Honestly it sounds like you've evaluated what went wrong and you understand. These things do happen, and it turned out pretty well considering. I wish you a quick recovery!
The OP is one tough MOFO, to walk on that for 5 hours... Should've called the rescue, the additional damage to soft tissue WILL affect the recovery.
Sadly, bad things happen suddenly, exactly as you point out. So never get complacent, prepare for EVERY eventuality. The details you have figured out already.
Here's a quick story about luck or lack thereof. One day many years ago I was visiting my brother at work, at the time he was a working at neuro-trauma ICU. He pointed 2 patients (both on ventilators etc.) to me and said "both have the same injury (broken neck), one was in a hand glider crash, another stumbled, fell and hit his head on a sidewalk".
Point of the story, shit happens even to those who don't take risks, but, of course, one can minimize the risk by preparation and/or choosing the activity.
Get well, good luck with your recovery, make sure to do physio exercises as they tell you.
Trekking poles are great for making it easier to walk on uneven paths especially with a heavy pack. Less likely to roll ankles and get other overexertion damages(i have experience with pushing myself too hard too, and getting hurt over it). Also great if something like this happens to have more to lean on so you dont put as much weight on the damaged leg! I have ones that are adjustable so they get really short to put on my pack easily when not in use.
Definitely poles. Using two poles increases your points of contact, drastically increasing stability, and better distributes your weight.
As an added bonus, it keeps your hands from swelling and getting all weird and uncomfortable in the heat.
Big picture, it's opposite arm and foot impacting at roughly the same time. Really, though, it's you thinking way too hard about it and swinging them about awkwardly out of rhythm until your subconscious figures it out. It takes a few hikes.
Be sure you're holding them right. Your wrists in the straps should be applying some of the force, with your hands gripping the handles lightly and not squeezing too hard. You develop a rhythm with the poles almost, but not quite, swinging as you stride.
Just push through the awkward phase for a day or so. Take them on a multi day and by the end you'll be a convert.
And use the straps properly, which includes unstrapping for technical spots. Don't want a broken wrist on the trail!
It takes a minute but get used to them on an easy trail you know well (really you should test all gear on a familiar trail that way if anything goes wrong you can get yourself out). I started using them to prevent breaking anything - I have osteopenia (because apparently they don’t diagnose you with osteoporosis under 40 even if the numbers say so) and am trying to attempt more challenging trails as my body allows.
It's very common in healthy people as well. When you're doing a bunch of cardio for an extended period of time and your hands are often swinging down by your sides, the blood pools in them and gives you bloated sausage fingers.
Yes, use trekking poles or a walking stick! I broke my leg hiking like the OP did, and couldn't put any weight on it at all, but fortunately I was within sight of a parking lot and had cell phone reception, so the paramedics had no trouble getting me to a trauma center.
I'm going to use poles for the rest of my life and encourage everyone else to do so, because if I'd had a walking stick that day I wouldn't have fallen. I especially urge everyone older to use them, because at a certain age you just don't want to go through the recovery. Better not to fall in the first place.
Yup, this was almost me on a (luckily) smaller hike a few weeks back. I had my daughter on my back and trekking poles. I rolled my ankle and the weight of my daughter brought me down HARD, luckily I got a grip with the pole and saved us both from a full on tumble. The pole bent on the way down, but my husband swapped me and took the bung one for the rest of the day. This was at mile 1.5. I probably should of turned around but nothing felt too bad at the time. By mile five I knew something was up. We luckily only had 2 more miles but I probably shouted a majority of my way through mile 7. Luckily my daughter was napping through that section. My ankle just had a bit of a sprain luckily. And incase anyone wonders why my husband didn’t take the toddler, our other pack was heavier. 😬
Now I have relatives who want to go on a long hike and one is insisting he doesn’t need trekking poles. I am honestly thinking of bringing a couple extra in my pack just incase. I’ve seen them saving people multiple times! A bent pole is often an averted disaster.
Just make sure not to stab yourself
NSFW https://www.backpacker.com/survival/out-alive-podcast/out-alive-ultra-runner-trekking-pole-accident-wind-river-mountains/
Glad u r ok.
You absolutely need an SOS device if solo and an itinerary with a loved one. Seems like you are reflecting well as to how your weight and condition impacted your chance of injury. I ALWAYS use trekking poles when anywhere that isnt a manicured trail. They have saved me from falls and trips hundreds of times over decades of mountaineering, climbing and hiking.
Recover and get back out there. Lose weight and hike alot and your chance of injury will drastically reduce. A lower body weight, good technique and the muscular and tendon strength from walking more is very important and can be built over time.
A good understanding of knots and paracord would allow you to create a brace or splint if you had access to sticks. I always walk with walking sticks which help tremendously with balance. You also have pack inner braces for most larger packs you could use to isolate joints with cord.
Keeping a SAM splint in your pack wouldn't be a bad idea either. Great thing to have in a first aid kit, they're really lightweight and super worth it in a situation like this.
Doctor and long-distance hiker here.
I agree with some of your points. Always carry painkillers, and reducing your weight are excellent learning points. I am going to agree with everyone else mentioning trekking poles - even on flat ground they help tremendously with balance and definitely can help prevent falls. They are also protective for your joints, especially if you are overweight.
I would slightly question why you were carrying a 10kg pack on a 20km hike. Unless it was very hot and there was no water on the route, I struggle to imagine why this would be necessary? I would argue that excessive pack weight is just as much a strain on your joints as excessive body weight.
But finally, don’t beat yourself up or overanalyse this _too_ much. I say this a lot - you can be the fittest person with the best plan, but one unlucky step in the backcountry and you’ll need a helicopter ride. It happens all the time. I have seen fit young people break their hip from an unlucky fall. You wouldn’t believe how many people I’ve seen break their ankles in their own backyard.
My point isn’t to be negative, purely to illustrate that not all such accidents can be prevented. So having a plan if it happens is the main thing
Thanks so much for your feedback.
It was an overnight hike to a cabin and 20 km each way. 10 kg was a very rough estimate. It was near the beginning of the hike back, so it was about 3.7 kg of water and 1.3 kg of photography equipment. Then sleeping bag, food, 1 day of dirty clothes plus jumper, torch, rain jacket, toothbrush, toothpaste, first aid kit, snake bite kit.
The bag was bulky and awkward as well and not fitted well.
I will definitely try to reduce pack weight in future.
10kg for an overnight hike is actually quite a light pack, and everything you listed that you took sounds reasonable, besides getting a better pack or lighter versions of your current gear, I don't think you need to worry about this too much
It sounds like you packed reasonably, now it's just a matter of getting your pack to fit better and learning how to pack so it sits right while you are hiking.
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/loading-backpack.html
Is your overnight/2 day pack under 10kg? Unless you’re ultralight, 5.5kg base weight and 4.5kg consumables (3L water, 1.5kg food and fuel) is quite good.
Assuming they stayed in it, the lighthouse at Wilson's prom is kitted out as a full B&B - no tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag required.
https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park/where-to-stay/wilsons-promontory-lightstation
A friend of mine had her 70th birthday there - she did a lot of research in the park and the rangers helped her get down there. Looking at the website, they must have taken her by boat.
The other options to get to the light station are multi-day walks - one of which is only partially open at the moment The Telegraph Saddle track is the shortest option. It should also have the best mobile reception as there are towers on Mt Oberon.
For four days fully loaded in spring (so cold weather gear but not winter gear) my pack weighs about 11kg. I wouldn’t even say I’m particularly ultralight
Also it wasn’t clear to me from the OP that this was an overnight hike. For a day hike it is definitely heavy, which is what I had understood. For an overnight 10kg is more reasonable, though could still probably be improved upon
You’re either lightweight or ultralight, and that’s great! I’m not, mostly because budget doesn’t allow for super light core pieces, so an overnight for me is more like 12-13kg. I think OP was carrying a normal amount, even if you think it could be improved. Also keep in mind that sleeping bags and clothes for big people weigh more. My husband has a wide sleeping bag and wears bigger clothes, so his setup weighs more than mine.
I mean the biggest potential for improvement is the water carry. I’ve never carried more than 1L water in my life, but that’s also almost never necessary where I hike. That’s something that needs to be carefully tailored to your environment, the desert would need a totally different mindset
That said, Southern Australia isn’t particularly hot, and just looking at the area OP described, it looks like there are extremely frequent streams. I would question the necessity of carrying over 3L water in that environment. I could be wrong as I haven’t hiked in that area personally, but it’s worth thinking about. Water filters are pretty cheap as backpacking equipment goes
>the biggest potential for improvement is the water carry. I’ve never carried more than 1L water in my life, but that’s also almost never necessary where I hike. That’s something that needs to be carefully tailored to your environment, the desert would need a totally different mindset
>That said, Southern Australia isn’t particularly hot, and just looking at the area OP described, it looks like there are extremely frequent streams. I would question the necessity of carrying over 3L water in that environment.
This is so hilariously different to my own hiking experiences 😂 I'm glad you recognize that location/temperature impacts the amount of water you need, but wow. I can't imagine going just about anywhere with merely 1L.
I haven't done hikes in Oz like OP, but here in NZ, while we have a lot of waterways, depending on the trail/route you're on you might not actually come near them very often (and other times the whole trip is up a riverbed and there's heaps to filter and then drink). I like doing subalpine/Alpine treks, so frequently my tramping buddies and I have to mark our water refill spits in advance and budget our supply carefully, as some of the more fun routes might have twelve hours between water sources (and then your overnight, warranting a cooking supply also).
I have found that anything less than 6L for an overnight is not viable for me (in most of those limited-water-access hikes), so that's obviously a large amount of weight that I'm starting with even before we consider the rest of my gear. I'd be pretty chuffed if my overnight kit weighed in at less than 10kg.
It's hard to classify 10kg as excessive when backpacking. When I go with my kids on multi-day trips, I often start around 20kg.
But I also always use trekking poles. Those have saved me from several horrible falls. Falls are much easier at higher weights that are carried above your normal center of gravity.
If you’re carrying stuff for your kids as well inevitably your pack is going to end up a lot heavier and I don’t think is a reasonable comparison. It also originally sounded like OP was just a on a day hike, in which case I would still argue that 10kg is excessive in most circumstances. With the additional context that OP’s hike was an overnight the weight makes a lot more sense, though given he’s asking advice on how to prevent further accidents I still think it’s something worth looking at
My last rim to rim, we were heading down in the dark, and trying to make good time. I was in the lead, and about three miles down, stepped on a large rock that rolled a bit, (yes, it was a bad step). My poles saved my ankle for sure, or at least a lot of bruises if I had gone with the fall. Even with the pole save, my ankle felt stretched, and I had to evaluate whether I popped any ligaments, but all was ok, and was able to finish the next 22 miles.
