My Close Calls
It occurred to me that I have been very lucky in my outdoor adventures. I don’t mean to refer to the many, many times my lack of planning or attention has gone unnoticed by the Fates; rather, I mean when bad things do happen, whether through my own foolishness or just random chance, I have been lucky to survive.
Out of respect and thankfulness for my good luck and those prayers said on my behalf, here I have listed those events and the learnings I have taken from each. For clarity (and entertainment), I have summarized each incident and linked a trip report, if available.
Pre-adulthood:
11/1964 – At 2 yo, got down apt stairs & across street to park
- learned nothing, according to my mother
08/1966 – Stuck nail file into electrical socket; blew fuse
- learned nothing, according to my mother
08/1970 – Fell 10′ from the top of a 40′ tree
- learned to respect failing hand strength
07/1972 – Held up 10′ metal pole in lightning storm
- learned that lightning can reach far
06/1975 – Climbed in tree touching power-lines
- learned why I’d been told to avoid power-lines
9/1979 – Near head-on collision driving on dark, curving road
- learned not to trust other drivers too much
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Pre-Colorado-era: (Florida & Illinois residence)
07/1992 – Let go of brake while rappelling from Sharkstooth
07/1994 - Lost on descent from desert climb without water
- learned proper respect for the desert
08/1994 - Barely self-arrested before falling down Bionnassay Glacier
08/1994 - Just missed death in ‘Death Gully’ on Mont Blanc
08/1994 - Caught out overnight on Matterhorn
07/1995 - Rappelled off dead bush 500′ off ground
- learned to trade ‘gear for life’ vs.’life for pride’
09/1995 – Fell 15′ to the ground, due to belay error
- learned to choose my belayers more carefully
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Colorado-era:
06/96 – Wandered into steep frozen snow without protection
- learned to carry an ice axe on snowy mountains
06/97 – Glissaded off end of snowfield with 15′ drop into rocks
- learned not to trust what I cannot see on a mountain
07/97 – Slipped on ice; nearly fell off Grand Teton
04/98 – Started avalanche while descending Mt. Belford
03/99 - Almost skied off hidden cliff at Vail
- learned to KNOW not guess about off-trail terrain
04/99 – Fell head-over-heels down Mt Huron
07/99 – Caught in lightning storm on Thatchtop-Powell traverse
- learned not to trust my ‘weather luck’
08/99 – Got lost on a ‘shortcut’ and barely escaped Arrowhead
- learned to respect the power of retreat when in a losing position
04/00 - Caught in a blizzard on the 1st Flatiron; frozen escape
- learned to not assume I can handle anything the sky offers
07/00 - Stuck underwater in upside down kayak; 2 min no air
- learned to listen more carefully to instructions
04/02 – Loose rock on Pacific forced me to make a fast choice
- learned to not assume the rock is solid when failure is not a option
06/02 – Loose rock on Crestone traverse nearly ended me at 40
- learned how hard it is to be sure about conglomerate rock
06/02 - Got off route on McHenry’s; forced to take a big chance
- learned not to assume I can get out of a trap before getting in
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Fatherhood-era:
08/02 - Had to jump down into a bergschrund to escape a trap
- learned to recognize and avoid a ‘confidence trap’
08/03 – Had to survive hypothermia in a freezing rain
- learned the importance of checking the functionality of old gear
06/05 – Took a shortcut and had to survive a dangerous route
- learned about prioritizing safety higher than winning a race
06/06 – Got lost on Ice Mountain and barely escaped
- learned that I was right to fear Ice Mountain
06/06 – Got hit by a lightning streamer while high on Arapahoe
- learned how fast storms can move to put me in harm’s way
None since 2006; see, I am trying to do better.
Thanks for the prayers.
