My not so nice adventure in Chino Hills

[mtnbikej]

Wow....that really sucks.

The "all about me" cyclist that left you because he didn't want to get involved will get his at some point....it'll come around.

I agree that the back side of CHSP is a ghost town....but that is what I like about it. Gives you the feeling of being out in the middle of nowhere, even though you aren't. Perhaps once Bane Cyn Rd. opens back up, this will change...but for now it is like the wild west back there...you are on your own.

I do a lot of riding solo on trails less traveled, and often think about "what if". After being injured pretty bad out in the middle of nowhere(fortunately with a group) I know how quickly things can go bad.

 

[osmarandsara]

Please describe the douche bag who refused to help you. Age, approximate height, race, type of bike he was on, any distinguishing characteristics.....so that I can kick his a*** next time I see him at Chino Hills. Glad you got out of there without any more injuries.

I also broke a leg while out riding solo.....I was able to get myself off the trail and back to my car......you are one tough gal.

 

[booger]

Glad you are OK kid.

As for the A-hole who couldn't be bothererd to help a down and injured rider...that's insane!

Arrrgghhhhhh

 

[MnMDan]

Good job on the self-rescue; glad your injuries are surmountable. Speedy healing...

Sometimes, though, it's not worth moving. A beacon gives you an option.

Are you guys sick of me always suggesting a beacon? I wonder how many here ride solo with one. I'll be surprised if the number is greater than zero.

I ride with a beacon, and know of a few others who also do if it's in an area with questionable cell service, light traffic, OR solo. Also have a whistle on the pack strap.

Otherwise, heal up, and trail karma evens itself out.

 

[xtremeMTB]

I always carry a PLB device as I'm often out alone and if I'm unable to walk out and have no cell service I'd be dead meat for the mtn lions out there.

 

[bvader]

Glad you are doing better and made it out... also good for not panicking etc... not so great karma for the other guy... but I would still stop and help him if he needed it.

 

[mike001]

Glad that I won't be reading a thread like this authored by MnMDan and extremeMTB.

We used to call computers not on the network "dumb computers." By that token, a solo rider without a beacon...

Consider this your public shaming to stop being ignorant, cheap, apathetic, and waiting for the next bad thing to happen to you or someone else on the trail. Get pro-active, and stop treating the b/c like it's a city park. Did you guys already forget that people die and get benighted out there, and waste untold public resources on the S part of SAR?

 

[biknpam]

Just an update... have now seen the ortho... turns out the tibia break is no big deal - will heal speedy on its own... the problem is what I have is actually a MAISSONNEUVE FRACTURE... or high ankle fracture. This means all the ligaments/tendons near the ankle holding the tibia/fibula together are torn which is why the tibia fractured. Requires surgery (no other remedy) were two screws are inserted into the ankle to hold everything together. 8 weeks before screws are removed and then another 2 - 3 months of rehab and no weight bearing on the ankle. I will be wheel chair bound for the next 3 - 4 months... ahhhh... really sucks! By the time I can ride again, will have to start over!

Mike thanks for the info on a beacon. I deserve to be shamed and will heed your words although I will never ride in remote areas on my own again...period.

 

[mike001]

Thanks for the update, Pam. You have obvious fortitude; you will get through this. Hang in there!

There is no shame in doing what one can to self-rescue, which you did a commendable job of. My prodding is for the ignorant, lazy, apathetic, or cheap riders, or ones thinking they're impervious to an event that will leave them non-ambulatory and helpless other than to wait to be found. I don't want to continue reading, every year, about instances of public money draining away (and lives put at risk) on rescues/recoveries that should not be happening. To me, going remote/solo without a beacon is being negligent. Some govt agencies charge for negligence being a principle or contributing factor in rescue; MTB riders on should be treated likewise.

Sad as it is, we can't depend on other riders out there. This story of a non-helping rider gets told repeatedly. As big a dick as the rider in this story is, he's a great illustration of why we need to be as self-reliant as possible.

An overview of PLBs and sat devices:
http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/personal-locator-beacons.html

Products:
http://www.rei.com/c/plbs-and-satel...ctronics|plbs-and-satellite-messengers&page=1

 

[ridinrox]

^^Please remind us how much beacons run. $300??...Yeah I don't have $300 to drop Mike.

Mtbing is risky, just like surfin (no lifeguards during the winter season for most beaches). It's the risks we take. And it won't stop me from doing the things I enjoy. I refuse to live in fear.

Our SearchnRescue teams are trained and paid to save people - if they get the bill...oh well.

