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| no partners | | I have been exploring the Hells Canyon Wilderness for several months now. It is a great place to visit and a very easy place to escape the Phoenix noise for the harsh solitude of the desert. I have a quick cautionary tale to share about my latest trip to the wilderness though.
I was on a solo two day fast and light overnight trip when disaster found me. I had spent the previous day traveling from the Spring Valley Trailhead on Castle Creek Road down the trail to Garfias Wash. I walked downstream in Garfias Wash about 500 yards or so and then turned right up the large side canyon entering the wash there. I then proceeded up the wash in a mostly Westerly direction until it branched into three separate smaller tributaries. Taking the right most tributary that had the most water flowing in the bottom I continued up the stream in a Northwesterly direction where I found an amazing canyon with sheer walls and flowing water. Continuing upstream and climbing out of the canyon I made camp in a high saddle at the head of the wash I had been exploring all day. Down one side of the saddle was the drainage I had just climbed out of and down the other slope of the saddle was the Horse Creek drainage. I spent the night in the saddle with a spotting scope glassing deer, burros and javelina. It was exceptional.
The next morning following breakfast and some more glassing I continued down from the saddle and entered Horse Creek. I went upstream first to explore a well sight marked on the map. Finding it abandoned and in considerable disrepair I turned and proceeded down stream towards Garfias Wash and Hells Canyon.
Disaster! While working downstream on a cattle trail just above Horse Creek I stepped on a bit of rotten rock and broke my left ankle.
Two very loud snaps, a wave of nausea and about 15 minutes later I reached for my toe and rolled my ankle around a bit. No searing intense pain. I took my pack off and stood on the ankle, immediate searing pain shot through my ankle as I collapsed back onto my pack.
Cell service! I'll scoot up the hill that the trail was traversing shoot out a text for help. To my relief my phone showed one bar of service. To my immediate distress however, all messages failed to send. I was on my own back there, I had to get myself out.
I spent the next 16 hours hobbling on a stick down Horse Creek and Garfias Wash through Hell's Canyon. The majority of Hell's Canyon was spent on my butt because my ankle could not handle the extreme nature of the canyon. I made it about a mile up the established trail when I ran into my wife and buddy Joe out looking for me. Another two hours and we had made the trailhead, relief!
Morale of my story is:
1.
Leave a detailed travel itenerary of your planned route. I left a link to a triplog on this sight. I deviated from the trip though and never told anyone. I am lucky that I was able to walk back to my planned route and find help.
2.
Bring a substantial first aid kit. Mine will now include ace bandages and splint material.
3.
Have some just in case gear. In the event that I was not mobile I was prepared to stay an extra night while awaiting rescue. I had food and water to do so.
I ended up breaking the small leg bone right at my ankle. Be safe out there! |
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