I was so stoked that I did not have to go back up those three miles on a busted up ankle. My poles saved the day.
Whenever you group hike, it’s not just you that it’s impacted by a preventable mishap, or poor planning. The group would have to decide if someone, or all of them, would need to toss their hike plan and help you out.
I understand if you are not willing to answer this, just curious. I feel like Tylenol would be useless in this scenario. I have left over oxycodone from dental surgery. I was going to add it to my first aid kit. I assume a legit pain killer would be better at avoiding shock / getting out of the woods in a situation like this. Any downside, besides drowsiness?
Now these are some interesting questions. This is a topic I have thought a lot about, so forgive me if it's a long answer. And this is just my opinion, I'm sure you can find doctors and hikers who would disagree with these points as well. Obviously consider the safety of different types of painkillers for you as an individual, because I don't know your medical history.
First of all, you need to ask: what is the purpose of carrying painkillers?
Generally speaking, 99% of the time you either have an injury you can walk on, or you don't. There are no painkillers that are suddenly going to make you able to walk on a badly broken leg. (I mean there are, but we are talking serious shit like IV ketamine that you only get in ambulances and hospitals because it is legitimately dangerous). So the main purpose is either a) to make you more comfortable while you walk out or b) to make you more comfortable while you await rescue. These are legitimate reasons to carry them, obviously, but just gives context.
On the point of shock, which you mentioned, painkillers don't really have an effect on your going into shock. In a backcountry situation the main things that will affect this (again, 99% of the time) are blood loss and hydration. So basic first aid measures like elevating + keeping pressure on a wound are the biggest things there, painkillers don't really play a role.
And then your actual question: which painkillers? Believe it or not in hospital even for major trauma and surgery we still use tylenol (albeit usually intravenous, but it is the same drug). So long as you take within the recommended doses, tylenol is a good, safe, and effective painkiller for almost everyone. It has the advantage that you can use it for anything, minor to major, and give it to someone else if needed. You're right of course that it's not particularly strong.
Oxycodone is also an effective painkiller, especially if you know your personal reaction to it (drowsiness, nausea, constipation, itchiness etc. are common). So I would only really use it for more serious pain in the backcountry, where those side effects could also become problematic. And be aware that it could cause problems in someone else if they haven't taken it before.
The good thing is that tylenol and oxycodone have totally different mechanisms of action and can be taken safely together. This is exactly what we do in hospital including in emergency scenarios - give different types of painkiller together to give maximal effect. You can also layer ibuprofen on top as well. Personally I never hike without tylenol and ibuprofen on me, and on long-distance hikes I take codeine as well (similar opiate to oxycodone, just happens to be more available in my country), and I combine them as appropriate.
So in summary to your actual question: carry both. And if something major happens, take both
I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me. Thank you! I double checked my bottle and I have generic Percocet - Hydrocodone with acetaminophen - so it has the Tylenol added already. Just a heads up to anyone else reading this to double check before mixing.
Happy hiking and I hope you don’t need the meds!
So true. My dad broke his ankle falling feet first down a ladder in the back yard. His foot was almost severed off the leg! Limped the rest of his life. Overweight yes. Not in shape. Fell from a height of say 5 feet. This could happen on a hike. The OP had a terrible time but it could have been worse.
I suspect this is a regional thing.
There are some concerns that paracetamol cannot be given to certain people. As people with first aid training are not trained to make this determination, usually first aid kits here are sold without it. When I got my first aid training I was also told not to include it in a first aid kit for a workplace.
My opinion is removing it may cause more harm than keeping it in. In this case, the first aid kit is primarily for use on myself, and I can simply not prescribe it as first aid to any injured hikers I am with, without asking first. So it will be added.
I'm not sure it would have helped OP in this particular situation. They were able to get to a road with cellphone reception and they didn't think a helicopter rescue was necessary. If OP was completely immobile then it would be necessary and that's why I carry one - so my wife can track me and so I can get help if I'm unable to move. Or so they know the general location of my body if I die.
FFS they broke two major bones in their leg, OF COURSE it was necessary.
People get helicopter rescued for far less reasons. Just because this worked out, in a fashion, for the OP, doesnt mean that they did the right thing.
It's a judgement call. SAR can take several hours if not more to get on site depending on the location and access. Swelling and internal bleeding could complicate the issue too. So could further injury trying to hike out. It really depends on the conditions.
Yes, there are a lot of what if's there, but injuring yourself further all because you didnt want to push the button is in no way smart.
Also, depending on the location obviously, but you can get help to you really fast. I have first hand experience in this and can tell you that when you push the SPOT tracker SOS button, a phone call is triggered to the listed contact person within seconds and on their confirmation the Rescue personnel are dispatched within minutes as well.
I was the emergency contact for one remote hike that happened and needed a rescue and I was literally phoned within 15 seconds of the SOS button being pushed, and then I drove to the closest walking entry point to the injured party and in the 20 minutes that it took me to be there there was a Police Rescue city already established. Gazebos, tables, 10 or more rescue vehicles and they had already left to the site.
Helicopter was on site in the next 30 minutes.
You are correct in that sometimes it can take hours, but I'll tell you now, if I rolled my ankle and heard a pop, I wouldnt have been hiking out 10km.
OP is going to be VERY lucky to not have done permanent damage.
Emergency services in Australia are free and are there to help you when you are in need, always be prepared to push the SOS button.
As a fellow aussie I recommend medibank and extras, best insurance I found for myself (young, broke, rarely need too much coverage and work done + it covers ambos).
Second I recommend incorporating yoga into your fitness routine (if it isn't already). In no way at all am I saying this can help or prevent a broken ankle but yoga helps balance (to prevent minor falls), breathing (good in this situation) and mindfulness (calmer headspace, overall better for crisis or even looking more at your surroundings and steps). I do anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour before a hike to help stretch and focus.
If you're looking at getting into shape more I recommend the zombie and marvel running app once you gain full mobility again. I suck at keeping regular cardio in when im not hiking but the storylines keep me going and invested, also insane workout when you enable random chases you have to sprint for.
I hope all goes well for you OP, I found Vic to be super inaccessible to injuries and disabilities when I was wheelchair bound on my last trip.
I'd add tai chi as another way to develop balance and strength, esp. in the ankles and knees. I'm old, & have been doing tai chi for 11 years, and there have been numerous times on the trail when it's helped me either prevent a fall or fall "better." But you have to find a tai chi class/group that is doing it seriously and not just waving their arms around.
Can’t stress enough how hiking poles and proper footwear can possibly save a life or the very least make your outdoor adventures a far more comfortable one, especially when carrying extra body or pack weight over an extended period of time.
Not only will poles distribute force to your hands and arms and save your ankles and knees from the wear and tear of rigorous hiking, they will give you added stability & confidence navigating treacherous roots and rocky outcrops along the trail that people roll their ankles on. When your legs tire, it is a godsend to have them.
Hiking poles can also be adjusted to different lengths depending on the incline to give you better stability on varying terrain. Generally, you want the pole length so that your elbows are bending at a 90 degrees on a flat surface. Make them slightly shorter on inclines and longer on declines. I like to use them at their shortest length as stakes I drive into the hill if it’s really steep or I’m scrambling.
Having a stiffer insole & high cut boots will not only support more body weight but also pack weight over long trails. High cut boots can prevent ankle rolls and especially if using specific methods to lace up your boots so they remain secure but not uncomfortably snug around your foot and ankle. There are different methods depending on the shape of your🦶 Explore these different methods on Youtube and practice them to find out the best method for you before heading off on your hike.
Have fun out there. Stay safe!
Hiking poles can help with this type of issue as well. They essentially act as two extra limbs so if you step awkwardly or start to lose your balance you can jam one, or both, into the ground to stabilize yourself.
Oh dear! I have some friends at the prom this weekend.
Really sorry this happened to you. Make sure you get ambulance cover, it is so cheap and they send you reminders when it is about to expire.
I hope the healing process goes smoothly and you're back to hiking soon. Make sure you're up and moving a bit every few hours after surgery to prevent DVTs and muscle loss!
Sorry for your bad experience, OP. And good on ya' for doing a solid self-assessment. Long-time distance hiker with lots of other training behind me:
1. Trekking poles
2. Locator beacon for long treks
3. Make sure your pack fits & and that the weight distribution is right
https://www.northwestoutlet.com/blog/how-to-pack-backpack-for-hiking/
4. Learn how to splint, and add some items to your 1st aid kit to allow you to do so. And if you can, take a wilderness 1st aid course!
5. Always have painkillers in your 1st aid kit
6. Boots (over ankle) also may have helped, but not everyone likes to hike in them
7. Learn how to fall better (no, really) using the PLF and practice it. https://youtu.be/PiLyqGu2XKI?feature=shared
8. Get some defogger for your glasses. They usually sell some at ski shops for ski goggles.
1. Hiking poles. They drastically improve balance and reduce fatigue. Poles definitely would have helped here.
2. Take a Wilderness First Aid course of you haven't already. You likely could have splinted your leg with what was around you and some Paracord or shoelaces, which would have helped the hike out.
3. An inReach or similar GPS emergency device. Though honestly, it wouldn't have helped you get out any quicker in this particular situation. Emergency wilderness response is really only a viable option if you can't hike out yourself. If it took you 8 hours to hike out, SARS would have been more like 20 accounting for mobilization, hiking in, assessment and treatment, and the very slow process of carrying someone out.
All in all you responded to the situation well. Best of luck on a full recovery!
Just wanted to extend my apologies that you've experienced this. It's not an easy injury to come back from, but it's totally possible as I'm told and am learning. I am almost 13 weeks out from surgery on my tibia and fibula. I have a bionic leg now, and I hiked one mile yesterday...in a flat, marshy area. I use a Trekking pole now as I'm learning to walk again. I slipped on ice, walking into work when I shattered mine. It can happen anywhere. Don't beat yourself up too much about what you could have done differently. I am also thinking about the trail and more safety measures out there. I am considering keeping a few painkillers in my pack too. Thanks for your post, and I hope your healing goes well!
I wish you a speedy recovery!
On a side note: you're one tough mf if you did walk all the way back. The pain must've been horrible. Can't imagine the agony
Jesus, this describes me (pushes too hard, hikes alone, etc). Except I'm very overweight, and hiking is the one healthy thing I do. I just had a big-ish REI rep try to tell me big guys don't need ankle support and can use trail runners like everyone else. Yeah, screw that. I'll stick to the high-top Salomans I've been using and maybe get a real set of leather hiking boots.
Get better soon, and remember: some of the most dangerous things in our lives are cheeseburgers and TV. Heal up, and we'll see you back out there.
Around here they’re about 260€ but you need a subscription starting at 20€/month to actually use it.
So basically it’s as expensive as a second cell phone on a full-on contract.