You can take other precautions like carry a whistle, have a check in person (tell them your appx route and how long you'll be).

There were times when I rode Oaks, midweek and midday, w not a soul around. If I got hurt, it would have been hours before a person spotted me.

Shit happens - learn your lesson but keep living life, risk and all!!

P.S. You know how many people are found dead on the Goat Trails around here?? A lot! Granted, it's usually the elderly but kudos to them for enjoying life!!

 

[biknpam]

Mike it's good advice but like Rox said; its alot of money... for me lesson learned - not to be out alone. But the advice is appreciated and I know comes from a good place. BTW I do carry a whistle and I used it... it was just quiet that day; no one around. I did tell my route to others and eventually if I did not check in later; my friends would have known something bad happened. Of course, they would have no idea where the "bad" occurred and I get that's where the beacon makes sense. Just hope everyone, including me, takes away a lesson of what not to do... can't tell you how miserable I am no riding for awhile... it really sucks today was the kind of day I love to be out riding for hours...

 

[xtremeMTB]

Mike, it seems like you never been stuck or injured before. Kudos for you but lay off the crackpipe. Maybe you never ventured off local city parks and good for you. I have been stuck and hiked all the way from Santiago peak down to trabuco wash in the middle of the night. Luckily for me I am able to walk out in that instance. Mountain bikes sure you can walk out since you are usually within 20 miles from a town and if you're lucky there's reception but I also ride a lot of dirt bikes. With dirt bikes I'm often more than 100 miles away from home and 50 miles away from civilization I am not walking out in those situations and let alone have any cell phone reception.

Those stories you hear about people getting lost wasting resources last I recalled was 2 teenagers who were on meth and decided to go off trail to scale some boulders and got lost and they were not even 1 mile away from the main trail. That is idiotic sure but I'm talking about when I'm bleeding to death and having a satellite phone to call my friends will help me in what way?

If I ride the ANF and fall off a cliff how would a sat phone help if I'm 1000 ft below with broken bones? A PLB is needed to give the rescuers my GPS position.

 

[mike001]

If a person hikes down a mountain, is he stuck?

How about Andre a year or two ago? Think it might be different for his family today? How about the guy a
few months ago, "lost" overnight near Chiquito with SAR mobilized. Just off the top.

So much for your profiling skills...I have been gravely injured and rescued. And I don't use stimulants, ya knob. And my lack of remote travel, that's pure gold, although also clueless.

Happy day.

 

[xtremeMTB]

I obviously was not hurt or "stuck" enough to call in SAR which I did not and ended up hiking down it was just an example when shit hits the fan you have to be prepared but you can't be prepared for everything.

I did not know these people personally but have heard of their tales.

Andre had SAR mobilized but it was raining so they decided to not go up in the middle of the night in the rain to look for him. Andre was practicing for a century ride , made it up to CNF and fell down and lost his sense of direction and passed away up in the hill. When they found him he was on his bike still. It was a tragic story. Even if he had a PLB it would not have saved his life because he succumbed to his injuries before the SAR reached him. This news hit the dirt bike group I ride with that ride CNF regularly and were ready to go out to look for him but the gates are closed when it rains so we aren't legally allowed up there. Why the SAR didn't go up the same night they got the news is still unknownest to us.

The guy who was "lost" on chiquito was definitely not "lost" or "injured" it seemed like some kind of foul play last I heard of. His wife called it in and it was not him mis-using a PLB device.

It's only a waste of tax payers dollars in situations like the kids I had mentioned that were on meth that should foot the bill and the second case. Even carrying a PLB device is not a guarantee that you will be rescued but it's still nice to have as a last resort.

Now, I'm not sure what you are saying you are saying we don't know what we are talking about by telling people to carry a PLB when they are alone and when they are too injured to hike out and in distress with no way to rescue one self. One sentence you are telling people to carry plb/sat device another sentence you are mentioning how a PLB should not be used. Clearly Pam was hurt and could use help but since she can still walk with a broken ankle and not some life threatening event. If it was any worse she could have used the PLB to get rescued out and thank god it was not any worse.

 

[mike001]

Stuck means not able to move; no degrees, you are or are not. Anyone who is high mileage has limped out of somewhere at some point. Props for you and everyone who does when needed. I've done it several times. Yes, I do advocate self-rescue, and carrying a beacon. Obviously, if you can self-rescue, you don't need to activate your beacon.

