Highway 138 Overpass to RATTLESNAKE
Usually I start the daily blog with a description of how the night was and how the morning went. Unfortunately, I am writing this blog entry 2 weeks after the actual events of the day, so those kinds of details are pretty much lost. But don't worry, the details I do remember will be more than enough to make up for the missing ones.
The day started out pretty normal with the waking, eating breakfast, and preparing to hike. Tim is going to meet us at Cajon Pass at the end of the day, so we were able to slackpack today allowing us to keep our bags lighter with just water and food for the day. I do know, from the time stamp on the following picture, we got a late start on the trail starting just after 10:00 AM.
The day started out pretty normal with the waking, eating breakfast, and preparing to hike. Tim is going to meet us at Cajon Pass at the end of the day, so we were able to slackpack today allowing us to keep our bags lighter with just water and food for the day. I do know, from the time stamp on the following picture, we got a late start on the trail starting just after 10:00 AM.
Ready to hike.
As soon as we arrived on trail this sign was kind enough to point out that we had 13.6 miles to where Tim is going to meet us. Since we got a late start, we felt pretty anxious to get going.
We will see Tim in 13.6 miles.
After hiking for just 30 minutes or so, we could look back and see how far we had come already. Tim dropped us off under that overpass right there.
So far, so good.
Today's sign of the day is on a gate...a bit different.
Sign of the day
Finally, less than 1.5 hours after starting today's hike, we caught a glimpse of Cajon Pass. This is where I-15 climbs over the mountains between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. At this point we probably still had about 8 miles to go, but it is nice to see the prize.
Cajon Pass in the distance.
I was really looking forward to today's hike. I remember it being a beautiful hike 2 years ago plus, it was the last day that I will be re-hiking miles that I have already hiked 2 years ago.
The wonderful PCT
Just after 1:00 PM we stopped for lunch. We tried to stop earlier, but there wasn't a good place to sit. The trail finally came off the ridge and flattened out to a nice area.
Lunch break.
After lunch we felt great. We were talking about how nice it will be to sleep in a hotel room tonight. We were discussing the upcoming 25 miles of dry trail we will have to deal with the next 2.5 days. We were talking about the trail after the 25 miles and that we will have to carry possibly 7 days worth of food between Wrightwood and Agua Dulce. I even stopped to take a joyous self-portrait:
Self-portrait "Looking forward"
Who knew that this would be my last self-portrait for a while. Not very long after this picture, we were hiking along and talking along and then I felt a thorn or something on my ankle. Unfortunately it was the "or something." Although I didn't know what got me on the ankle, Brad did. He told me it was a rattlesnake. He saw it cross the trail behind me with the rattle going like crazy.
I looked down at my ankle and noticed a single puncture with a little bit of blood. The only thing I could think to do at the time was continue hiking. Hiking will help me calm down and bring my pulse rate down. We probably hiked for about 10 minutes when I started to feel funny. My lips and tongue was tingling. At this point we both knew that I had venom in my system and we had to figure it out.
Brad took out his phone (he actually had service) and read what to do about a rattlesnake bite. He then called poison control who told us to call 911 immediately. We knew the consequence of calling 911...a helicopter rescue. We looked at the map that told us we had at least 4.5 miles till Cajon Pass, so walking out isn't an option. Before we could think any more, Brad called 911.
While waiting for the "rescue" we discussed that hopefully they will just administer an anti-venom shot and we will be on our way. I could still stand and walk and the bite site looked like a small mosquito bite. The only effects I was feeling was tingling of my lips and tongue. It didn't seem too serious to either of us. About 15 minutes later there was a helicopter flying overhead.
I looked down at my ankle and noticed a single puncture with a little bit of blood. The only thing I could think to do at the time was continue hiking. Hiking will help me calm down and bring my pulse rate down. We probably hiked for about 10 minutes when I started to feel funny. My lips and tongue was tingling. At this point we both knew that I had venom in my system and we had to figure it out.
Brad took out his phone (he actually had service) and read what to do about a rattlesnake bite. He then called poison control who told us to call 911 immediately. We knew the consequence of calling 911...a helicopter rescue. We looked at the map that told us we had at least 4.5 miles till Cajon Pass, so walking out isn't an option. Before we could think any more, Brad called 911.
While waiting for the "rescue" we discussed that hopefully they will just administer an anti-venom shot and we will be on our way. I could still stand and walk and the bite site looked like a small mosquito bite. The only effects I was feeling was tingling of my lips and tongue. It didn't seem too serious to either of us. About 15 minutes later there was a helicopter flying overhead.
San Bernadino sheriff department to the rescue.
The helicopter managed to land just down the hill from us. About 10 minutes later a rescuer made his way to us. I immediately asked him if he had anti-venom on him. He looked at me like I was crazy and said that they will take care of that at the hospital. "Hospital...really....all I need is a shot, right?!?" Again I got the "crazy" look. A few minutes later another helicopter started circling overhead. The rescuer flagged them in as they dropped a bag containing a helmet and a sling which he put me in:
Ready for the airlift.
He then flagged the helicopter down and hooked me up to the cable. Was I scared? A bit, but as soon as the slack left the cable and I started rising I realized that the sling was pretty comfortable, so I was able to relax and enjoy the ride. By the way, the following 4 photos are courtesy of Brad.
