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Saturday I went out on the snow machine hunting for wolverine. I was out about 70 miles when the sun went behind a dark cloud and I got snow blind, because there was nothing but white, and without light shadow... its a white-out. It takes away all depth perception and ones ability to judge distance and terrain is all but gone. I slowed and was standing up watching out with all my energy but I ended up going over a 30 foot drop off down into a river basin. I hit the ground with a lot of energy and was thrown through the windshield and face first into the snow covered ice. The machine then ran over me and trapped me at the back. When I woke up I was cold and in a lot of pain. My hand was caught in the tracks boogie wheels and my leg was severely broken and twisted in the most gruesome way. I needed to get my survival pack from the back of my snow mobile but I was to weak to untie it and pull it up and out. I was able to get my broken hand out of the boogie wheels but even then I could not get the survival pack off the machine. I passed out twice trying. Every time I woke up I was colder than before.

I decided to use my six inch skinning knife to cut the bottom out of the pack and pull what I needed out that way, even that took all my strength. The main things I wanted were the hot drink container, the reflective emergency blanked and my PLB (Personal Locater Beacon).

After I set off the PLB I poured some hot drink and then wrapped up in the emergency blanked and tried to stay calm. Two hours later I heard the search and Rescue guys coming. When they got there they told me they needed to straighten the leg before bracing it for transport. Two or three held me down while the eldest of the group pulled and bent the leg back to where it could be put in a brace. These guys did a great job, I have nothing but good to say about them. To make a long story short I was put in a helicopter and flow to Barrow, Alaska then transported to Anchorage via a medical transport Leer Jet.

From there I went into emergency surgery for my mangled up leg. Bone graphs from cadavers, 6 or 8 screws and a long bracing plate and I was wheeled into recovery. I stayed in the hospital until yesterday (6 days). It sounds like I will be laid up for 4 moths, maybe as long as six. The doctor also said a knee replacement is pretty likely. I'm only 38 years old so this is not good news. I suppose I will deal with this the same way I have dealt with other tragic incidents in my life-- one day at a time.

May God continue to show you mercy and blessings. Get well soon Brother.

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"Forged By Challenge!"

Thank you. Looks like my summer plans are all out the window, its still pretty hard not to feel sorry for myself but Im sure this is just one of the stages I will go through. Thanks for the kind words.

You are the MAN! I sit here with a recently ruptured and repaired Achilles tedond and feel like I am lucky compared to you! Kudos for being so prepared which saved your life. You are a great example for all of us who tend venutre off on our own. Best wishes and I hope you have a fast recovery!!

Holy cow, that sounded awful.
I'm glad you got out of there and are being taken care of. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

I have been lugging that gear around with me for years and years and never used it. I can't begin to tell you the comfort it gave me when I wrecked knowing that I had the tools to survive. Without that PLB I would have certainly died, I could feel my body getting weaker as the time went by, and that leg would not let me move without passing out.
If it came to the last I was going to scratch a note to my wife on my arm telling her it was not bad at all and that I loved her. I think this is the right think for one to do if they are able.

"a knifeless man...is a lifeless man"
Good luck and I hope for as speedy and full a recovery as possible. Strong reminder to those of us who spend time in the "rural" (having spent a good bit of time there, AK is a bit more than rural) outdoors self reliance and preperation are key. There are things that live under the seat of my truck, and things that go everywhere with me, for exactly these reasons. You'll have a long boring summer of rehab.. but that beats the alterative!

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https://www.graffcustom.com/

Korey,
I am way down here in St. Louis, Missouri, but if there is anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to contact me. My email address is: Jeffro135@aol.com
Take care of yourself and hang in there. I had a pretty bad motorcycle accident that did much of the same type damage you suffered and you will be amazed at what they can "fix". Don't let it get you down (easy for ME to say, right?) you will pull through with flying colors, but it will take time.
Best regards,
Jeffro

Korey, I never saw this until just now-- I wish you a speedy and comfy recovery. I have about four pounds of gun magazines I was going to send elsewhere but if you can use them to pass the time Email me and they are on the way!

What an adventure! Glad it turned out as well as it did.
I've gotta ask...Why didn't you just stop?

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Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse!

What an amazing story. I hope you heal quickly. Thanks for sharing your ordeal.

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He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
-Marcus Aurelius

Korey,

I read you post a couple of months ago. I thought I had posted a wish for you to get well at that time, but I notice today that I didn't. Being fascinated by your part of the world for as long as I can remember, I've thought of you many times since reading that post. I stopped by today to see if you had posted a progress report. I imagine by now you've started rehab and are hopefully seeing positive results.

Please let us know how you're doing. And please accept my (belated) wishes for the best possible recovery.

Hang in there,


-Matt

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"If it has breasts or a motor, you're gonna have trouble with it."