Just By Accident: Adventures of a Modern Vagabond

 

'A glacier really isn't a very safe place to be .... I had put on one crampon and was reaching for the second when disaster struck. Standing up to get it, my foot suddenly slipped violently, sending me staggering into a sickening lurch. ... Down I went and the force of the fall drove my ice axe right into my back!

 

For a few minutes I just lay there in shock and pain. I didn't lose consciousness — not actually — but I did gray out a little. The sky spun and points of light shot through my vision like fireworks. Bing [my dog] was whining and licking my face.

 

When I was able to collect myself, I thought of what I had done and how far away I was from help. Finally, I slowly sat up and reached my arm around my back. I could feel the handle of the axe sticking out. It was slick and wet with my blood.

 

Of course, I had been trained in first aid and remembered that training now. After considering the situation in which I found myself, I decided not to try removing it. Even if I was successful, I would be unable to reach the wound to stanch the flow of blood that would undoubtedly ensue and therefore I quite likely would bleed to death. Since it was embedded close to my spine, there was also the distinct possibility that I would wind up doing my hiking from a wheelchair.'