It's simply levels of personal responsibility. I (and you) want to help in any practical way to be found when need be. Helping SAR rather than being helpless meat is in the injured's best interest, and it could save public money. And for you highly image conscious, you won't look like such a bumblefućk when they get there.​

RE Andre: You seem to think you can make the call for SAR on whether they would do an extraction with a positive GPS location, which would eliminate "looking for him" altogether. Not buying your armchair assessment as definitive. This is merely OC we are discussing, how about nationally? It's too bad there is no yearly compendium such as Accidents in N. American Mountaineering. The yearly total of SAR costs in the US for mountain bikers would be an interesting figure, to be sure, especially looking at the S part.​

It should be obvious that nothing will guarantee ones absolute safety or of being rescued. A helmet, pads (when warranted), gloves, first aid, GPS, phone, beacon...too much for some. It's comical how people spending dough on nice bikes, tires, Stans, tubes, chains, rings, cassettes, pads, rotors, parts, apparel, electronics, lights, events, gas to the trailhead, etc. can feel that a 280 dollar beacon with no recurring cost isn't do-able. There's nothing I can say to those people beyond what I have.​

I'm glad you are on board with the program. Keep ripping hard, and look for that NOAA renewal email, mine just showed up.​

 

[xtremeMTB]

Cool, lastly I just wanted to add for those interested, a PLB is not $300 it's more like $200 that's how much I paid for mine recently it's made by ACR Artex ResQLink for $250 - $50 MIR good until 6/30/2015
https://www.acrartex.com/media/1376035/plb-us-rebate-form-summer-2015-new-template.pdf

They are good with their rebate I received mine pretty quickly. The only downside is you have to send it back and replace the battery about every 5 years which costs a pretty penny but there is no monthly charge like a Spot.

 

[osmarandsara]

Just an update... have now seen the ortho... turns out the tibia break is no big deal - will heal speedy on its own... the problem is what I have is actually a MAISSONNEUVE FRACTURE... or high ankle fracture. This means all the ligaments/tendons near the ankle holding the tibia/fibula together are torn which is why the tibia fractured. Requires surgery (no other remedy) were two screws are inserted into the ankle to hold everything together. 8 weeks before screws are removed and then another 2 - 3 months of rehab and no weight bearing on the ankle. I will be wheel chair bound for the next 3 - 4 months... ahhhh... really sucks! By the time I can ride again, will have to start over!

Mike thanks for the info on a beacon. I deserve to be shamed and will heed your words although I will never ride in remote areas on my own again...period.

Healing vibes...I had the same injury and surgery in May 2009 and I was back on my bike in Februay of 2010. Be patient and don't try to gauge your progress one day at a time but more like a month a time...it will help keep you sane. Also, after those screws come out but while your foot is still in a cast, start your physical therapy by wiggling your toes around and tensing your calf muscles.

After you heal, consider wearing mountain bike shoes with ankle support...since you will be at a higher risk of rolling it (I did about a year after my initial accident)

 

[biknpam]

Healing vibes...I had the same injury and surgery in May 2009 and I was back on my bike in Februay of 2010. Be patient and don't try to gauge your progress one day at a time but more like a month a time...it will help keep you sane. Also, after those screws come out but while your foot is still in a cast, start your physical therapy by wiggling your toes around and tensing your calf muscles.

After you heal, consider wearing mountain bike shoes with ankle support...since you will be at a higher risk of rolling it (I did about a year after my initial accident)

I am so excited to hear of someone with the same injury! But I am alittle dismayed that your injury occurred in May and you weren't back to riding until February - 8 mos!!! That's probably realistic but in my head, in order to stay sane, I am hoping to at least start riding my road bike again in 4 - 5 months; otherwise I will go insane. I am already incredibly bored and antsy. I did get a knee scooter which has helped my mobility. My poor right leg will deflate and the muscles in my left leg (the good leg) will balloon from use. I am getting a pretty good upper body workout trying to push myself up from chairs and the couch so at least some exercise.

Was your result good or did you have some issues? Also thanks of the advice on the ankle boots... makes alot of sense.

 

[skyungjae]

I think a PLB might actually allow me to get out more. My wife does not like it when I ride alone.

Edit: The subscription thing may be a deal breaker though.

 

[osmarandsara]

I am so excited to hear of someone with the same injury! But I am alittle dismayed that your....

Was your result good or did you have some issues? Also thanks of the advice on the ankle boots... makes alot of sense.

No issues...just remember soft tissue takes forever to heal...and before getting on a bike your ankle has to be strong enough to jump on just in case you need to bail during a crash..even on a road bike.