Glad to be alive.

• Posted by Janet Shold October 7, 2009 - 518 views
  
  I thought we were pretty safe on our mountain hike today, since we were in a group of 5, four dogs and me,  and have 'bear bells' to warn off any dangerous wildlife.   I didn't count on my own stupidity to be far more dangerous than bears or cougars, though.   Here's what happened:
  
  Today, like every day, I took the dogs up for a hike in the woods.   The place we go now is know as the Cumberland, BC, bike trails.   The trails are gorgeous, steep, peaceful and challenging.    It's usually just me,  two pugs named Gus and rose and our 14 year old shepherd cross, Skampy, but his week, I've 'borrowed' my daughter's almost 2 year old Bernese Mountain dog cross to come hiking with us.
  
  So the four of us set out this morning on a clear and sunny day, and hiked the mile up a path known as "perseverence".   At the top of the path is a clear mountain stream where we always stop for a drink before moving on.   Curiosity got the best of me today, unfortunately, so I ventured down the stream a little bit to see what was over the rocks.  The dogs usually stay behind me, so I thought it was safe and nobody would go where they shouldn't.
  
  It was completely my fault what happened next.    Scampy, the 14 year old has blurry vision due to cateracs.    I figure that she saw what she thought was a nice trail and couldn't see that it was actually quite steep rocks that fell away into a small but deep pool.     She slipped into the pool.
  
  Not thinking, I stepped forward to help her, and I fell into the pool myself.    I went underwater, and when I surfaced I had vague thoughts about it being curtains for us.     Not to be left behind, Wheeler, the Bernese, came to help and he crashed into the pool to my right.     So there we were, me in the middle, Scampy to my left and Wheeler to my right.    I didn't know where the pugs were and, frankly, they didn't even cross my mind.   I don't even remember if the water was cold or not, it just wasn't a factor because I could see how we were going to get out.
  
  Immediately to Scampy's left was a lower spot, carved out by water over many years, where the water from the pool we were in emptied into the next pool.     I looked over and saw that on the far side of the next pool was a rock we could easily climb out of - we just had to get to that pool.    I grabbed Scampy by the scruff of her neck (this would be repeated infinite times over the next half hour or so), and pushed her to the ridge, then up and over into the next pool.
  
  Instead of swimming across the pool where there was a shallow area to climb up out of, she tried to defy gravity by clawing at the rock wall.    I clambored over to her and pushed her to the shallow area.    Then I went back and got Wheeler, who was trying to accomplish the same thing Scampy was, so I grabbed him by the scruff of his big neck and pulled him over to where he could climb into the next pool.   Thank god his vision is excellent and he saw where to go.
  
  Ok, so we all climb out of the second pool and survey the situation.    We have steep, slippery rocks leading out on one side, and what seems to be a steeper, higher cliff on the other side of the river.    I can make out what I think might be a path on the other side, but the journey across the river, over smooth rocks between pools, seems to dangerous to consider.
  
  Luckily, I see there is about 10 feel of a thick root hanging down the side we're on, so I carefully make my way over to it, taking poor weak old Scampy by the scruff, and keeing her in front of me so she can lean on my legs while we go.   It's not far, just seems like it.   
  
  Fast forward, I am standing on about a 70% slope, my feet on wet slippery rock, with a trembling 50 pound dog perched precariously in a little cut-out in the rocks, leaning on my foot to keep from sliding back down into the pool.    Wheeler is down and to our right, laying on a less steep area, barking now and then as if to tell us to hurry up.    Two pugs are up and to our left watching us, and thank god they had the sense to stay put.
  
  I spent about the next 10 minutes, although it seemed like a mini-eternity at the time, scanning around for footholds, trying to lift Scampy up and over (that didn't work because she wasn't helping at all).   Scampy was a bundle of terrified dog who couldn't or wouldn't help me get her out.    Periodically I would examine the rocks to our right and a possible path across the stream.   I would stare at very steep wall on the other side and dismiss that route.
  