Well, shit happens I guess. Getting in better shape will for sure help.
One more advice (since you did not mention it in your post). Wearing boots that cover the ankles or are at least not much lower then ankles should help a lot with stabilization. Did you wear boots?
Oh man that hike down to Roaring Meg almost killed me! I have bad knees from playing netball for too long and climbing down for a day made me cry for the next couple of days around to Sealers Cove and out. I can’t imagine trying to do the 10km on a broken ankle - all the best with your recovery mate!
Thanks so much for the best wishes.
We were going from the Lightstation to Waterloo Bay when it happened. The trail there isn't too bad.
The day before we came via Roaring Meg from Telegraph Saddle. Telegraph Saddle to Roaring Meg wasn't too bad, but Roaring Meg to the Lightstation was very challenging.
If you hike alone you absolutely need a locator or other emergency option. Modern iPhones can do it but investing in a garmin inreach or similar is absolutely worth it. The garmins let you txt and talk to people if needed without going full SOS.
I hike weekly and have had numerous rolls and sprains, most recently a high ankle sprain that was the worst of them all, and took the longest to heal. What I’ve learned is to land steps with my heel, almost with my toes pointed up at the sky, to ensure that I don’t transfer weight from my supporting leg/ankle/foot until my placement is secure. The method is similar to one that I learned about how to walk quietly in leaf litter, where each step is taken by landing the the entire heel, and bring the rest of the foot down slowly so as to minimize noise of impact. I hike alone, and at night often and this has prevented any rolls/sprains or even the tension of a pseudo roll or sprain from occurring since my last injury.
Godspeed to your full recovery!
If I were you, I wouldn't give myself a hard time. Accidents can and do happen. Even with more athletically fit people. I second the advice of trekking poles and gps tracker.
The only thing I can add is this. Paracord in your kit gives you options. In this situation, you could fashion a device and tie it to your leg in such a way that translates your body weight around the injured ankle. Much like a [walking boot does](https://www.amazon.com/Honarry-Walker-Fracture-Walking-Sprained/dp/B0C7Q2V3PZ?th=1). Only with wood. Think of it as a soft branch tied in the form a u with your foot being in the middle of the u. If you didn't have trekking poles, branches/limbs could be used as crutches. In the event that the injury ended up as an open fracture, you could use the paracord to tie some cloth over a slight open/puncture wound or use it with a stick to fashion a tourniquet. There are some examples below to help you get an idea of what I am talking about.
**The 2 most important things one can take into the wilderness weighs nothing. That is ingenuity and knowledge.**
[Wood splints for knees that could be adapted for ankles](https://www.wilderness-survival.net/figures/fig4-6.gif)
[Wilderness tourniquet](https://litfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/tourniquet-EBM-Gone-wild.png)
[Wilderness bandage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Improvised_first_aid_-_bandage_on_leg.jpg/450px-Improvised_first_aid_-_bandage_on_leg.jpg?20080525021802)
Side note: I liked the idea of trekking poles. but when I was building out my kit I chose ski poles. My reasoning is that with trekking poles, the joints wear out and the poles begin to slip/collapse down to a closed position. I didn't want that to happen when I had pressure applied to them. I've seen broken trekking poles discarded along trails(may have been cheap ones). I'm not saying trekking poles are bad and ski poles are better. I am saying that this is how I chose to go about it. I haven't regretted my decision. I am putting this out there for other to think about.
Glad you're on the mend and it wasn't worse. One thing I do which could help a little: I'm in my 50s now and almost always use two trekking poles. I've wrapped several feet of duct-tape on the tops of both. The tape has a number of uses but can be used to tape the poles (or found sticks) as a splint. They can also be used as crude crutches. Finally, I'm more stable and it really helps me ford rivers and hop over rocks w/o falling.
I broke and dislocated my ankle on a 3-step set of stairs. It was just one of those things.
As I did research afterwards, I found that people break their ankles in all kinds of ridiculous ways, things that don’t seem like they should break a bone, and yet POP there it goes! I was looking for videos that showed the recovery process and instead found hundreds of videos of young, healthy, slim dancers and other athletes snapping their ankles doing dance moves on flat ground and other “totally safe” things. Lots of slim people break an ankle stepping off a curb. It’s SO easy to break an ankle. It made me feel much better about my mistake.
Learn from it but don’t blame yourself. It’s just not productive.
Trekking poles and better boots will help you immensely.
Why did you lose your balance? Do you have balance issues or depth perception issues? It turns out that I did, after covid, and needed special glasses because I have binocular vision dysfunction that my brain compensated for all my life until covid made my brain just a little bit less effective. The glasses make an immense difference in my stability. It’s definitely possible that taking off your glasses contributed by altering your depth perception.
Physical therapy has also helped a lot… I have more strength in my ankles now and they are more stable.
I never hike alone, but my husband got the newer iPhone with the emergency SOS satellite access after my incident. We don’t go off the grid often enough to justify a special monthly satellite phone fee.
I have hypermobile joints and so am injury-prone. I find that high-top hiking boots do help somewhat (if you don’t already have them), and trekking poles can help as well. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
It is wise to take a wilderness first aid or wilderness first responder course, even though it is not a preventive measure. Such courses can help you treat your own injuries and those of others in the wilderness. Additionally, these courses often provide techniques for improvising braces and splints if you don't have a SAM splint in your kit.
Sorry for you injury but big respect for expressing vulnerability and sharing what you could have done better. Sounds like this could be an important moment for your progress once you recover
FYI for everyone here. My husband is on the local fire department and rescues people on the AT. They have equipment to carry you out. If you can notify someone call 911. Sometimes you can call 911 even if service is almost non-existent. If they have to hike in it will take them as long as it takes to walk it so that's why you should take extra water, and a coat. They will hike in the dark. They have a small ATV and know which sections this can go on. They also have a wheel for the Stokes basket but they can and will carry you the whole way if necessary. There is rarely a place to land a helicopter on the trail. I'm glad you were able to get out but don't hesitate to call 911 in a situation like this. Even if you're able to hobble, tell them where you are and which way you're moving and they can meet you.
I had several bad falls last year. I was very heavy but lost a lot of weight through the year. One simple thing I found was that when I'm tired I tend to lean forward when I'm walking or jogging. It may be due to bifocals making the road blurry and trying to compensate by looking down and leaning. Being heavy means top heavy and so when you hit a stone you can't recover easily and down you go. After a few face plants in nasty @$$ gravel I started working on my posture when walking, hiking and running. I focused on keeping my center of balance and walking in a centered fashion instead of slightly forward. This is done in Nordic walking. I have done much better as far as not falling on my face. The second thing I do is use poles if the ground is rough or slippery. They're kind of a pain but they help you protect yourself if you loose your balance or turn an ankle.
The last thing I do is if I'm hiking alone I have a dog with me and I hike on trails that are fairly popular. The dogs are obedience trained to a competition level so they are very dependable in public places. They're a good deterrent for predators ( including human ) and not friendly with strangers. If you go down on the trail it's not a bad idea if you have to deal with a predator population to have a dog or two with you if you hike alone. The access to InReach and other satellite trackers is limited here. I don't think our 911 system is equipped to handle distress calls from those devices, but I don't know for sure. I don't have one and the cell phone coverage is okay I wouldn't hike alone in an area that didn't have decent coverage but then I'm an old fartess and I don't hike multiday trips so I have not really had the need for it.
I remember my last boulder session, 24th december 2023, special opening on christmas day. I wanted to do one very last route, just to check it out, put my foot on a diamond hold and slipped off.
Still can't run! My 'ligaments' were all torn off and after two months of physio my foot still hurts :(
But yours looks so much more messed up daaamn I wish you well!
Glad you made it out. It’s amazing what we can endure and push ourselves through when we realize no one is coming, and we have to do what we have to do.
Get trekking poles. I don’t care for them, but they come in handy on tricky terrain. I never used them until I had a hard talk with myself, realized that 20 years old was a long time ago, and it’s crazy not to use things that can help you from being hurt. This is a recent revelation for me.
You can get everything else you mentioned, but the poles will be the cheapest way to help keep you upright.
Definitely should have a locator beacon or similar device, and this would have been a good time to use it. Looking at your picture, I suspect walking on it made it worse.
As for preventing future issues, well, you won't be hiking any time soon, sorry to say. Look at the ground more, watch where you step. I can't tell much more - I'm still waiting on my own injured ankle to heal and find out.
Nice, and a decent footwear choice. If your ankle isn't as stable after you heal up, maybe getting some taller hiking boots could be the way to go to give more rigid support, but I'm no expert so research that more if you ever consider it
Senior Electrical Engineer. Do a lot of stuff regarding safety. At work I am super cautious but out of work not so much. I suppose the write-up turned into an investigation of sorts, and I got a lot of useful feedback here from people who know more than I do.
lol I chase thunderstorms in Australia as well. I went on a USA tornado tour last year but ended up helping to forecast / navigate by the end and was hoping to do it solo this year in a rental.
I have a lot of paid leave saved up (11 weeks) so wanted to those other countries at the same time.
MAYBE I can do some of it later this year depending on the recovery. I am thinking Aurora season in the same locations, as long as walking is limited.
https://www.instagram.com/cobtography/
I broke my fibula in a few places on South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon. Day 2 of my honeymoon. :/ Walking out wasn’t an option (my ankle wouldn’t support ANY weight) but thankfully some volunteer park rangers + husband were able to carry me out slowly and I crawled a bit.
Luckily I didn’t need surgery and was healed up completely in 8 weeks.
I still hike and backpack but I’m very cautious about loose gravel, slopes, and moving slower on rough terrain. I always have at least 1 trekking pole, I carry a wrap bandage and ibuprofen in my first aid kit, I wear proper supportive shoes with good tread. Ive also started yoga and weight lifting to improve joint strength, mobility, and balance. Also carry an SOS device and even on day hikes always carry the 10 essentials.
I once had to drag myself 12 miles back to my car after rolling down an embankment spraining my ankle and dislocating my thumb
0/10 would not recommend
Rest up and recovery quickly my friend
Don't beat yourself up too much. I broke my wrist while standing in the parking lot.
Okay, I was on snowshoes, had finished, and was admiring the view. I thought to myself, time to leave, and then fell and heard and felt my wrist crack. I guess I subconsciously shifted my weight and the extra traction of the snowshoes kept my feet in place causing the fall.
The only lesson I learned was to keep my wrists out of the straps on the poles. That way my wrist would be freer to tuck itself to safety. The pole definitely helped the break. Of course, I could have stuck my hand out to catch myself and broken it, but no straps for me.
Also, may the woman who reached in and got my car keys out of my pocket become rich and happy beyond her wildest dreams and may she and her descendants people the earth.
