Broken Foot Happens
I went out climbing w/ Gabe after work today. I gave Suspended in Silence (v5) a few tries before firing up the final top out. Its really an awesome problem, requiring an steady focus and careful climbing. After climbing down, I pronounced it my new favorite v5 problem!
I wanted to get one last climb in for the day, and I was feeling pretty good about my chances, so we headed over to the classic highball, Jedi Mind Tricks. After figuring out the tricky start, I found myself easily climbing up the flake edges. I reached the top and what remained was a little sidepull to the right and a move for the lip and I’d be done for the day.
Then my foot slipped. I found myself plunging downwards some 25 feet. Normally this isn’t a problem if you hit the crash pads right. Which I didn’t. My right foot hit the edge of the pad and rolled right off. I felt the intense shock and pain shoot through my foot. I knew immediately that I’d probably broken it.
In the fog of pain, I saw Gabe coming up to me to ask if I was allright. I was okay, but my foot wasn’t. Fortutiously, a runner happend to run by, and Gabe scrambled to flag him down. I tore off my climbing shoe and started thinking awful thoughts such as, “Shit, I wont be able to climb for months.” I was more pissed about potentially being put out of action for so long than anything else.
After a couple minutes, the pain started to subsidize and I started to entertain thoughts that I might have just badly sprained it, but my foot just didnt look right. I wasn’t kidding anyone, especially myself.
The runner and Gabe helped me hop back to my truck and we drove back to town and rolled into the emergency room. The nurse who came to my assistance, you could immediately tell that she’d seen this a million times already. She quickly asked, “Were you climbing? How high? Did you hit the crash pad? Did you roll your foot off the edge?” After confirming all her suspicions, I was wheeled in for a X-ray.
Shortly after, the doctor confirmed my worst fears. I’d seriously busted my damn foot. It was broken in several places on the heel and the bone above the heel. The doc then added, “you’ll need to consult an orthopedic and most likely will need surgery.”
Great. Just great!
So, this amazing climbing run here in Bishop is going to be on hold, for a good bit - while I get my foot fixed up. I haven’t yet decided what I’m going to do. I could stick around here, or head somewhere else while it mends. A lot of this will depend on whether I’ll be able to drive after the surgery.
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14 Responses to “Broken Foot Happens”
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aw man! thats such a bummer. I say stick around for a while longer. let the adventure roll with it.
sorry about your foot tim! at least you finished a few problems since moving to bishop. i know gabe will take good care of you for a while. here’s to wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping you won’t need a surgery!
oops i forgot to put in my name at the previous post. duh me. its susie. take care hon!
Well dude– don’t know what your beliefs are, but it’s like the old man upstairs may be trying to tell you something.
While your foot recovers, you could get into some serious photography and see where that takes you…get those fingers itching to tweak the cameras for awhile. Meantime, here’s wishing you a speedy recovery.
Ouch…
Well, it looks like you have a new project… taking pixes of your cast ;o)
Hope the fracture is not that bad, because the feet bear our body’s weight.
Recover fast.
Oh NO!! Super bummed to hear you are joining us injured folk on the sidelines. I wish you the speediest and fullest of recoveries Tim!
oh, i felt your pain!
wait a minute, truck? did you trade in? what happen to passat car?
are you still coming to minnesota this for your brother’s wedding? will you be his photographer to use your crutch as tripod or be his usher/grooms with your big foot (one left shoe and one right boot)?
buzz
Aw, that sucks! Hope you’ll still be able to take pictures with a broken foot.
Aw– so sorry about your foot!! I enjoy hearing all about your climbing tales. Hopefully, you’ll heal quickly and be up and around in no time. Until then I look forward to more of your fantastic photography.
I, too, admire the photography and look forward to more visits to this website.
My condolences on the broken foot. At least you are not wasting your life inside an office, pushing papers, and generating endless PowerPoint presentations.
if you don’t use all of your vicodin’s keep me in mind
At least you’re not in coma >_>
oh no!!!!!!!! that totally sucks. meh. how long will it take to heal?? at least you had gabe nearby, phew
[...] would like to wish the speediest of recoveries to Tim Kettering who took a nasty spill off of Jedi Mind Tricks in Bishop. It looks like he will be joining the Boot of Doom club in [...]