Wind, blood, and coffee: lessons from the tundra

It’s always the easier stuff, when you let your guard down.

It’s always the easier stuff, when you let your guard down.

100% – late-day physical and attention fatigue, dropping temperatures -> lower coordination, easy terrain, fixation on the goal (we’re “almost there”)…

Last mile-itis.

Not that it pertains to anybody here, but it pays to be mindful. One doesn’t actually have to fall. Practice in your head so when the time comes, it’s automatic. At all costs, watch your head. The average human head weighs around 5 kg or 11 pounds. That’s 11 pounds dropping over five feet on top of your nose. Ouch! How them Ombraz fitting? Be careful out there. Be careful at home.

AI Overview

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To fall safely, a senior should first try to turn the fall into a roll and lower themselves into a squat, bending their knees and elbows to absorb impact. They should then tuck their chin to protect their head and aim to land on the side of their thigh, buttock, or upper arm, rather than their head, hands, or knees. Allowing the body to stay loose, rather than tensing up, and continuing to roll with the fall will help disperse the impact across more of the body.
Before you fall:
Be mindful:
Stay aware of your surroundings and focus on the present moment to avoid potential hazards.
Check your vision:
Get your eyesight and eyeglasses checked regularly, as poor vision can contribute to falls.
When you feel yourself falling:
1. Don’t resist:
Trying to stop a fall by staying rigid increases the risk of injury. Instead, let the fall happen by going limp and bending your knees and elbows.
2. Lower yourself:
Try to get into a squatting position to reduce the distance to the ground.
3. Aim for the meaty parts:
Direct the impact to the fleshy parts of your body, such as your buttocks, thighs, or the side of your back.
4. Protect your head:
Tuck your chin to your chest to avoid hitting your head, or turn your head away if falling sideways.
5. Roll with the fall:
Instead of trying to stop yourself, keep your body moving with the fall to spread the impact.
Specific positions:
Falling backward:
Tuck your chin and roll along your back to prevent your head from hitting the ground.
Falling forward:
Try to land on your hands and knees and distribute the impact across your forearms and hands.
Falling sideways:
Rotate your body to land on the back of your body and roll with the fall, tucking your chin to protect your head.

I read Steve House’s Beyond the Mountain back in 2013 and his quote, “It’s the easy ground that kills you” has always resonated, especially as I come close to rolling my ankle 1/4-mile from the car nearly every time after a long day or week in the mountains. Glad you’re OK.

I was thinking about this incident while backpacking and it occurred to me that one of my habits might be useful to others. (Glad you recovered OK, Ryan).

If I understand correctly, the reason for the injury was that Ryan’s hands were trapped by both poles being stuck behind him. Without the use of hands or arms he was limited in defensive options, possibly including rolling.

I keep my pole straps loose, as loose as they can be. They can’t slip that way, and it makes it very easy to adjust my grip while walking. It also means that I can drop a pole just by releasing and holding my hand flat for a fraction of a second.

I still use the standard ski-inspired up-through-the-loop-and-down-on-the-strap grip for varied conditions, as well as using the tops on downhills and just straight-through-the-loop to “choke up” on the pole for long uphill sections.

By keeping the strap loose, I can change the grip instantly, which reduces fatigue. But it also means that I can release the pole in the event of a fall, which then allows me to roll and land on a partially bent arm and shoulder.

Sounds just a little TOO exciting. Hope you recover.

Yeah, trekking poles in talus can be dangerous.

Cheers