The good and the bad side of physical activity.

So those of us that are fitness and activity oriented, obviously engage in a number of activities both for challenge and for fun. I have a huge passion for camping and the more I like it, the farther I want to get away from people to more remote areas. Car camping is fun, but back country camping is even better. So I recently made a trip out on the Appalachain Trail to hike in a little ways and find a suitable camping site. We went in at Snicker’s gap on the border of Loudoun County and Clarke County. The hike in was only about 2 miles, but that area of the trail is referred to the “roller coaster” because of it’s multiple changes in elevation. It’s very rocky and challenging especially with a heavy pack.

I planned to stay for 2 nights. I prepared well and found a reasonable place to go off the trail into the back country to camp. I thought I would stay one night in the valley and one night up on the ridge. After walking for a while, I decided that the ridge was the place to be. So we went off the trail just a short distance to a series of rock ledges. I found one that was almost flat with a pretty good view of the valley below. Normally that doesn’t matter because I use camping hammocks and a flat level site is not always necessary. Nevertheless, I found a relatively flat ledge. We strung ug the two hammocks and I was all set to go, I’d double checked everything and sat in it a few times. When I was ready to start to make something to eat, I went to sit in it again, and suddenly the nylon slipped out from under me and I went over the cliff backwards! The drop was pretty far, but I hit all the rocks on the first couple tumbles. So many thoughts went through my head very quickly. I knew how far it was and that it would hurt. All I could think was there is some way I have to right myself and slow the fall. As I was going backwards, I landed on my back on the right side and got a nice bruise. I would have rolled further, but belive it or not, my ankle got stuck in the fork of a tree and I was hanging upside down, but had stopped. I thought for sure I had broken my ankle and hurt my knee. Neither was true. I did twist my knee a little, but it was fine. I’ve never broken a bone in my life despite dangerous activities. I wondered how I would walk out with a bad ankle over 2 miles of rocky trail. As it turns out, I was upside down, dirty, and bleeding. I could see my nose was bleeding from my right eye. It took about 30 seconds to pull myself up and unwedge my ankle from the tree. The tree took a little skin with it, but at that point, I didn’t care, I just wanted to get back up. I was able to easily walk back up as the ledges were like steps. I was completely dirty and brushed off and cleaned up the cuts. I looked myself over and sure enough, nothing but scratches. Bad scratches that I still have, but nothing serious. I slept REALLY good that night in my hammock, but woke up very sore from the fall. I was ok though. Below I’ve posted some pics of what I normally look like and a close up of the damage to my eye. I also had my ankle, knees, back, both elbows, wrists, and forearms scratched up, but nothing more than superficial. We didn’t stay the second night, but it was good and satisfied my urge to be in the woods for a few days.

What I normally look like.

What I looked like after fall.

Be careful when you engage in physical activities as you become more fit!