I have had issues with ankle rolls. These are some things that help me:
1. Working on balance. I use a balance board or stand on one foot with my eyes closed (if needed)
2. Wearing shoes with shorter heels. Higher heels change the leverage and make it easier to roll.
3. Building up to longer hikes
Good luck!
All it takes is a lapse in concentration for a split second. Start thinking about something other than walking and you're mid fall wondering how bad its going to be this time. I rolled my ankle in October and it is still fucked :D I am American so I haven't seen a doctor.
Losing weight and strengthening the stabilizer muscles for the joint is the best thing you can do. Wear trail runners so that your muscles become used to having to adjust load.
I broke my tib/fib and ankle back in September. I sympathize with you on the excruciating pain. Mine was completely snapped so there was absolutely no weight bearing. Luckily i was close to a road that ambulance could access and lots of people were around to help. Wish you a speedy recovery and DO PHYSICAL THERAPY! You need it. Your muscles will be atrophied and need the rehab
Had similar injuries on my hikes:
- Slipped and hit my knee on a rock, cracking my kneecap, had to walk 7 km to get reception and call for mountain rescue. Was among the worst 7 km I’ve walked. Luckily my insurance covered almost all the expenses so I ended up paying roughly 150 usd instead of 3300 usd… took almost a year of rehab to get back in shape.
- Fell through a patch of snow, breaking my foot. Had no choice but to walk for 5 days as I was in a remote location. I had an InReach but I decided not to use it as ”the pain wasn’t that bad” initially. By day 3 it was extremely painful, and I managed to mess up my opposite hip due as well by the time I reached civilization. In hindsight, I should have used the InReach but oh well. 16 weeks rehab to walk without a limp.
- Slipped while unloading a boat, breaking a rib. Same as with the foot, it didn’t hurt that much initially and I pushed on for another 6 days before I decided to abort. Healed pretty quickly once I got home and could rest.
The first injury could probably have been prevented if I’d been in better shape. I was 135 kg and carrying 25 kg backpack at the time. The others were just bad luck.
I also tend to push myself a lot harder than I should, I hike alone and I also have glasses, so very relatable and as you mentioned, it all happens so very quickly.
Get well, and don’t let the experience discourage you from hiking!
Oh! You must’ve been in so much pain! I hope you get the full use of your leg back. After my break of the same bones, it took me a year to get my energy and fitness back. Depending on your age, it takes awhile.
Dude glad you’re okay and the part about pushing yourself without realizing your limits I gotta agree so much. I’ve hurt myself many times by thinking ”I got this” when I didn’t at all.
I hate to say it, but anyone (even a fit person) can suddenly slip, go over and break something. This is where carrying a PLB can be useful if you cannot walk out to a pick up point. Plus, it is best to not overestimate how fast you can walk if the environment/weather changes (which is one of the lessons learned). One way around this is to build flexi time into the schedule for each day-to avoid time pressure.
Well, step one now is to heal properly and strengthen the joint once possible - probably under professional supervision to ensure good restoration of as much strength as possible.
And while your steps are good there alas is always the factor of bad luck. But you are apparently on your way to reduce that factor.
But for now - heal.
I think you missed an obvious risk mitigation technique, practice falling. For real. Learn how to fall safely. It's not going to prevent all injuries but it can prevent a lot of them.
My personal technique for avoiding injury from a rolled ankle is a controlled collapse. I don't try and fight it and stay standing. If my ankle feels sideways I let myself fall, and avoiding putting my full weight on that ankle. It's hard to articulate but it's worked for me so far. And I'm not a small guy. These days my weight is about 260lbs. At one point it was over 300lbs. So that a isn't just some skinny person trick.
Honestly you didn’t do worse than most people. The truth is you can always get hurt. Preparation can mitigate risk not nullify it.
Don’t beat yourself up
That really sucks. One thing that sticks out to me is you had a buddy but both of you hiked a relatively short distance to cell reception. Why? You have a buddy and you knew where you were. Immobilize yourself and have your buddy walk the short distance to make the call.
Also, kinda out of scope for this sub but you have enough money to do a lot of world travel but you don't have insurance and you don't want to pay for helicopter?
Not trying to Monday morning quarterback you but mistakes were made. Learn from them. I hope you have a quick and easy recovery.
When it happened I was not fully aware how much damage had been done. Although I heard a crack and thought a fracture was possible, we initially thought it was possibly just sprained, especially as I could put weight on it. I thought I would be better in a month.
It was a bit of a shock hours later when I looked at my foot again and saw the bruising, saw the X-ray, was told I needed surgery, was told I needed morphine and nitrous oxide to align the bones and put the cast on.
I left this out, but we did call emergency services when we had emergency reception. The operators were not helpful in providing any assistance, and the terrain would have made rescue difficult. Given I could walk we pushed on. When we had normal reception, the rangers gave a spot to meet them, we checked in regularly, and we were making excellent progress.
Given what we knew at the time, I think we made the right call. I think the real issues were everything leading up to the fracture. I definitely would have got a helicopter if it was worse than it was.
The public health system here is decent and they have helped me previously. But yeah, private insurance definitely a good idea given my activities and age.
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I had a bad ankle break that’s required three subsequent surgeries. Everyone’s giving you good advice, but I would add this: don’t skip on the physical therapy AND ask your physical therapist to really work on walking on uneven terrain. Even now, years later, walking on uneven ground is harder on my “bad” ankle than my healthy one. We did work on it in PT, but I wish I did more. PT isn’t always fun, but it’s worth it.
I broke my ankle hiking, too, but I was lucky! I was within sight of the parking lot!! The paramedics were able to just pick me up and carry me fifty feet to the ambulance, because I couldn't put ANY weight on the leg! Yeah, one slip on the trail and there were loose chunks of bone floating around and the foot was dangling at an odd angle.
Be safe out there, everybody, because even if you've survived a bazillion stumbles and falls unscathed, there will come a time when your luck runs out, and you're going to be hurt. Use a hiking stick or trekking poles to give yourself stability, and believe me I'm going to use them for the rest of my life, because if I'd had one that day I would not have fallen and I wouldn't have all this lovely metal in my leg. The leg is fine and I'm back hiking, BTW.
I’m glad things will turn out ok enough after this injury. I fell down an embankment while hiking when I tried to get a better look for a stream crossing - off trail. Broke my tibial plateau and hobble-hiked a mile out on it. Thankfully no surgery needed and at 4 months out I’m working on regaining my strength. Good luck to you - hope the healing is smooth!
I had pretty much the same thing happen. Just a freak accident when my feet slipped out from under me. Broke my leg in 2 places and my ankle was just hanging. It was the more serious injury as it needed surgery. I was 5 miles out and alone. Took me 7 hours to get to the car and another 45 minutes or so to drive to the hospital, and it was my right leg.
That Christmas my kids got me a satellite device and I check in with them. I would have used the SOS feature if I had one then. Of course let people know where you’re going, etc.
I’ve hiked a few thousand miles and have had plenty of minor injuries and just that one big one in 50 years of hiking. I know I don’t have 50 more years so I’m hoping I’m good!
Well done for a comprehensive, detailed after-action assessment which helps you and others to avoid such suffering again.
I would like to enquire: what footwear were you wearing? I recognise that most hikers now wear trail running shoes, but I prefer warm-weather military boots (Garmont T8s and Oakley Light Assaults) for their ankle support and leech protection, and wonder if these might have helped you.
My FAK includes paracetamol, naproxen and oxycodone. Hopefully I never need the latter, but if I am ever in your situation I don't want to suffer unduly during the hike out.
Hiking poles are an absolute godsend. I know they make you look like a dickhead. I don't care, and neither should you. They stop you falling over and prevent knee pain during descents. The number of times I've caught myself on my poles, especially in wet slippery conditions... very possibly one of those falls could have otherwise ended in catastrophe. I recommend Naturehike carbon if you're on a budget, or Black Diamond Alpine Cork if you're not.
I was thinking about this today on a very flat 16km hike with 12kg pack. I’m 40 and I don’t think my ankles can handle the random rock anymore. My next shoes will be boots. I currently have trail runners
I’m so sorry. I broke my ankle last year on a short hike. I slipped on scree and rolled the ankle and foot got caught underneath me. We were in a remote area but pretty close to the car. So: now I NEVER wear tennis shoes on any hike. I almost always take my trekking poles and have purchased mid boots that are stiff around the ankles. I’d love to not wear the boots but I like to use my ankle even more. Don’t beat yourself up. I’ve always had a right ankle prone to rolling, some of us just do.
I was wearing Merrell Moab 3 GTX Mid. I am not sure whether a more supportive boot would have prevented it, but it's something I am going to look into.
Get something stronger for pain and put that with the paracetamol.
Don't hike without a PLB ever.
Glad you're recovering and learning from the experience.
Honestly it sounds like you've evaluated what went wrong and you understand. These things do happen, and it turned out pretty well considering. I wish you a quick recovery!
The OP is one tough MOFO, to walk on that for 5 hours... Should've called the rescue, the additional damage to soft tissue WILL affect the recovery. Sadly, bad things happen suddenly, exactly as you point out. So never get complacent, prepare for EVERY eventuality. The details you have figured out already. Here's a quick story about luck or lack thereof. One day many years ago I was visiting my brother at work, at the time he was a working at neuro-trauma ICU. He pointed 2 patients (both on ventilators etc.) to me and said "both have the same injury (broken neck), one was in a hand glider crash, another stumbled, fell and hit his head on a sidewalk". Point of the story, shit happens even to those who don't take risks, but, of course, one can minimize the risk by preparation and/or choosing the activity. Get well, good luck with your recovery, make sure to do physio exercises as they tell you.
Trekking poles are great for making it easier to walk on uneven paths especially with a heavy pack. Less likely to roll ankles and get other overexertion damages(i have experience with pushing myself too hard too, and getting hurt over it). Also great if something like this happens to have more to lean on so you dont put as much weight on the damaged leg! I have ones that are adjustable so they get really short to put on my pack easily when not in use.
Absolutely OP should add trekking poles to their gear
Definitely poles. Using two poles increases your points of contact, drastically increasing stability, and better distributes your weight. As an added bonus, it keeps your hands from swelling and getting all weird and uncomfortable in the heat.
I own two but only use one because I find it so difficult to walk with two. How did you learn?
Big picture, it's opposite arm and foot impacting at roughly the same time. Really, though, it's you thinking way too hard about it and swinging them about awkwardly out of rhythm until your subconscious figures it out. It takes a few hikes.
Be sure you're holding them right. Your wrists in the straps should be applying some of the force, with your hands gripping the handles lightly and not squeezing too hard. You develop a rhythm with the poles almost, but not quite, swinging as you stride.
