Colorado Springs Man Lost Descending Shavano, Both Legs Amputated

[RobLowe]

To be clear, Alec, we are good. I am just voicing my opinion and also clarifying that one of the quotes in this thread is being attributed to me when I didn’t write it.

Your opinion is valid as your opinion (even if it has since been deleted) and I don’t wish for it to be cancelled, I simply wish to bring forth my counter-opinion that comments scolding injured folks don’t advance the ball or help others down the road. There are ways to educate and prevent that don’t involve commenting on news articles about injured folks.

[Ptglhs]

Cold and fear and the dark combined for a rough ending. It sounds like he loosened his shoes because they were feeling tight due to pressure change. After foundering in deep snow and darkness he lost them without realizing it and didn't think he could find them and had to descend. I can imagine how that could happen. It must have been really scary for him.

My condolences on his injury and disability. I'm glad he can be with his family again.

[teamdonkey]

comments scolding injured folks don’t advance the ball or help others down the road

It can, if you're identifying poor decisions that led to the problem. I personally like hearing that analysis in the hope that I'll learn something and maybe dodge that same bullet down the road. Though you're right, that's not what happened here.

My takeaway from this one is humility. This is an accomplished hiker on a mountain that isn't terribly difficult. I assume he was aware that it shouldn't be a huge deal and prepared accordingly, then when a few things went wrong there wasn't much cushion. My guess is if he approached October Shavano with the same respect he did the Appalachian Trail he'd be walking around today. I've certainly been guilty of the same thing and probably should re-evaluate some of my habits and preparation routines.

[crowdsurf]

If anybody wants to meet in person and discuss our opinions and differences I think that would be much more useful than Internet bashing/bullying. I’d even buy you a beer, or I think most of you drink white claw by now. Thank you for the donation link, I tried to donate but doesn’t take PayPal, will do later today with card.

Alec

You can buy me a beer. Definitely not interested in White Claw though. That stuff is for millennials.

[mountainrev]

The added information that he lost both of his shoes helps explain the severity of the frostbite, but I still can't wrap my brain around getting frostbitten bad enough to require amputation of both legs below the knees after just one night, and in October. I'm a total medical layman, but it's difficult for me to understand that degree of tissue damage in that short of a time.

[mountainrev]

The added information that he lost both of his shoes helps explain the severity of the frostbite, but I still can't wrap my brain around getting frostbitten bad enough to require amputation of both legs below the knees after just one night, and in October. I'm a total medical layman, but it's difficult for me to understand that degree of tissue damage in that short of a time.

Have you heard about Google or are you still using AOL?

https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/frostbite-december/

Thanks. You're a peach.

Yes, I'm aware that it doesn't take exposed skin long to become frostbitten. But what's troubling to me is that he would need to have his entire legs amputated. It wouldn't have surprised me to read that he was going to lose a few toes, maybe all of them. But it's mind-blowing that the soft tissue damage would be that severe after that short of a time. My point was just that: It's mind-blowing to know that this could happen in October after only one night of exposure.

Sheesh.

[Roseb]

If anybody wants to meet in person and discuss our opinions and differences I think that would be much more useful than Internet bashing/bullying. I’d even buy you a beer, or I think most of you drink white claw by now. Thank you for the donation link, I tried to donate but doesn’t take PayPal, will do later today with card.

Alec

You can buy me a beer. Definitely not interested in White Claw though. That stuff is for millennials.

Woah, buddy. I am a millennial and can confirm white claw is no bueno. I'll take the beer though.

Sucks to hear about this dude though, hopefully his family is alright. Better than the alternative I suppose. Interested to hear more as additional details are released..

[jrs1965]

The added information that he lost both of his shoes helps explain the severity of the frostbite, but I still can't wrap my brain around getting frostbitten bad enough to require amputation of both legs below the knees after just one night, and in October. I'm a total medical layman, but it's difficult for me to understand that degree of tissue damage in that short of a time.

I was surprised that they operated so quickly. In my past life in the Army I recall a class on cold weather injuries where the MD had said something to the effect of "freeze in January, operate in July." Meaning, they typically wait months before surgery and it's determined that the tissue no longer has a chance of survival. That, plus hyperbaric treatment being used to try and save the tissue was mentioned. Crazy.

[mountainrev]

Have you heard about Google or are you still using AOL?

https://www.healthpartners.com/blog/frostbite-december/

Thanks. You're a peach.

Yes, I'm aware that it doesn't take exposed skin long to become frostbitten. But what's troubling to me is that he would need to have his entire legs amputated. It wouldn't have surprised me to read that he was going to lose a few toes, maybe all of them. But it's mind-blowing that the soft tissue damage would be that severe after that short of a time. My point was just that: It's mind-blowing to know that this could happen in October after only one night of exposure.

Sheesh.

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Sa ... 2a7da7a3f4

Check out Salida temps ... then subtract 5 degrees for altitude. A long time below freezing.

You linked to a current forecast. According to this link https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/salid ... her/332185, the high in Salida on the day this happened was 58 and the low was 30. So again, it's just very shocking to learn that someone would need their legs amputated from frostbite after one night when the temps were far above zero.

I'm not questioning that it happened. Just shocked by the whole thing.

[Jorts]

Armchair QB here. I travel fairly light and I’ve been utterly turned around in whiteouts. I always wear a GPS watch. Usually I preload my route. Even if I forget to load the route, there are several other tools to reorient (e.g. breadcrumb nav if GPS is being recorded, POI for the TH, compass). And unlike a phone, a good Garmin or Suunto has long battery life that won’t plummet in cold. Besides a PLB or dedicated GPS, consider splurging (few hundred) on a reliable watch.

Both boots coming off?! ::mind blown::

[SurfNTurf]

I hope he recovers quickly and returns to the activities he loves.

I don't want to speculate too much, but the articles have made me curious about what type of footwear he was wearing. I can't really wrap my head around how a winter boot, which I'd hope everyone is wearing this time of year, could just slip off unnoticed. Especially if he had gaiters for all the fresh snow that's been dumping up there.

The extent of the frostbite isn't that surprising. It was near or below freezing, he lost his boot(s), and he was walking through deep snow unprotected in wind that's been 20-40mph (or worse) up high basically all month. That's a recipe for a bad time.

[Broken Knee]

I can't really wrap my head around how a winter boot, which I'd hope everyone is wearing this time of year, could just slip off unnoticed.

You've obviously never seen one of my bad ski days.

Can't imagine losing my lower legs. I hope he learns to deal with it as best possible.