I was taking it easy, figuring I could reconnect with the less steep trail to the right but then I got up to look and, whoops, it’s a sheer drop on that side -- oh no -- and to the left, same thing, and christ, I can’t go back up the way I came, that’s too scary, what am I gonna do now? The cliff above me is even steeper so that’s not an option...and there hasn’t been any cellphone reception anywhere on this trail (believe me, I’ve tried!) so I can’t even call for help....
Ack, it’s now about 3, no time to ponder and get colder feet, there IS some small vegetation growing to the left, I can only hope this continues down, so I start clambering down this, then I hear a tiny avalanche of scree to my left, look over, and wow! it’s another hiker! “Hey! Do you think this is a good way to go?” and he quickly reassures me, yes, that looks fine, there’s plenty of handholds, so I keep going, but it seems to get harder and I’m even wearier, reach the end of the small evergreens, hanging by my hands, can’t find a foothold, oh well, here goes nothing and drop..........
about 10 feet at least onto hard rock, owwwwww, first onto my right ankle then onto my butt....
then joins me, quickly assesses the situation, pulls out some ibuprofen for me, finds a walking cane, and becomes my savior and guardian angel!! He had been going back and forth under the ridge I was on, looking for the way up and had pretty much given up but also was a saint to descend at my super slow pace and help me out, leading me to ice water for my ankle (already very bruised and swollen) and showing where I could simply slide down the scree and ice without falling off another cliff!! I wrench my ankle 2 more times in excruciating pain but know I have to continue & do -- sheesh, this trail down would be hard with 2 good legs! And now I have to count on my always-quite-atrophied left leg to bear the major weight, hoping that my always-near-dislocated left knee doesn’t also snap! Greg -- a super fit triathlon veteran -- doesn’t ever show the slightest frustration or aggravation at how I’m slowing him down but then does disappear for long time ahead -- oh well, that’s okay, I can’t lose the trail now...and then he reappears minus his pack but with a headlamp: he had gone all the way down to base camp, dropped off his stuff and came back with flashlight worried that I might have to finish the day walking in the dark -- what a saint!!
But we do make it down by about 7:45pm -- one other solo hiker also gave up after trying several routes -- so a dandy 12+ hours of hiking for the day, whewwwwwwwwww
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