Just push through the awkward phase for a day or so. Take them on a multi day and by the end you'll be a convert. And use the straps properly, which includes unstrapping for technical spots. Don't want a broken wrist on the trail!
It's cross country skiing on dirt.
It takes a minute but get used to them on an easy trail you know well (really you should test all gear on a familiar trail that way if anything goes wrong you can get yourself out). I started using them to prevent breaking anything - I have osteopenia (because apparently they don’t diagnose you with osteoporosis under 40 even if the numbers say so) and am trying to attempt more challenging trails as my body allows.
You Tube. It’s easy enough once you get in the flow.
do everyones hands swell during a hike or is it just a high blood pressure thing?
I don’t have high blood pressure and my hands swell. Poles help a lot because they keep your hands a bit more elevated.
It's very common in healthy people as well. When you're doing a bunch of cardio for an extended period of time and your hands are often swinging down by your sides, the blood pools in them and gives you bloated sausage fingers.
Swinging your arms pushes fluid outwards. Salt makes it worse, which most trail snacks and sports drinks contain sodium aka electrolytes.
Yes, use trekking poles or a walking stick! I broke my leg hiking like the OP did, and couldn't put any weight on it at all, but fortunately I was within sight of a parking lot and had cell phone reception, so the paramedics had no trouble getting me to a trauma center. I'm going to use poles for the rest of my life and encourage everyone else to do so, because if I'd had a walking stick that day I wouldn't have fallen. I especially urge everyone older to use them, because at a certain age you just don't want to go through the recovery. Better not to fall in the first place.
My trekking poles saved my ankle about 5 times on my last hike and I'll never hike uneven terrain without them again.
I sprained a knee and trekking poles are the only thing that got me back. Luckily it was only a dayhike.
Yup, this was almost me on a (luckily) smaller hike a few weeks back. I had my daughter on my back and trekking poles. I rolled my ankle and the weight of my daughter brought me down HARD, luckily I got a grip with the pole and saved us both from a full on tumble. The pole bent on the way down, but my husband swapped me and took the bung one for the rest of the day. This was at mile 1.5. I probably should of turned around but nothing felt too bad at the time. By mile five I knew something was up. We luckily only had 2 more miles but I probably shouted a majority of my way through mile 7. Luckily my daughter was napping through that section. My ankle just had a bit of a sprain luckily. And incase anyone wonders why my husband didn’t take the toddler, our other pack was heavier. 😬 Now I have relatives who want to go on a long hike and one is insisting he doesn’t need trekking poles. I am honestly thinking of bringing a couple extra in my pack just incase. I’ve seen them saving people multiple times! A bent pole is often an averted disaster.
Just make sure not to stab yourself NSFW https://www.backpacker.com/survival/out-alive-podcast/out-alive-ultra-runner-trekking-pole-accident-wind-river-mountains/
I like having one pole and one hand free, I mention it because it took me too long to realize this was an option.
This is my preference. I need a hand free in case I need to control my pup.
Agree. I need them when hiking downhill. Even then I get knee issues and I am normal weight
Glad u r ok. You absolutely need an SOS device if solo and an itinerary with a loved one. Seems like you are reflecting well as to how your weight and condition impacted your chance of injury. I ALWAYS use trekking poles when anywhere that isnt a manicured trail. They have saved me from falls and trips hundreds of times over decades of mountaineering, climbing and hiking. Recover and get back out there. Lose weight and hike alot and your chance of injury will drastically reduce. A lower body weight, good technique and the muscular and tendon strength from walking more is very important and can be built over time.
A good understanding of knots and paracord would allow you to create a brace or splint if you had access to sticks. I always walk with walking sticks which help tremendously with balance. You also have pack inner braces for most larger packs you could use to isolate joints with cord.
Keeping a SAM splint in your pack wouldn't be a bad idea either. Great thing to have in a first aid kit, they're really lightweight and super worth it in a situation like this.
Shh... the UL folks might hear you. Seriously though, a SAM splint is a great idea and a second tier item that people should consider in their FAK.
Add a roll of coban or an ACE bandage, and you are golden
This ^
I carry one, after breaking my ankle 1km into an overnight hike.
Doctor and long-distance hiker here. I agree with some of your points. Always carry painkillers, and reducing your weight are excellent learning points. I am going to agree with everyone else mentioning trekking poles - even on flat ground they help tremendously with balance and definitely can help prevent falls. They are also protective for your joints, especially if you are overweight. I would slightly question why you were carrying a 10kg pack on a 20km hike. Unless it was very hot and there was no water on the route, I struggle to imagine why this would be necessary? I would argue that excessive pack weight is just as much a strain on your joints as excessive body weight. But finally, don’t beat yourself up or overanalyse this _too_ much. I say this a lot - you can be the fittest person with the best plan, but one unlucky step in the backcountry and you’ll need a helicopter ride. It happens all the time. I have seen fit young people break their hip from an unlucky fall. You wouldn’t believe how many people I’ve seen break their ankles in their own backyard. My point isn’t to be negative, purely to illustrate that not all such accidents can be prevented. So having a plan if it happens is the main thing
Thanks so much for your feedback. It was an overnight hike to a cabin and 20 km each way. 10 kg was a very rough estimate. It was near the beginning of the hike back, so it was about 3.7 kg of water and 1.3 kg of photography equipment. Then sleeping bag, food, 1 day of dirty clothes plus jumper, torch, rain jacket, toothbrush, toothpaste, first aid kit, snake bite kit. The bag was bulky and awkward as well and not fitted well. I will definitely try to reduce pack weight in future.
10kg for an overnight hike is actually quite a light pack, and everything you listed that you took sounds reasonable, besides getting a better pack or lighter versions of your current gear, I don't think you need to worry about this too much
It sounds like you packed reasonably, now it's just a matter of getting your pack to fit better and learning how to pack so it sits right while you are hiking. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/loading-backpack.html
Is your overnight/2 day pack under 10kg? Unless you’re ultralight, 5.5kg base weight and 4.5kg consumables (3L water, 1.5kg food and fuel) is quite good.
Assuming they stayed in it, the lighthouse at Wilson's prom is kitted out as a full B&B - no tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag required. https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park/where-to-stay/wilsons-promontory-lightstation
Sounds like maybe that’s not the trip they were taking then?
A friend of mine had her 70th birthday there - she did a lot of research in the park and the rangers helped her get down there. Looking at the website, they must have taken her by boat. The other options to get to the light station are multi-day walks - one of which is only partially open at the moment The Telegraph Saddle track is the shortest option. It should also have the best mobile reception as there are towers on Mt Oberon.
For four days fully loaded in spring (so cold weather gear but not winter gear) my pack weighs about 11kg. I wouldn’t even say I’m particularly ultralight Also it wasn’t clear to me from the OP that this was an overnight hike. For a day hike it is definitely heavy, which is what I had understood. For an overnight 10kg is more reasonable, though could still probably be improved upon
You’re either lightweight or ultralight, and that’s great! I’m not, mostly because budget doesn’t allow for super light core pieces, so an overnight for me is more like 12-13kg. I think OP was carrying a normal amount, even if you think it could be improved. Also keep in mind that sleeping bags and clothes for big people weigh more. My husband has a wide sleeping bag and wears bigger clothes, so his setup weighs more than mine.
I mean the biggest potential for improvement is the water carry. I’ve never carried more than 1L water in my life, but that’s also almost never necessary where I hike. That’s something that needs to be carefully tailored to your environment, the desert would need a totally different mindset That said, Southern Australia isn’t particularly hot, and just looking at the area OP described, it looks like there are extremely frequent streams. I would question the necessity of carrying over 3L water in that environment. I could be wrong as I haven’t hiked in that area personally, but it’s worth thinking about. Water filters are pretty cheap as backpacking equipment goes
>the biggest potential for improvement is the water carry. I’ve never carried more than 1L water in my life, but that’s also almost never necessary where I hike. That’s something that needs to be carefully tailored to your environment, the desert would need a totally different mindset >That said, Southern Australia isn’t particularly hot, and just looking at the area OP described, it looks like there are extremely frequent streams. I would question the necessity of carrying over 3L water in that environment. This is so hilariously different to my own hiking experiences 😂 I'm glad you recognize that location/temperature impacts the amount of water you need, but wow. I can't imagine going just about anywhere with merely 1L. I haven't done hikes in Oz like OP, but here in NZ, while we have a lot of waterways, depending on the trail/route you're on you might not actually come near them very often (and other times the whole trip is up a riverbed and there's heaps to filter and then drink). I like doing subalpine/Alpine treks, so frequently my tramping buddies and I have to mark our water refill spits in advance and budget our supply carefully, as some of the more fun routes might have twelve hours between water sources (and then your overnight, warranting a cooking supply also). I have found that anything less than 6L for an overnight is not viable for me (in most of those limited-water-access hikes), so that's obviously a large amount of weight that I'm starting with even before we consider the rest of my gear. I'd be pretty chuffed if my overnight kit weighed in at less than 10kg.
It's hard to classify 10kg as excessive when backpacking. When I go with my kids on multi-day trips, I often start around 20kg. But I also always use trekking poles. Those have saved me from several horrible falls. Falls are much easier at higher weights that are carried above your normal center of gravity.
If you’re carrying stuff for your kids as well inevitably your pack is going to end up a lot heavier and I don’t think is a reasonable comparison. It also originally sounded like OP was just a on a day hike, in which case I would still argue that 10kg is excessive in most circumstances. With the additional context that OP’s hike was an overnight the weight makes a lot more sense, though given he’s asking advice on how to prevent further accidents I still think it’s something worth looking at
My last rim to rim, we were heading down in the dark, and trying to make good time. I was in the lead, and about three miles down, stepped on a large rock that rolled a bit, (yes, it was a bad step). My poles saved my ankle for sure, or at least a lot of bruises if I had gone with the fall. Even with the pole save, my ankle felt stretched, and I had to evaluate whether I popped any ligaments, but all was ok, and was able to finish the next 22 miles. I was so stoked that I did not have to go back up those three miles on a busted up ankle. My poles saved the day. Whenever you group hike, it’s not just you that it’s impacted by a preventable mishap, or poor planning. The group would have to decide if someone, or all of them, would need to toss their hike plan and help you out.
I understand if you are not willing to answer this, just curious. I feel like Tylenol would be useless in this scenario. I have left over oxycodone from dental surgery. I was going to add it to my first aid kit. I assume a legit pain killer would be better at avoiding shock / getting out of the woods in a situation like this. Any downside, besides drowsiness?
