LOL

I've seen some pretty strange things on the trail. I think I came over a hill or 'round a bend and saw someone in a goalie mask I would RUN!

Thanks for the laugh.”

“Jes\' droppin\' by. Thanks for the well wishes. Just about weaned off of the drugs, which will (hopefully) mark the end of this busted face episode. UP, sounds like you had a much harder whack than I took, but I understand completely about the nerve thing.

LH, I finally figured the karma out. I was destined to break my nose in 2004, but I\'m not a very good shot anymore. Missed twice, was rewarded with two black eyes as a result. Go figure.

Time to start thinking about winter beaches....”

“Well Strider, it's in the upper 70's in NE Florida through next week. Only a 10 to 20 % chance of rain. Mostly sunny, too.


I'm glad your face isn't broken any more. ;)”

“tree, his face is still broken, but held together with screws.

strider, I think with karma it may mean you may have punched a lot of people in the eyes to have it happen to yourself in the next life (your present life),lol. Since I don't think you are punching anyone out in your present life, you will return in the next life and be unharmed:) That's of course unless you return as a cat, if you know what I mean. Then watch your ass, lol.”