  Finally it struck me what a dangerous position we were in, and all calm momentarily left me.  I thought to myself, "FUUUUUUUUUCK!!"    If I slipped from where we were now, I would probably bang my head against rock and that would be the end of it.    I started shouting "help!  HEEEEEEEELLLLLPPPPPP" at the top of my lungs.   After 5 minutes and no help (of course there wouldn't be help, we're in the freakin wilderness during the week when most people who use these trails are at work or school).    The only response my screams brought me were some encouraging barks from the Rosie, Gus and Wheeler.    Thanks, guys!
  
  I realized that I couldn't stand there holding onto a root forever.   I was getting tired and needed to rest before attempting to get out again, or there was no way we were going to get out of there.      I'd used up a bunch of energy with numerous attempts to lift Scampy up and over to a safer perch.   
  
  With resting in mind, I carefully took Scampy by collar and scruff with my left hand, grasped the root securely with my right, and carefully made our way to where Wheeler was.   Thank god that root was long enough for me to hold it while moving to the new spot.   It wasn't as steep in the new spot so we rested while I took stock of our situation yet again.
  
  What a relief to rest my arms and legs for a minute!  Phew!  From the new angle, I planned a way across the stream and made a pact with myself that we were going to climb out the other side come hook or crook.     The pugs made it to where we were with unimaginable grace and surefootedness.    We climbed and walked from rock to rock until we made it to the other side!    The only problem was Scampy, in her terror, kept turning back to return to where we'd come from and I'd have to go and get her.   I ended up grabbing her by the scruff and nursing her across the stream.   We made it - YAY!!  
  
  There was a boulder about 3 feet high, I helped whichever dogs needed it up  (Rosie, the super pug didn't need help.   We're thinking maybe doggie olympics, 2012...).   On the top of that boulder , the way up (and to safely) seemed almost vertical.    It was about 12 feet up, which doesn't seem very far until you have to get up it - and any slip might take us straight down past the boulder we were on into yet another pool about 15 feet below the boulder.  The wall had an average slope of about 85% and there were footholds here and there.  It was doable.   It had to be, we were out of options.    Wheeler got impatient and took a jump at it, almost making it to the top using vertical roots as jumping boards,  but he fell back down and my heart stopped when it looked like he might slide off the boulder and fall about 15 feet into another pool !    He skidded to a stop in time and prepared to take another run at it.    I was yelling for him to "stay!", but he leaped up again.   This time I rushed to get under him, then put my arms up and helped push him over the tough spot and he was up!!!
  
  Next I pushed Gus up, and then I picked up poor old Scampy - it's amazing how strong a person gets with adrenaline - put her on the rocks at my waist level and this time she really went at it!   She scrambled and climbed up that rock with help from me, and then it was just me left alone on the boulder!    The amazing super pug Rose got up on her own.
  
  Climbing up that wall today is something I am rather proud of.   My indoor wall climbing experience was definitely an asset.   I knew to just take my time, find footholds and handholds ( because of my climbing experience, I didn't need big holds, just enough to get the tips of my shoes into ) and I made my way to the top, with four dogs anxiously waiting for me.
  
  Breathing sighs of relief and wagging tails, we made my way back down the hill and to the truck.    I was soaking wet, had blood dripping from my left shin, my right knee and my right arm.    Fortunately, I didn't run into anybody all the way home and even my neighbors were nowhere to be seen.    I wasn't in any mood to explain.
  
  I had a nice, hot shower, ate a chocolate bar, then sat down here to describe the adventure.
  
  It's so good to be warm, dry, and have all four dogs sleeping at my feet!   
  
  I just can't believe I was in one of those pools.   It was a close call -  I'm going to have nighmares!
  
  
  Gus (left) and Rose (right)
  
  
  
  Wheeler   
  
  
  
  
  Scampy - she's 14 now;  this picture was taken 5 years ago.
  
  
  Oh yeah, just FYI , my Garmin Forerunner 405 survived!