Venturing into the backcountry always comes with some level of risk. With experience, we learn to measure and manage the risks we take when recreating in the forests and mountains. In other words, we try our best to be safe when doing dangerous work – but accidents still happen. I’ve had plenty of injuries and near-misses, but last year a horse accident in the mountains of Idaho put me under Dr. Caleb Mentzer’s knife on the operating table at St. Alphonsus Trauma Center in Boise.
Dr. Mentzer is not only a trauma surgeon, but he is also a former rafting guide with a passion for both medicine and outdoor sports. Eight months after my surgery and hospital stay, I got the chance to meet him Outdoor Life Podcast And let’s talk about what really causes most backcountry injuries, how to stay safe, and what to do if you get hurt.
It’s the simple things that hurt you
Dramatic and crazy accidents and injuries make popular headlines, so that’s what we often think of when it comes to backcountry injuries. Lightning strikes, bear attacks, and other incidents can certainly happen, but most people are not seriously injured. Dr. Mentzer is a trauma surgeon at one of the largest outdoor recreation centers in the Northwest region and if you see him, you will be seriously injured. He treats a lot of serious injuries and has some valuable insights into the most common causes. Perhaps surprisingly, most serious injuries are not the result of the activity itself, but of getting to and from it. People get injured while riding ATVs, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, and, in my case, breaking barn-sourced horses more often than they get injured while out and about in the mountains when hunting or hiking.
Ultimately, each step of the process requires attention to detail to stay safe and avoid accidents. It’s important to pay attention and make good decisions whenever you’re out there. In our interview, Dr. Mentzer pointed out that falls are also a very common cause of injury. After hunting in slope country for many years, I can tell you that hiking in the mountains requires constant exertion. One wrong move can have serious consequences.
preparation is a plan
As most accidents happen for mundane reasons, the best way to be prepared is simple. have a plan. Whether horseback riding or hiking in the backcountry, our equipment and training are always limited. It is important to have some basic equipment and knowledge for first responder, but if you become seriously injured in the woods or mountains, you will need help. Having an emergency plan and reliable communication is one of the biggest benefits you can give yourself.
A garmin inreach miniOr similar satellite communications equipment is one of the most effective devices you can buy, and they save lives every day. Additionally, if you need an emergency evacuation an affordable emergency rescue insurance plan will cover the cost and, perhaps, make you less reluctant to send a call for help if you need it. If you use a Garmin device with SOS capabilities, you can purchase rescue insurance through Garmin for about $30 per year. This covers your rescue and transportation costs if you use your SOS for an extraction. global rescue There is another option, which can be purchased for short-term trips or as an annual subscription and will coordinate your rescue and travel from anywhere in the world.
I was taken out of the mountains and taken to the hospital, but later we should have called a helicopter. We knew I was badly hurt, but didn’t know I was bleeding internally. I was lucky to reach the hospital in time and receive a blood transfusion, and a more decisive emergency plan could have gotten me there more quickly.
time to punch out
Most of us will suffer some type of backcountry injury if we spend enough time out there. A real challenge, and a vital component to your survival, is recognizing the severity of injuries and knowing when to call for help. Pressing the SOS button should be used as a last resort, and no one wants to be the social media influencer who gets dehydrated during a day hike and calls for a helicopter, but there really is a time to vent.
Dr. Mentzer regularly rides and snowboards in the backcountry and has suffered several injuries himself. Ultimately, he says you have to go with your conscience. If you know or think you are seriously injured, get help. Getting prompt medical care gives you the best chance for survival and, for many injuries, doctors can intervene and prevent disaster if you can get them quickly. If your injuries are not life threatening, it is a matter of how much pain you can tolerate and will be able to get yourself out.