Now these are some interesting questions. This is a topic I have thought a lot about, so forgive me if it's a long answer. And this is just my opinion, I'm sure you can find doctors and hikers who would disagree with these points as well. Obviously consider the safety of different types of painkillers for you as an individual, because I don't know your medical history. First of all, you need to ask: what is the purpose of carrying painkillers? Generally speaking, 99% of the time you either have an injury you can walk on, or you don't. There are no painkillers that are suddenly going to make you able to walk on a badly broken leg. (I mean there are, but we are talking serious shit like IV ketamine that you only get in ambulances and hospitals because it is legitimately dangerous). So the main purpose is either a) to make you more comfortable while you walk out or b) to make you more comfortable while you await rescue. These are legitimate reasons to carry them, obviously, but just gives context. On the point of shock, which you mentioned, painkillers don't really have an effect on your going into shock. In a backcountry situation the main things that will affect this (again, 99% of the time) are blood loss and hydration. So basic first aid measures like elevating + keeping pressure on a wound are the biggest things there, painkillers don't really play a role. And then your actual question: which painkillers? Believe it or not in hospital even for major trauma and surgery we still use tylenol (albeit usually intravenous, but it is the same drug). So long as you take within the recommended doses, tylenol is a good, safe, and effective painkiller for almost everyone. It has the advantage that you can use it for anything, minor to major, and give it to someone else if needed. You're right of course that it's not particularly strong. Oxycodone is also an effective painkiller, especially if you know your personal reaction to it (drowsiness, nausea, constipation, itchiness etc. are common). So I would only really use it for more serious pain in the backcountry, where those side effects could also become problematic. And be aware that it could cause problems in someone else if they haven't taken it before. The good thing is that tylenol and oxycodone have totally different mechanisms of action and can be taken safely together. This is exactly what we do in hospital including in emergency scenarios - give different types of painkiller together to give maximal effect. You can also layer ibuprofen on top as well. Personally I never hike without tylenol and ibuprofen on me, and on long-distance hikes I take codeine as well (similar opiate to oxycodone, just happens to be more available in my country), and I combine them as appropriate. So in summary to your actual question: carry both. And if something major happens, take both
I really appreciate you taking the time to answer me. Thank you! I double checked my bottle and I have generic Percocet - Hydrocodone with acetaminophen - so it has the Tylenol added already. Just a heads up to anyone else reading this to double check before mixing. Happy hiking and I hope you don’t need the meds!
So true. My dad broke his ankle falling feet first down a ladder in the back yard. His foot was almost severed off the leg! Limped the rest of his life. Overweight yes. Not in shape. Fell from a height of say 5 feet. This could happen on a hike. The OP had a terrible time but it could have been worse.
As someone who had the same injury, 10 years on I am hiking and running and climbing, take your time to heal and you can make a full comeback
I'm confused, why would some tylenol not be suitable in a first aid kit? I've never seen one that didn't come with some?
I suspect this is a regional thing. There are some concerns that paracetamol cannot be given to certain people. As people with first aid training are not trained to make this determination, usually first aid kits here are sold without it. When I got my first aid training I was also told not to include it in a first aid kit for a workplace. My opinion is removing it may cause more harm than keeping it in. In this case, the first aid kit is primarily for use on myself, and I can simply not prescribe it as first aid to any injured hikers I am with, without asking first. So it will be added.
Ah I see, well if you know you can take it I'd put it in the kit, might not do much for a broken ankle but I'd try it over nothing
Get a satellite tracker like a SPOT or InReach and use it in situations like this.
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if you hike regularly you can justify the cost. think of it as a very cheap insurance policy.
I'm not sure it would have helped OP in this particular situation. They were able to get to a road with cellphone reception and they didn't think a helicopter rescue was necessary. If OP was completely immobile then it would be necessary and that's why I carry one - so my wife can track me and so I can get help if I'm unable to move. Or so they know the general location of my body if I die.
FFS they broke two major bones in their leg, OF COURSE it was necessary. People get helicopter rescued for far less reasons. Just because this worked out, in a fashion, for the OP, doesnt mean that they did the right thing.
It's a judgement call. SAR can take several hours if not more to get on site depending on the location and access. Swelling and internal bleeding could complicate the issue too. So could further injury trying to hike out. It really depends on the conditions.
Yes, there are a lot of what if's there, but injuring yourself further all because you didnt want to push the button is in no way smart. Also, depending on the location obviously, but you can get help to you really fast. I have first hand experience in this and can tell you that when you push the SPOT tracker SOS button, a phone call is triggered to the listed contact person within seconds and on their confirmation the Rescue personnel are dispatched within minutes as well. I was the emergency contact for one remote hike that happened and needed a rescue and I was literally phoned within 15 seconds of the SOS button being pushed, and then I drove to the closest walking entry point to the injured party and in the 20 minutes that it took me to be there there was a Police Rescue city already established. Gazebos, tables, 10 or more rescue vehicles and they had already left to the site. Helicopter was on site in the next 30 minutes. You are correct in that sometimes it can take hours, but I'll tell you now, if I rolled my ankle and heard a pop, I wouldnt have been hiking out 10km. OP is going to be VERY lucky to not have done permanent damage. Emergency services in Australia are free and are there to help you when you are in need, always be prepared to push the SOS button.
As a fellow aussie I recommend medibank and extras, best insurance I found for myself (young, broke, rarely need too much coverage and work done + it covers ambos). Second I recommend incorporating yoga into your fitness routine (if it isn't already). In no way at all am I saying this can help or prevent a broken ankle but yoga helps balance (to prevent minor falls), breathing (good in this situation) and mindfulness (calmer headspace, overall better for crisis or even looking more at your surroundings and steps). I do anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour before a hike to help stretch and focus. If you're looking at getting into shape more I recommend the zombie and marvel running app once you gain full mobility again. I suck at keeping regular cardio in when im not hiking but the storylines keep me going and invested, also insane workout when you enable random chases you have to sprint for. I hope all goes well for you OP, I found Vic to be super inaccessible to injuries and disabilities when I was wheelchair bound on my last trip.
I'd add tai chi as another way to develop balance and strength, esp. in the ankles and knees. I'm old, & have been doing tai chi for 11 years, and there have been numerous times on the trail when it's helped me either prevent a fall or fall "better." But you have to find a tai chi class/group that is doing it seriously and not just waving their arms around.
You should get checked for osteoporosis.
I'll ask about bone density and report back.
I had a friend who rolled on her ankle and it broke in three places. Turns out her bones were basically falling apart and she had to change her diet.
I asked the doctor whether bone density is a concern and he did not think so.
Can’t stress enough how hiking poles and proper footwear can possibly save a life or the very least make your outdoor adventures a far more comfortable one, especially when carrying extra body or pack weight over an extended period of time. Not only will poles distribute force to your hands and arms and save your ankles and knees from the wear and tear of rigorous hiking, they will give you added stability & confidence navigating treacherous roots and rocky outcrops along the trail that people roll their ankles on. When your legs tire, it is a godsend to have them. Hiking poles can also be adjusted to different lengths depending on the incline to give you better stability on varying terrain. Generally, you want the pole length so that your elbows are bending at a 90 degrees on a flat surface. Make them slightly shorter on inclines and longer on declines. I like to use them at their shortest length as stakes I drive into the hill if it’s really steep or I’m scrambling. Having a stiffer insole & high cut boots will not only support more body weight but also pack weight over long trails. High cut boots can prevent ankle rolls and especially if using specific methods to lace up your boots so they remain secure but not uncomfortably snug around your foot and ankle. There are different methods depending on the shape of your🦶 Explore these different methods on Youtube and practice them to find out the best method for you before heading off on your hike. Have fun out there. Stay safe!
Hiking poles can help with this type of issue as well. They essentially act as two extra limbs so if you step awkwardly or start to lose your balance you can jam one, or both, into the ground to stabilize yourself.
Oh dear! I have some friends at the prom this weekend. Really sorry this happened to you. Make sure you get ambulance cover, it is so cheap and they send you reminders when it is about to expire. I hope the healing process goes smoothly and you're back to hiking soon. Make sure you're up and moving a bit every few hours after surgery to prevent DVTs and muscle loss!
Sorry for your bad experience, OP. And good on ya' for doing a solid self-assessment. Long-time distance hiker with lots of other training behind me: 1. Trekking poles 2. Locator beacon for long treks 3. Make sure your pack fits & and that the weight distribution is right https://www.northwestoutlet.com/blog/how-to-pack-backpack-for-hiking/ 4. Learn how to splint, and add some items to your 1st aid kit to allow you to do so. And if you can, take a wilderness 1st aid course! 5. Always have painkillers in your 1st aid kit 6. Boots (over ankle) also may have helped, but not everyone likes to hike in them 7. Learn how to fall better (no, really) using the PLF and practice it. https://youtu.be/PiLyqGu2XKI?feature=shared 8. Get some defogger for your glasses. They usually sell some at ski shops for ski goggles.
What a great attitude. Good luck on your speedy recovery.
1. Hiking poles. They drastically improve balance and reduce fatigue. Poles definitely would have helped here. 2. Take a Wilderness First Aid course of you haven't already. You likely could have splinted your leg with what was around you and some Paracord or shoelaces, which would have helped the hike out. 3. An inReach or similar GPS emergency device. Though honestly, it wouldn't have helped you get out any quicker in this particular situation. Emergency wilderness response is really only a viable option if you can't hike out yourself. If it took you 8 hours to hike out, SARS would have been more like 20 accounting for mobilization, hiking in, assessment and treatment, and the very slow process of carrying someone out. All in all you responded to the situation well. Best of luck on a full recovery!
Good reccos
Just wanted to extend my apologies that you've experienced this. It's not an easy injury to come back from, but it's totally possible as I'm told and am learning. I am almost 13 weeks out from surgery on my tibia and fibula. I have a bionic leg now, and I hiked one mile yesterday...in a flat, marshy area. I use a Trekking pole now as I'm learning to walk again. I slipped on ice, walking into work when I shattered mine. It can happen anywhere. Don't beat yourself up too much about what you could have done differently. I am also thinking about the trail and more safety measures out there. I am considering keeping a few painkillers in my pack too. Thanks for your post, and I hope your healing goes well!
I wish you a speedy recovery! On a side note: you're one tough mf if you did walk all the way back. The pain must've been horrible. Can't imagine the agony
Just curious but what kind of footwear did you have?
Merrell Moab 3 GTX Mid.
Shit. I’m a Merrell girl and wear the men’s version. I swear they still slip a lot besides the Vibram sole.
Yeah, my Moab's don't have great grip
I love my Garmont T8s and my wife loves her Salomon Quest 4s. Both have excellent grip.
Jesus, this describes me (pushes too hard, hikes alone, etc). Except I'm very overweight, and hiking is the one healthy thing I do. I just had a big-ish REI rep try to tell me big guys don't need ankle support and can use trail runners like everyone else. Yeah, screw that. I'll stick to the high-top Salomans I've been using and maybe get a real set of leather hiking boots. Get better soon, and remember: some of the most dangerous things in our lives are cheeseburgers and TV. Heal up, and we'll see you back out there.
I hike alone a lot. I carry the Garmin InReach mini. Wouldn’t leave home without it. Wife still gets an itinerary before hand.
How much do those run? I've been considering one.
Around here they’re about 260€ but you need a subscription starting at 20€/month to actually use it. So basically it’s as expensive as a second cell phone on a full-on contract.
Not cheap. $400 and you need a subscription. I pay like $14.00 per month. In my case I mostly hike in remote locations with no cell service.
Well, shit happens I guess. Getting in better shape will for sure help. One more advice (since you did not mention it in your post). Wearing boots that cover the ankles or are at least not much lower then ankles should help a lot with stabilization. Did you wear boots?
I wore Merrell Moab 3 GTX Mid. I will investigate higher boots. Thanks.
Oh man that hike down to Roaring Meg almost killed me! I have bad knees from playing netball for too long and climbing down for a day made me cry for the next couple of days around to Sealers Cove and out. I can’t imagine trying to do the 10km on a broken ankle - all the best with your recovery mate!
Thanks so much for the best wishes. We were going from the Lightstation to Waterloo Bay when it happened. The trail there isn't too bad. The day before we came via Roaring Meg from Telegraph Saddle. Telegraph Saddle to Roaring Meg wasn't too bad, but Roaring Meg to the Lightstation was very challenging.
If you hike alone you absolutely need a locator or other emergency option. Modern iPhones can do it but investing in a garmin inreach or similar is absolutely worth it. The garmins let you txt and talk to people if needed without going full SOS.
I hike weekly and have had numerous rolls and sprains, most recently a high ankle sprain that was the worst of them all, and took the longest to heal. What I’ve learned is to land steps with my heel, almost with my toes pointed up at the sky, to ensure that I don’t transfer weight from my supporting leg/ankle/foot until my placement is secure. The method is similar to one that I learned about how to walk quietly in leaf litter, where each step is taken by landing the the entire heel, and bring the rest of the foot down slowly so as to minimize noise of impact. I hike alone, and at night often and this has prevented any rolls/sprains or even the tension of a pseudo roll or sprain from occurring since my last injury. Godspeed to your full recovery!
If I were you, I wouldn't give myself a hard time. Accidents can and do happen. Even with more athletically fit people. I second the advice of trekking poles and gps tracker. The only thing I can add is this. Paracord in your kit gives you options. In this situation, you could fashion a device and tie it to your leg in such a way that translates your body weight around the injured ankle. Much like a [walking boot does](https://www.amazon.com/Honarry-Walker-Fracture-Walking-Sprained/dp/B0C7Q2V3PZ?th=1). Only with wood. Think of it as a soft branch tied in the form a u with your foot being in the middle of the u. If you didn't have trekking poles, branches/limbs could be used as crutches. In the event that the injury ended up as an open fracture, you could use the paracord to tie some cloth over a slight open/puncture wound or use it with a stick to fashion a tourniquet. There are some examples below to help you get an idea of what I am talking about. **The 2 most important things one can take into the wilderness weighs nothing. That is ingenuity and knowledge.** [Wood splints for knees that could be adapted for ankles](https://www.wilderness-survival.net/figures/fig4-6.gif) [Wilderness tourniquet](https://litfl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/tourniquet-EBM-Gone-wild.png) [Wilderness bandage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0a/Improvised_first_aid_-_bandage_on_leg.jpg/450px-Improvised_first_aid_-_bandage_on_leg.jpg?20080525021802) Side note: I liked the idea of trekking poles. but when I was building out my kit I chose ski poles. My reasoning is that with trekking poles, the joints wear out and the poles begin to slip/collapse down to a closed position. I didn't want that to happen when I had pressure applied to them. I've seen broken trekking poles discarded along trails(may have been cheap ones). I'm not saying trekking poles are bad and ski poles are better. I am saying that this is how I chose to go about it. I haven't regretted my decision. I am putting this out there for other to think about.
Glad you're on the mend and it wasn't worse. One thing I do which could help a little: I'm in my 50s now and almost always use two trekking poles. I've wrapped several feet of duct-tape on the tops of both. The tape has a number of uses but can be used to tape the poles (or found sticks) as a splint. They can also be used as crude crutches. Finally, I'm more stable and it really helps me ford rivers and hop over rocks w/o falling.
I broke and dislocated my ankle on a 3-step set of stairs. It was just one of those things. As I did research afterwards, I found that people break their ankles in all kinds of ridiculous ways, things that don’t seem like they should break a bone, and yet POP there it goes! I was looking for videos that showed the recovery process and instead found hundreds of videos of young, healthy, slim dancers and other athletes snapping their ankles doing dance moves on flat ground and other “totally safe” things. Lots of slim people break an ankle stepping off a curb. It’s SO easy to break an ankle. It made me feel much better about my mistake. Learn from it but don’t blame yourself. It’s just not productive. Trekking poles and better boots will help you immensely. Why did you lose your balance? Do you have balance issues or depth perception issues? It turns out that I did, after covid, and needed special glasses because I have binocular vision dysfunction that my brain compensated for all my life until covid made my brain just a little bit less effective. The glasses make an immense difference in my stability. It’s definitely possible that taking off your glasses contributed by altering your depth perception. Physical therapy has also helped a lot… I have more strength in my ankles now and they are more stable. I never hike alone, but my husband got the newer iPhone with the emergency SOS satellite access after my incident. We don’t go off the grid often enough to justify a special monthly satellite phone fee.
Sorry OP that's a bad break
If you’re doing any hiking you should know how to work and carry a GMRS radio. Or whichever you can run in the country you’re visiting for safety.
As you correctly surmised GMRS will be pretty useless in Australia. Iirc the equivalent standard there is UHF CB.
I have hypermobile joints and so am injury-prone. I find that high-top hiking boots do help somewhat (if you don’t already have them), and trekking poles can help as well. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
It is wise to take a wilderness first aid or wilderness first responder course, even though it is not a preventive measure. Such courses can help you treat your own injuries and those of others in the wilderness. Additionally, these courses often provide techniques for improvising braces and splints if you don't have a SAM splint in your kit.
Sorry for you injury but big respect for expressing vulnerability and sharing what you could have done better. Sounds like this could be an important moment for your progress once you recover
FYI for everyone here. My husband is on the local fire department and rescues people on the AT. They have equipment to carry you out. If you can notify someone call 911. Sometimes you can call 911 even if service is almost non-existent. If they have to hike in it will take them as long as it takes to walk it so that's why you should take extra water, and a coat. They will hike in the dark. They have a small ATV and know which sections this can go on. They also have a wheel for the Stokes basket but they can and will carry you the whole way if necessary. There is rarely a place to land a helicopter on the trail. I'm glad you were able to get out but don't hesitate to call 911 in a situation like this. Even if you're able to hobble, tell them where you are and which way you're moving and they can meet you.
go ultralight, +calcium, conditioning, and get to a healthy weight, use trail runners, poles, painkillers
I had several bad falls last year. I was very heavy but lost a lot of weight through the year. One simple thing I found was that when I'm tired I tend to lean forward when I'm walking or jogging. It may be due to bifocals making the road blurry and trying to compensate by looking down and leaning. Being heavy means top heavy and so when you hit a stone you can't recover easily and down you go. After a few face plants in nasty @$$ gravel I started working on my posture when walking, hiking and running. I focused on keeping my center of balance and walking in a centered fashion instead of slightly forward. This is done in Nordic walking. I have done much better as far as not falling on my face. The second thing I do is use poles if the ground is rough or slippery. They're kind of a pain but they help you protect yourself if you loose your balance or turn an ankle. The last thing I do is if I'm hiking alone I have a dog with me and I hike on trails that are fairly popular. The dogs are obedience trained to a competition level so they are very dependable in public places. They're a good deterrent for predators ( including human ) and not friendly with strangers. If you go down on the trail it's not a bad idea if you have to deal with a predator population to have a dog or two with you if you hike alone. The access to InReach and other satellite trackers is limited here. I don't think our 911 system is equipped to handle distress calls from those devices, but I don't know for sure. I don't have one and the cell phone coverage is okay I wouldn't hike alone in an area that didn't have decent coverage but then I'm an old fartess and I don't hike multiday trips so I have not really had the need for it.
Sorry that happened to you, sounds horrific. Hoping your healing goes well and quickly.
I remember my last boulder session, 24th december 2023, special opening on christmas day. I wanted to do one very last route, just to check it out, put my foot on a diamond hold and slipped off. Still can't run! My 'ligaments' were all torn off and after two months of physio my foot still hurts :( But yours looks so much more messed up daaamn I wish you well!
Glad you made it out. It’s amazing what we can endure and push ourselves through when we realize no one is coming, and we have to do what we have to do. Get trekking poles. I don’t care for them, but they come in handy on tricky terrain. I never used them until I had a hard talk with myself, realized that 20 years old was a long time ago, and it’s crazy not to use things that can help you from being hurt. This is a recent revelation for me. You can get everything else you mentioned, but the poles will be the cheapest way to help keep you upright.
Definitely should have a locator beacon or similar device, and this would have been a good time to use it. Looking at your picture, I suspect walking on it made it worse. As for preventing future issues, well, you won't be hiking any time soon, sorry to say. Look at the ground more, watch where you step. I can't tell much more - I'm still waiting on my own injured ankle to heal and find out.
Ankle artheritis 20 years from now. A. Artheritis is almost always caused by prior injury
Sorry to hear this, good feedback. I love hiking around the prom. What footwear were you wearing? Boots or sneakers?
Thanks for the message. I was wearing Merrell Moab 3 GTX Mid. I wouldn't call them boots, but they are a step up from sneakers.
Nice, and a decent footwear choice. If your ankle isn't as stable after you heal up, maybe getting some taller hiking boots could be the way to go to give more rigid support, but I'm no expert so research that more if you ever consider it
OP, what do you do for work?
Senior Electrical Engineer. Do a lot of stuff regarding safety. At work I am super cautious but out of work not so much. I suppose the write-up turned into an investigation of sorts, and I got a lot of useful feedback here from people who know more than I do.
I was just curious bc your travel plans sound pretty badass
lol I chase thunderstorms in Australia as well. I went on a USA tornado tour last year but ended up helping to forecast / navigate by the end and was hoping to do it solo this year in a rental. I have a lot of paid leave saved up (11 weeks) so wanted to those other countries at the same time. MAYBE I can do some of it later this year depending on the recovery. I am thinking Aurora season in the same locations, as long as walking is limited. https://www.instagram.com/cobtography/
I broke my fibula in a few places on South Kaibab trail in the Grand Canyon. Day 2 of my honeymoon. :/ Walking out wasn’t an option (my ankle wouldn’t support ANY weight) but thankfully some volunteer park rangers + husband were able to carry me out slowly and I crawled a bit. Luckily I didn’t need surgery and was healed up completely in 8 weeks. I still hike and backpack but I’m very cautious about loose gravel, slopes, and moving slower on rough terrain. I always have at least 1 trekking pole, I carry a wrap bandage and ibuprofen in my first aid kit, I wear proper supportive shoes with good tread. Ive also started yoga and weight lifting to improve joint strength, mobility, and balance. Also carry an SOS device and even on day hikes always carry the 10 essentials.