Once on the helicopter I asked if they could give me some anti-venom and, like the guy on the ground, looked at me like I was crazy and said that the hospital will take care of that.
The helicopter took me to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Coincidentally, this is the hospital that Brad had gone to when he fought and beat leukemia 2 years ago, so I have heard very good thing about it. We landed on the roof and was met immediately by a gurney. At this point the leg felt fine, so I hopped out of the helicopter and laid down on the gurney. I was wheeled into an elevator then into the emergency room where my gurney and I were met by at least 8 ER workers.
After the initial craziness and exam was over my nurse came over to introduce himself. He said his name was Jeremy and asked what happened. I told him I was hiking with my friend Brad on the PCT and got bit by a rattlesnake. "Brad who?", he asked. I told him Brad Wilson. He then told me that Brad was his second cousin. How crazy is that?!?
Tim, Brad, and Brad's mother Mary showed up within 2 hours of me arriving at the hospital. Tim told me that he had checked into the Best Western at Cajon Pass and was checking out Facebook and saw that a hiker was being evacuated due to a snake bite. He thought what was the chance it was Gerri or Brad. Two minutes later Brad called him and gave him the news.
Oh...Brad walked down to the helicopter that landed and got a lift over the hill to a parking lot and got a ride in a sheriff's vehicle to the Best Western to meet up with Tim.
After the examination the toxicologist determined that I required 6 vials of anti-venom which was put into my IV. After the first dose the tingling stopped, but my leg started swelling. My leg was measured for swelling every 2 hours and my blood was drawn and tested every 4 hours. The swelling continued so another 6 vials were administered. Here is a picture of a nurse measuring my leg swelling:
The helicopter took me to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Coincidentally, this is the hospital that Brad had gone to when he fought and beat leukemia 2 years ago, so I have heard very good thing about it. We landed on the roof and was met immediately by a gurney. At this point the leg felt fine, so I hopped out of the helicopter and laid down on the gurney. I was wheeled into an elevator then into the emergency room where my gurney and I were met by at least 8 ER workers.
After the initial craziness and exam was over my nurse came over to introduce himself. He said his name was Jeremy and asked what happened. I told him I was hiking with my friend Brad on the PCT and got bit by a rattlesnake. "Brad who?", he asked. I told him Brad Wilson. He then told me that Brad was his second cousin. How crazy is that?!?
Tim, Brad, and Brad's mother Mary showed up within 2 hours of me arriving at the hospital. Tim told me that he had checked into the Best Western at Cajon Pass and was checking out Facebook and saw that a hiker was being evacuated due to a snake bite. He thought what was the chance it was Gerri or Brad. Two minutes later Brad called him and gave him the news.
Oh...Brad walked down to the helicopter that landed and got a lift over the hill to a parking lot and got a ride in a sheriff's vehicle to the Best Western to meet up with Tim.
After the examination the toxicologist determined that I required 6 vials of anti-venom which was put into my IV. After the first dose the tingling stopped, but my leg started swelling. My leg was measured for swelling every 2 hours and my blood was drawn and tested every 4 hours. The swelling continued so another 6 vials were administered. Here is a picture of a nurse measuring my leg swelling:
Measuring my swelling leg.
I spent the night in the ER and was transferred to a room in the back of the ER on Wednesday morning. Soon after, the hospital PR person visited me and told me that NBC news is interested in interviewing me. I thought the interview would help others who might find themselves in the same situation and not know what to do, so I agreed. That afternoon Tony Shin from NBC news showed up to interview me. Here is the clip:
Wednesday night I spent in the ER and on Thursday I was admitted for a day or two more for observation. Finally, on Friday after dinner, I was released. In summary I spent 3.5 days in the hospital and received 26 vials of anti-venom.
Brad's Mom and Dad invited us to stay with them while I convalescenced, so TIm brought me there. I figured it would take maybe 1 week to get back on the trail. Of course, at this point I couldn't put any weight on my left foot.
One week turned into two weeks that turned into three weeks. Oh, on top of all this, I had to get a blood test every few days for a week because the venom remains in my system and can affect my platelets causing me to possibly bleed out if I cut myself.
Finally, today, 18 days after getting bit, I did a 3 mile practice hike and did OK, so tomorrow I am headed back to the trail to do the 5 miles from the snake bite location to Cajon Pass. Assuming everything goes fine tomorrow, I will be fully back on the trail on Monday.
Meanwhile, Brad will be hiking from Agua Dulce on Monday, so he is 112 miles ahead of me. I have some catching up to do!
Brad's Mom and Dad invited us to stay with them while I convalescenced, so TIm brought me there. I figured it would take maybe 1 week to get back on the trail. Of course, at this point I couldn't put any weight on my left foot.
One week turned into two weeks that turned into three weeks. Oh, on top of all this, I had to get a blood test every few days for a week because the venom remains in my system and can affect my platelets causing me to possibly bleed out if I cut myself.
Finally, today, 18 days after getting bit, I did a 3 mile practice hike and did OK, so tomorrow I am headed back to the trail to do the 5 miles from the snake bite location to Cajon Pass. Assuming everything goes fine tomorrow, I will be fully back on the trail on Monday.
Meanwhile, Brad will be hiking from Agua Dulce on Monday, so he is 112 miles ahead of me. I have some catching up to do!
RSS Feed
