So, I am thinking I am pretty good at hiking

I went out early today to a new location - 1 1/2 hour drive. It is a stream/waterfall in pretty much a gorge location. So, I am hiking along the stream and climbing the gorge, sometimes I had to go up about 50 ft to get to the next section of stream.

Well it was wet, mossy and lots of ice - I am sure you can guess what happened. I was carrying my 5DII/24-70- on the tripod and wearing my backpack - my s95 was in my pocket. OOPs, whoaaa.... I slip and slide down the gorge about 30 ft pretty much on my back, I lost control and wound up on my side by the time I reached the bottom. I managed to save the camera, but hurt my hip. I was afraid to look inside the pack - lenses and 7D, and waited until I limped back to the car. The way I packed the bag saved my equipment, so the only bruises belong to my hip and legs. I can live with that. Damn lucky and makes me wonder if my skills are starting to fade with age - I hope not.

I don't know if age is a factor in your case, but it is in mine. I try to be extra cautious when hiking alone. Accidents can happen to anyone, anytime. With an artificial knee and hip, I can't afford a 30 ft slide. Glad all is well for you and your gear.

pbelarge wrote in post #13826134
I went out early today to a new location - 1 1/2 hour drive. It is a stream/waterfall in pretty much a gorge location. So, I am hiking along the stream and climbing the gorge, sometimes I had to go up about 50 ft to get to the next section of stream.

Well it was wet, mossy and lots of ice - I am sure you can guess what happened. I was carrying my 5DII/24-70- on the tripod and wearing my backpack - my s95 was in my pocket. OOPs, whoaaa.... I slip and slide down the gorge about 30 ft pretty much on my back, I lost control and wound up on my side by the time I reached the bottom. I managed to save the camera, but hurt my hip. I was afraid to look inside the pack - lenses and 7D, and waited until I limped back to the car. The way I packed the bag saved my equipment, so the only bruises belong to my hip and legs. I can live with that. Damn lucky and makes me wonder if my skills are starting to fade with age - I hope not.

Maybe a bit of overconfidence - the familiarity breeds contempt syndrome? I spent a great deal of my life between age 21 and age 50 rambling through the Rockies (and still do a bit, but not as much), mostly alone. Only once can I remember getting myself into a real jam, and that time I was with some others. My brother and I climbed up a small rock face about 50 feet high, and at about 40 feet we reached an impasse on a wide, undercut ledge that allowed no way for a couple of dumb kids to go any farther. Because of the mossy, lichen covered nature of the cliff, going back down was very risky. We were fortunate in that we could call out to the friend who didn't follow us up the face. He found a way up around the cliff, and lowered a fallen tree to the ledge and we scrambled up easily.

That was one of those learning experiences that stuck with me my whole life. I always evaluate any scramble for either successful completion or an avenue for retreat before I start up. I've never even felt that I was even close to repeating that youthful mistake since. I have learned to read conditions and to honestly assess my limitations.

I'm glad you're (relatively) ok!

Bryan

I doubt that its age...probably a case of not being aware of the surroundings, maybe? When climbing or descending, I'm always looking for the next hand-hold before taking the next step, especially when the going is in slippery wet conditions or on crumbled stone or flaking rock. Makes for slow going, but I haven't had a problem yet. I'm 56, but luckily my years spent competing in triathlons have kept me in relatively good condition, which does help when you have 20-30 pounds on your back.

Something to consider...I recently purchased a SPOT II GPS device (had a really nice rebate at REI). The SPOT II has several function buttons that will transmit a message (e.g. everything's okay, need/send help), along with your GPS coordinates, to anyone of your choosing. I'm usually alone, so I have my SPOT II set to send my wife and brother an email and text should anything go wrong. It also works great in areas where you may not have cell phone coverage, but do have exposure to satellites. Works really well. The only caveat is that there's a modest annual subscription fee...can't recall exactly, but if you're wont to be alone, its a good safety device to either let someone know that everything's fine, or at least let someone know where you are and need help if things should take a turn for the worse.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, I also picked up a set of Kahtoola microspikes for use in snow or icy conditions...simply stretch onto your hiking shoes: Link to Kahtoola MicroSpikes

Thanks for the replies.

Funny thing is I have been solo hiking, especially in winter for about 15 years (hiking 45 yrs). I am cautious, and was especially cautious on this trip, because of the exposed/slippery conditions along the rocks.
I think I was in too much of a hurry, thinking the ice on the upper portion of the gorge would not be an issue as our weather here has been quite warm during the day.

I will say that I do take chances at times. The difference these days it is getting physically harder for me to be able to control my body.

Argyle - thanks for the tip, I am going to purchase one.

pbelarge wrote in post #13828734
Thanks for the replies.

Funny thing is I have been solo hiking, especially in winter for about 15 years (hiking 45 yrs). I am cautious, and was especially cautious on this trip, because of the exposed/slippery conditions along the rocks.
I think I was in too much of a hurry, thinking the ice on the upper portion of the gorge would not be an issue as our weather here has been quite warm during the day.

I will say that I do take chances at times. The difference these days it is getting physically harder for me to be able to control my body.

Argyle - thanks for the tip, I am going to purchase one.

Which one...the SPOT II or the Kahtoola's?

Something similar happened to me in Yosemite over the summer, only it was very dry, and the dirt, on a slope, didn't make for the best foothold...

Glad your relatively OK. I hear those commercials where x percent of people over 65 fall each year. I try to get mine out of the way early!

I do have the Spot and after a hike yesterday will look into the spikes, I know they were highly recommended on another forum. We were pretty remote and the shaded side was icy, we got through it but spikes would have been welcome. Hopefully I got some decent picture to post.

Sorry you wiped out and got injured. Like you said, we'd all trade a couple of bruises to 'save the gear.' Glad it wasn't any worse all the way around.

The best insurance is to think ahead, understand potential issues and do what you can to minimize the potential for disaster.

dave

Last fall I slipped on a perfectly harmless section of trail, landed so hard on my side, and camera, and shoulder that I managed to pop my shoulder out of the socket (not the first time). After it popped back in, my first thought was for my camera. Worked like a charm, those things are actually pretty rugged, more so than my shoulder or ribs, which hurt for a couple of weeks.

patrick j wrote in post #13830570
Last fall I slipped on a perfectly harmless section of trail, landed so hard on my side, and camera, and shoulder that I managed to pop my shoulder out of the socket (not the first time). After it popped back in, my first thought was for my camera. Worked like a charm, those things are actually pretty rugged, more so than my shoulder or ribs, which hurt for a couple of weeks.

Patrick
Great images on your flickr site. I can see you have had to put in quite the effort to capture them.

pbelarge wrote in post #13838889
Patrick
Great images on your flickr site. I can see you have had to put in quite the effort to capture them.

That should have been arm out of shoulder socket, duh....

Damn, sorry to hear that, but glad you're ok.

I wouldn't let this make you second-guess yourself too much, stuff happens and as long as you're relatively prepared (you can never be fully prepared) - that's about as good as you can do. Stuff happens whether you're 22 or 62...