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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 23, 2014 - 05:56pm PT
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First of all, I didn't get any infections from Century Lake at Malibu Creek. So I decided to up the ante with a swim with the kids near LAX, where jettisoned fuel and the effluent of all LA basin toilets are excreted to the ocean. I even skipped bathing for a few days after that, still no infections. Well, I did start to feel an ear ache while driving up to Courtright Reservoir last night.
But really nothing was up, so I had to up the ante again. Picture it: after midnight, kids sleeping in the car, I found the perfect bivy spot and had the sleeping bags set up to maximize viewing of the Milky Way. Head back up the little dirt embankment sprinkled with granite boulders to get the kids, guide their sleepy bodies toward the spot, and BOOM!
A little sharp boulder started rolling down on me, and I jumped out of the way. But the darn thing has fangs! It bit in and held on as I jumped away, and it laid my calf open like a filet! Kids and I are standing there looking at this chunk of missing flesh, and then the blood spurted out... I beat a hasty retreat to the car first aid kit, used up half the gauze pads and rolls and clamped that dude shut tight. Got the kids to bed, slept myself, and long about lunchtime today I changed the bandages. It made me feel a little nauseous, and between that and the necrotic flesh and thoughts of waking up tonight with septic shock and no cell reception and 2 hours drive to civilization and 2 kids in my care... Well I wusses out and went to the doctor. So no climbing today.
But I do have some consolation pics:
Changing the field dressings:
Proper medical treatment:
Seriously? That thing looks like a hairy rat! I've heard of having extra screws after am ikea furniture project, but you don't want parts left over after a routine emergency room visit.
I do have to say though, the Kaiser experience was about as awesome as I could expect from any medical facility. I was skeptical before having that insurance, but my experiences have all been positive.
Back to climbing... No reception up there, so will have to post climbing pics from the next few days after we get back. No swimming pics though, I have to keep this thing dry. Luckily the chunk of flesh died so there was nothing to stitch back together, no follow up stitch removal :)
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Ricky D
Trad climber
Sierra Westside
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Jul 23, 2014 - 06:04pm PT
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Dude - that's AWESOME - cast that thing in some acrylic and use it for a paperweight on your desk at work!
Better yet - post it on eBay as a piece of a real YETI!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jul 23, 2014 - 06:35pm PT
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Gross! How bout a little warning guy!
Lol
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 27, 2014 - 09:00pm PT
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Apologies for no warning on the gruesome stuff.
Actually turned out to be minimal climbing pics on this trip. Only 3rd class:
I didn't have pics of my son on the way up because he was up there before I got in picture range.
Great views up there:
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Jul 27, 2014 - 09:43pm PT
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blocky bouldering!
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 28, 2014 - 12:01am PT
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So sorry to read about and see your injury, Nut Again. I hope you heal quickly and can get back to one of my favorite climbing sites soon.
John
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2014 - 01:31am PT
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Alas doc said no swimming for me, so kids had to be the standard bearers.
That last bit was a pretty sketchy crossing in a Prius, dodging submerged potholes with water above the bottom of the car in the best of cases. I'm starting to feel like a non-technical peak bagger on 5.8 terrain but with stark realization that hiking boots and backpack are insufficient equipment.
One cool thing about this trip- it marked a turning point in the kids' relationship with nature. They no longer feel the need to have walls between them and the night. They asked me each night to just lay on the tarp under the stars, no tent. Who am I to disagree?
The hook is setting deeper... The climbing can wait.
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Bargainhunter
climber
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Jul 28, 2014 - 02:05am PT
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Loved the close up pic of the hairy rat!
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anita514
Gym climber
Great White North
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Jul 28, 2014 - 05:26am PT
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gnarly skin flap!
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Jul 28, 2014 - 08:02am PT
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Whoa. That thing looked like a ROUS. Rodent of Unusual Size from The Princess Bride.
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mike a.
Sport climber
ca
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Jul 28, 2014 - 08:41am PT
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i am excited to go to courtright this week, going to check out the new routes on the swiss cheese wall, glad there is still some water in the lake to swim in!!!
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Vitaliy M.
Mountain climber
San Francisco
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Jul 28, 2014 - 11:45am PT
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When I saw a photo of the wound I was expecting a more dramatic story. : ) Photos of the domes look much more pleasant! Glad you are ok.
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HighDesertDJ
Trad climber
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Jul 28, 2014 - 11:49am PT
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Aha oh my god dude. That avulsion. Man...
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NutAgain!
Trad climber
South Pasadena, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 28, 2014 - 05:19pm PT
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ROUS!!!!! Just shared that movie with the kids night before heading out, they loved it! "I am not left handed" "My way is not very sportsman like" "He's only MOSTLY dead" "To the pain!" I think that ROUS image is what seeded my imagination for seeing a rat in that lump of skin.
[Click to View YouTube Video]
I wish I saved the chunk to put in acrylic. Awesome paperweight memento. Mounting would have been cool too, but frankly Ron's craftsmanship and the mounting itself would have outshown the little nugget.
I'm definitely inspired to get back to Courtright for some proper climbing. And on the ridgeline above Jackass Meadow and that fork of the San Joaquin River, there are awesome looking moderate adventures. I thought one of them was the Obelisk until I looked on a map. There is a wall like a mini Royal Arches around there too, just a little more bushy and probably loose. Maybe a family adventure next summer if we bone up on lead belaying and multi-pitch skills this year. Another (mostly) responsible adult would be sensible too.
It's odd what seemingly inconsequential things lead to injuries, while way gnarlier near-death experiences or close calls can leave no significant marks.
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Rockin' Gal
Trad climber
Boulder
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Jul 30, 2014 - 07:55pm PT
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It's odd what seemingly inconsequential things lead to injuries, while way gnarlier near-death experiences or close calls can leave no significant marks.
True dat. We must be ever vigilant.
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Footloose
Trad climber
Lake Tahoe
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Jul 30, 2014 - 08:03pm PT
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Very cool, Nutjob.
Please take good care of yourself, lol!
Who doesn't like that movie, one of my all-time favorites!!
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