HikeArizona.COM

TUCSON - Crews are working to rescue a hiker that fell on the Finger Rock Trail. As of 10pm Tuesday the hiker was still on the trail but had been located by rescue crews. According to a spokesperson with the Pima County Sheriff's Department, the hiker fell about 6 feet and hit his head. He is expected to be alright. It is not clear if the hiker will have to be air lifted off of the trail.

It's safe to assume that he was airlifted out by the PJs from Monthan. Their pavehawk was sitting on the UMC pad at full power for almost 45 minutes at 2300-ish last night. The neighbors were thrilled!! ;) ...I just hope it wasn't anyone from HAZ!

It's weird to think that 6ft is all it takes. Good thing he's going to be okay.

Patrick L wrote:It's weird to think that 6ft is all it takes. Good thing he's going to be okay.

There recently was a HAZ hiker/backpacker who suffered a head injury with only an inch or two fall. It actually wasn't a fall at all but he simply stood up while standing under an alcove hitting his head on the rocks above. I could not find the photoset and trip report to reference but it is very easy to get injured in the great ourdoors and a fall of six feet can actually be fatal if it is a head or neck injury.

If the guy weights 70kg (Average) and fell six feet, that's enough to generate about 1372N/m2 of force. Theoretically, that should not be enough to fully break any long bones but it is more than enough to potentially fracture them and do serious damage to underlying vasculature (Think brain hemmorage) or to damage (But not shatter) spinal vertebre.

@jeffmacewen Also, with enough moment arm, that force could generate plenty of torque. Even without a major fracture, you can damage a joint badly enough to become immobilized, or at least badly impaired. (I sure am glad to be back under 70 kg )

big_load wrote:@jeffmacewen Also, with enough moment arm, that force could generate plenty of torque. Even without a major fracture, you can damage a joint badly enough to become immobilized, or at least badly impaired. (I sure am glad to be back under 70 kg )

Exactly; I watched someone completely dislocate an ankle tripping over one of those little reflective things they embed in roadways while on a formation run. It doesn't really take much if the body is placed out of an anatomically-correct alignment...

SuperstitionGuy wrote:

Patrick L wrote:It's weird to think that 6ft is all it takes. Good thing he's going to be okay.

There recently was a HAZ hiker/backpacker who suffered a head injury with only an inch or two fall. It actually wasn't a fall at all but he simply stood up while standing under an alcove hitting his head on the rocks above. I could not find the photoset and trip report to reference but it is very easy to get injured in the great ourdoors and a fall of six feet can actually be fatal if it is a head or neck injury.

That's what's so daunting. For me a six foot fall is just falling over, without a drop.

Patrick L wrote:For me a six foot fall is just falling over, without a drop.

That's why I fear a simple slip and fall more than any other hazard on the trail.

big_load wrote:

Patrick L wrote:For me a six foot fall is just falling over, without a drop.

That's why I fear a simple slip and fall more than any other hazard on the trail.

I've seen it said a few times. Such an easy thing to overlook.

The most dangerous thing I've witnessed and experienced on the mother lode is resting. While the predominate factor of resting is assumed to be physical you are resting mentally too. Then all the sudden you forget your balance or move in a bad direction without thinking. Believe the only time I've heard Bob gasp out of fear was during a pause break.

@joe bartels You have a good point there. It's not just mental, either. Once you get past a certain age, the first step or two after a period of inactivity don't always work out like you planned.

big_load wrote:@teva joe You have a good point there. It's not just mental, either. Once you get past a certain age, the first step or two after a period of inactivity don't always work out like you planned.

Hence the word, mis-step. When you reach a certain age your ability to completely control your bodily functions begin to diminish. Muscles do not always receive or accept the command that you give them and if you become overly fatigued this occurs as well regardless of your age.

It took me a long time to adjust to wearing bi-focal glasses while boulder hopping the many dry streambeds in Arizona. I thought there for a while that I would have to give up off trail routes and stay on well graded trails. Then when I had to go to tri-focals it really became a problem. There are places that I have hiked up or climbed up to that I no longer can even consider.

There are other functions that can make hiking and backpacking difficult as well. Fortunately outdoor equipment manufactures and modern medicine has helped us out, but at the age of 71 I am not looking forward to the solution to the following problem! http://www.kontraband.com/videos/1815/O ... -My-Pants/

I can definitely relate. I am thinking the best course of action would be to get really serious about yoga. I have a family member who's over 60 and has improved/restored a lot of his balance, strength, flexibility, etc. etc., via yoga over the past 2 years. He also hikes, bikes and works out at the gym. If you look on the internet you can see there are some extremely remarkable people who are in their 80's and 90's, who have retained a youthful body via yoga.

As for the bifocals, I have a little trouble with mine as well. In my case, though, I would be better off just taking them off and either wearing regular sunglasses, or Rx sunglasses without the bifocal part.