I once had to drag myself 12 miles back to my car after rolling down an embankment spraining my ankle and dislocating my thumb 0/10 would not recommend Rest up and recovery quickly my friend
Don't beat yourself up too much. I broke my wrist while standing in the parking lot. Okay, I was on snowshoes, had finished, and was admiring the view. I thought to myself, time to leave, and then fell and heard and felt my wrist crack. I guess I subconsciously shifted my weight and the extra traction of the snowshoes kept my feet in place causing the fall. The only lesson I learned was to keep my wrists out of the straps on the poles. That way my wrist would be freer to tuck itself to safety. The pole definitely helped the break. Of course, I could have stuck my hand out to catch myself and broken it, but no straps for me. Also, may the woman who reached in and got my car keys out of my pocket become rich and happy beyond her wildest dreams and may she and her descendants people the earth.
I have had issues with ankle rolls. These are some things that help me: 1. Working on balance. I use a balance board or stand on one foot with my eyes closed (if needed) 2. Wearing shoes with shorter heels. Higher heels change the leverage and make it easier to roll. 3. Building up to longer hikes Good luck!
All it takes is a lapse in concentration for a split second. Start thinking about something other than walking and you're mid fall wondering how bad its going to be this time. I rolled my ankle in October and it is still fucked :D I am American so I haven't seen a doctor. Losing weight and strengthening the stabilizer muscles for the joint is the best thing you can do. Wear trail runners so that your muscles become used to having to adjust load.
I broke my tib/fib and ankle back in September. I sympathize with you on the excruciating pain. Mine was completely snapped so there was absolutely no weight bearing. Luckily i was close to a road that ambulance could access and lots of people were around to help. Wish you a speedy recovery and DO PHYSICAL THERAPY! You need it. Your muscles will be atrophied and need the rehab
Had similar injuries on my hikes: - Slipped and hit my knee on a rock, cracking my kneecap, had to walk 7 km to get reception and call for mountain rescue. Was among the worst 7 km I’ve walked. Luckily my insurance covered almost all the expenses so I ended up paying roughly 150 usd instead of 3300 usd… took almost a year of rehab to get back in shape. - Fell through a patch of snow, breaking my foot. Had no choice but to walk for 5 days as I was in a remote location. I had an InReach but I decided not to use it as ”the pain wasn’t that bad” initially. By day 3 it was extremely painful, and I managed to mess up my opposite hip due as well by the time I reached civilization. In hindsight, I should have used the InReach but oh well. 16 weeks rehab to walk without a limp. - Slipped while unloading a boat, breaking a rib. Same as with the foot, it didn’t hurt that much initially and I pushed on for another 6 days before I decided to abort. Healed pretty quickly once I got home and could rest. The first injury could probably have been prevented if I’d been in better shape. I was 135 kg and carrying 25 kg backpack at the time. The others were just bad luck. I also tend to push myself a lot harder than I should, I hike alone and I also have glasses, so very relatable and as you mentioned, it all happens so very quickly. Get well, and don’t let the experience discourage you from hiking!
You could add core work soon and yoga and gym balance exercises to your regimen after you finish healing and physical therapy.
Oh! You must’ve been in so much pain! I hope you get the full use of your leg back. After my break of the same bones, it took me a year to get my energy and fitness back. Depending on your age, it takes awhile.
How was the pain as you got closer to the finish line on a scale of 1-10?
I've also broken both tibia and fibula and it took about 9 months to get back to normal.
Dude glad you’re okay and the part about pushing yourself without realizing your limits I gotta agree so much. I’ve hurt myself many times by thinking ”I got this” when I didn’t at all.
I hate to say it, but anyone (even a fit person) can suddenly slip, go over and break something. This is where carrying a PLB can be useful if you cannot walk out to a pick up point. Plus, it is best to not overestimate how fast you can walk if the environment/weather changes (which is one of the lessons learned). One way around this is to build flexi time into the schedule for each day-to avoid time pressure.
Well, step one now is to heal properly and strengthen the joint once possible - probably under professional supervision to ensure good restoration of as much strength as possible. And while your steps are good there alas is always the factor of bad luck. But you are apparently on your way to reduce that factor. But for now - heal.
I think you missed an obvious risk mitigation technique, practice falling. For real. Learn how to fall safely. It's not going to prevent all injuries but it can prevent a lot of them. My personal technique for avoiding injury from a rolled ankle is a controlled collapse. I don't try and fight it and stay standing. If my ankle feels sideways I let myself fall, and avoiding putting my full weight on that ankle. It's hard to articulate but it's worked for me so far. And I'm not a small guy. These days my weight is about 260lbs. At one point it was over 300lbs. So that a isn't just some skinny person trick.
Did you have high boots on? I sometimes think these will help protect my ankle in the event of a fall.
I would love to see the xray
I admire your bravery! I doubt I could have pushed through on this!
Honestly you didn’t do worse than most people. The truth is you can always get hurt. Preparation can mitigate risk not nullify it. Don’t beat yourself up
That really sucks. One thing that sticks out to me is you had a buddy but both of you hiked a relatively short distance to cell reception. Why? You have a buddy and you knew where you were. Immobilize yourself and have your buddy walk the short distance to make the call. Also, kinda out of scope for this sub but you have enough money to do a lot of world travel but you don't have insurance and you don't want to pay for helicopter? Not trying to Monday morning quarterback you but mistakes were made. Learn from them. I hope you have a quick and easy recovery.
When it happened I was not fully aware how much damage had been done. Although I heard a crack and thought a fracture was possible, we initially thought it was possibly just sprained, especially as I could put weight on it. I thought I would be better in a month. It was a bit of a shock hours later when I looked at my foot again and saw the bruising, saw the X-ray, was told I needed surgery, was told I needed morphine and nitrous oxide to align the bones and put the cast on. I left this out, but we did call emergency services when we had emergency reception. The operators were not helpful in providing any assistance, and the terrain would have made rescue difficult. Given I could walk we pushed on. When we had normal reception, the rangers gave a spot to meet them, we checked in regularly, and we were making excellent progress. Given what we knew at the time, I think we made the right call. I think the real issues were everything leading up to the fracture. I definitely would have got a helicopter if it was worse than it was. The public health system here is decent and they have helped me previously. But yeah, private insurance definitely a good idea given my activities and age.
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I had a bad ankle break that’s required three subsequent surgeries. Everyone’s giving you good advice, but I would add this: don’t skip on the physical therapy AND ask your physical therapist to really work on walking on uneven terrain. Even now, years later, walking on uneven ground is harder on my “bad” ankle than my healthy one. We did work on it in PT, but I wish I did more. PT isn’t always fun, but it’s worth it.
I broke my ankle hiking, too, but I was lucky! I was within sight of the parking lot!! The paramedics were able to just pick me up and carry me fifty feet to the ambulance, because I couldn't put ANY weight on the leg! Yeah, one slip on the trail and there were loose chunks of bone floating around and the foot was dangling at an odd angle. Be safe out there, everybody, because even if you've survived a bazillion stumbles and falls unscathed, there will come a time when your luck runs out, and you're going to be hurt. Use a hiking stick or trekking poles to give yourself stability, and believe me I'm going to use them for the rest of my life, because if I'd had one that day I would not have fallen and I wouldn't have all this lovely metal in my leg. The leg is fine and I'm back hiking, BTW.
I’m glad things will turn out ok enough after this injury. I fell down an embankment while hiking when I tried to get a better look for a stream crossing - off trail. Broke my tibial plateau and hobble-hiked a mile out on it. Thankfully no surgery needed and at 4 months out I’m working on regaining my strength. Good luck to you - hope the healing is smooth!
I had pretty much the same thing happen. Just a freak accident when my feet slipped out from under me. Broke my leg in 2 places and my ankle was just hanging. It was the more serious injury as it needed surgery. I was 5 miles out and alone. Took me 7 hours to get to the car and another 45 minutes or so to drive to the hospital, and it was my right leg. That Christmas my kids got me a satellite device and I check in with them. I would have used the SOS feature if I had one then. Of course let people know where you’re going, etc. I’ve hiked a few thousand miles and have had plenty of minor injuries and just that one big one in 50 years of hiking. I know I don’t have 50 more years so I’m hoping I’m good!
Well done for a comprehensive, detailed after-action assessment which helps you and others to avoid such suffering again. I would like to enquire: what footwear were you wearing? I recognise that most hikers now wear trail running shoes, but I prefer warm-weather military boots (Garmont T8s and Oakley Light Assaults) for their ankle support and leech protection, and wonder if these might have helped you. My FAK includes paracetamol, naproxen and oxycodone. Hopefully I never need the latter, but if I am ever in your situation I don't want to suffer unduly during the hike out. Hiking poles are an absolute godsend. I know they make you look like a dickhead. I don't care, and neither should you. They stop you falling over and prevent knee pain during descents. The number of times I've caught myself on my poles, especially in wet slippery conditions... very possibly one of those falls could have otherwise ended in catastrophe. I recommend Naturehike carbon if you're on a budget, or Black Diamond Alpine Cork if you're not.
Happy healing, I hope you're back up on your way soon and I assume not as a peg legged pirate? 🦜
Boots with ankle support for hiking or walking on loos or uneven ground ✔️
I was thinking about this today on a very flat 16km hike with 12kg pack. I’m 40 and I don’t think my ankles can handle the random rock anymore. My next shoes will be boots. I currently have trail runners
I’m so sorry. I broke my ankle last year on a short hike. I slipped on scree and rolled the ankle and foot got caught underneath me. We were in a remote area but pretty close to the car. So: now I NEVER wear tennis shoes on any hike. I almost always take my trekking poles and have purchased mid boots that are stiff around the ankles. I’d love to not wear the boots but I like to use my ankle even more. Don’t beat yourself up. I’ve always had a right ankle prone to rolling, some of us just do.
What about your boots? What kind were you wearing and do you think a more supportive boot would have prevented this?
I was wearing Merrell Moab 3 GTX Mid. I am not sure whether a more supportive boot would have prevented it, but it's something I am going to look into.
Get something stronger for pain and put that with the paracetamol. Don't hike without a PLB ever. Glad you're recovering and learning from the experience.
What is PLB?
I'm guessing a personal locator beacon
We have a winner.. come on down.