so far, in recent memory, a quick tally of debilitating injuries includes pinched nerve from a misstep in talus while walking off a new route on Mt. Francis Farhquar in the southern Sierra; rockfall to the shoulder in ‘98 while climbing Gift of the Wind Gods,” in a party following the original ascentist - Joanne Urioste - on what may have been a 2nd or 3rd ascent of the route; a severely sprained ankle from an botched attempt a Gill boulder problem at Horse Tooth reservoir while “checking out” the graduate school at CSU in the spring of 2001; running into the back of truck that “failed to maintain its lane” while on my motorcycle, resulting in a busting up arm & bruised up back in ~fall of 2004(?); and now… getting run down by a driver DUI in the bike lane and walking away with a broken rib, bruises and soreness, pinch flat, compromised bicycle frame and rack, and general meanness towards fellow (wo)man.

fall back!!! i’d rather deal with calculated risk and natural weirdness than f-sticks and unknown quantities. thanks for sharing stories from your efforts in the high, thin air. hope to see you and your pals in the mountains soon.

Mark McDaniel