Flight Articles from Friday, 3/15/2002 [Weather Archive] [Craig Warren] [Sundowner] [Diablo]
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Mike
Friday, 3/15/2002

Big Day / Broken Arm

Time for me to weigh in.

Launched from Skyport just as Kristi and crew arrived, nothing out front at the time so headed for the round house but was lucky to make it over the power lines.  Didn't feel I could clear the ridge in front of the power lines so I turned right and spotted a nice little clearing in the canyon.  Got positioned over the clearing and with some wind coming up the canyon.  Thought I could maintain the relative position but as I dropped lower I lost the wind and started bouncing off trees at the edge of the clearing going down the trail.  I now know what a pinball feels like.  The last tree must have halted the wing because I found myself falling, hit on my back, and my left arm must have hit a rock.  I didn't feel too bad and could still move the arm back and forth so started to pack up.  A guide with several hikers came along, took one look at my arm, put it in a sling, helped me pack up and carried my stuff down to the road.  I relayed a message through Diablo for pickup.  Kevin Dumain came along and took me to Cottage Hospital.  Dan Keyser was nice enough to retrieve my car and keep it at his house for a while.  Thanks to both Kevin and Dan!!!!

The x-ray tech took one look at the x-ray and said, yep, broken.  The ER doc worked through the HMO system, got me an appt. for Monday morning with an orthopedic surgeon.  He will do surgery this Friday to put the jigsaw puzzle back together and get the arm moving asap.  Meanwhile I'm typing with one hand and one finger.

Looks like I'm the designated driver for a while!