Mercian-Steve
23-06-2013, 02:13 PM
...ended in disaster.
So I was all set, all prepared, and actually rather excited. It was the first chance I'd had this year to get away for a few nights in the woodland. So I got up nice and early, checked over my gear, and headed out into the unknown for a few nights of bushcraft, adventure, and time alone in the wilderness. I arrived at my starting point and began my trek through the forest towards my planned overnight site, taking time to get a few snaps of the natural beauty along the way. I arrived, and promptly set up my IPK and got a brew fire on the go. Now time to chill for a while and take in the immense scenery. After I'd downed my second cup of coffee I set about building myself a more comfortable camp, build my fire surround, established a water source, organised my kit, and collected fire wood. Now, and this is where it all went wrong, I decided to build myself a little lean-to shelter, purely for keeping my kit in overnight incase the weather changed. All was going well until a slip with my Mora, and next thing I know my hand in piddling blood all over the ground. Of course, I had a first aid kit with me, so I was able to clean myself up and get a dressing on. The cut was obviously deep, and would require stitches, so I phoned the only person I was sure didn't have work that day (Wednesday), my dad. He took me to the hospital, leaving all my kit behind, as I was eager to get the procedure done and get back out into the wild. Upon arriving at A&E, I was greeted with the usual 7 hour wait to be seen. Finally, I was called in to the examination room, only to be told that not only had I sliced the flesh on my hand, I had also sliced through a tendon and the "joint capsule" of my index finger. An overnighter and surgery in the morning was on the books. Well, that overnighter turned into 4 days before discharge, and surgery under general anaesthetic. I had no hope of getting back out to my camp this week, or any time soon by the looks of it as I have no use of my index finger at all. Apparently I will recover use and feeling within 3 months, but in the mean time it's useless. My hand is strapped up the size of a melon and I'm in incredible agony at the slightest movement.
On the brightside, at least I can say that I know how to get that razor finish on a blade :p And I'm at no risk of losing any of the kit I had to leave behind, as the area I was in looked as though no one had been there, well, ever. I will try to recover it as soon as I am fit enough to get out an retrieve it.
Now, I' sure there is a message about knife safety knocking around here somewhere, but if truth be told, I'm too high on prescription painkillers to recognise it! :eek:
So I was all set, all prepared, and actually rather excited. It was the first chance I'd had this year to get away for a few nights in the woodland. So I got up nice and early, checked over my gear, and headed out into the unknown for a few nights of bushcraft, adventure, and time alone in the wilderness. I arrived at my starting point and began my trek through the forest towards my planned overnight site, taking time to get a few snaps of the natural beauty along the way. I arrived, and promptly set up my IPK and got a brew fire on the go. Now time to chill for a while and take in the immense scenery. After I'd downed my second cup of coffee I set about building myself a more comfortable camp, build my fire surround, established a water source, organised my kit, and collected fire wood. Now, and this is where it all went wrong, I decided to build myself a little lean-to shelter, purely for keeping my kit in overnight incase the weather changed. All was going well until a slip with my Mora, and next thing I know my hand in piddling blood all over the ground. Of course, I had a first aid kit with me, so I was able to clean myself up and get a dressing on. The cut was obviously deep, and would require stitches, so I phoned the only person I was sure didn't have work that day (Wednesday), my dad. He took me to the hospital, leaving all my kit behind, as I was eager to get the procedure done and get back out into the wild. Upon arriving at A&E, I was greeted with the usual 7 hour wait to be seen. Finally, I was called in to the examination room, only to be told that not only had I sliced the flesh on my hand, I had also sliced through a tendon and the "joint capsule" of my index finger. An overnighter and surgery in the morning was on the books. Well, that overnighter turned into 4 days before discharge, and surgery under general anaesthetic. I had no hope of getting back out to my camp this week, or any time soon by the looks of it as I have no use of my index finger at all. Apparently I will recover use and feeling within 3 months, but in the mean time it's useless. My hand is strapped up the size of a melon and I'm in incredible agony at the slightest movement.
On the brightside, at least I can say that I know how to get that razor finish on a blade :p And I'm at no risk of losing any of the kit I had to leave behind, as the area I was in looked as though no one had been there, well, ever. I will try to recover it as soon as I am fit enough to get out an retrieve it.
Now, I' sure there is a message about knife safety knocking around here somewhere, but if truth be told, I'm too high on prescription painkillers to recognise it! :eek: