Alaska 2008: The Dalton Highway Write-Up (Long)

[harper]

Originally Posted by captainwelch

I went through twenty miles of this shit. Then it started to get bad.

This is my favorite line in the entire write-up. Tom Blackwood just told me about this thread last night. I'm glad he did. You're a talented rider and writer. Thanks for bringing me along on your epic journey. I was somewhat surprised at the lack of good crank in Alaska but the whiskey and pot always suffice in a pinch.

[jvanhuis]

It appears Mike's next adventure left him a little worse for the wear:

http://www.survivingparalysis.com/po...hp?PostID=2049

If you read this Mike, I hope it finds you well. Good luck with your recovery.

[osmundo]

Mike-
if you read this know I'm sending you positive vibes. Your courageous spirit will get you through this. Keep us posted if you can. Peace.

[unicyclist.ca]

God speed mike, I hope everything works out.

[entropy]

Originally Posted by jvanhuis

It appears Mike's next adventure left him a little worse for the wear:

http://www.survivingparalysis.com/po...hp?PostID=2049

If you read this Mike, I hope it finds you well. Good luck with your recovery.

Oh no! This is supremely unfortunate. The gist of that link is that Mike was in a biking accident in Matsumoto Japan and appears to have a T5 incomplete / T6 complete spinal cord injury (mid-chest and down paralysis).

I have a friend who became a C5 quad in a skiing accident last year, and it obviously presented a massive lifestyle change - but nothing is insurmountable. The replies to that post are correct - Craig Hospital in Englewood CO is the best of the best. It's a huge new challenge, but I'm sure you'll master it, Mike. Looks like you found the right people. We're all pulling for you too!

[seriousslacker]

That is not what I wanted to read when I saw this thread at the top again - sorry to hear about your injury, best of luck with your rehabilitation. I guess you needed a bigger challenge than the Dalton Highway. This will deserve an even longer write-up! Good luck with everything!

[Nurse Ben]

Awesome story, such a terrible thing to happen to someone so young and vibrant.

If anyone can take the time, the link to the paralysis site:
http://www.survivingparalysis.com/po...hp?PostID=2049

has some more discussion with Mike as he deals with his injury.

I worked with disabled skiers at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort back in the mid 1980's, it takes all kinds, never discount the human potential, he has a high level of function remaining so he should do well in his rehab.

Good luck Mike, heal good and strong!

[Into the blue]

This is awful news and our thoughts are with Mike.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable on this kind of thing, but is the injury permanent or is there a chance of recovery?

[entropy]

Originally Posted by Into the blue

This is awful news and our thoughts are with Mike.
I'm not particularly knowledgeable on this kind of thing, but is the injury permanent or is there a chance of recovery?

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_cord_injury:

The exact effects of a spinal cord injury vary according to the type and level injury, and can be organized into two types:

• In a complete injury, there is no function below the "neurological" level, defined as the lowest level that has intact neurological function. If a person has some level below which there is no motor and sensory function, the injury is said to be "complete". Recent evidence suggest that less than 5% of people with "complete" spinal cord injury recover locomotion.
• A person with an incomplete injury retains some sensation or movement below the level of the injury.[...]Recent evidence suggest that over 95% of people with "incomplete" spinal cord injury recover some locomotory ability.

The article also has a helplful diagram to complement the text. I should note that at the time of this post the above text has no direct citations in the article, but I did find some of the statements corroborated here: http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic553.htm.

[tomblackwood]

This is the saddest thing I've heard this year...

Mike, I am so sorry to hear this news. Reading through the threads on the survivingparalysis website, there were two things I realized: 1) you have an amazing attitude to just PUSH--that's what got you through the Haul Road, and that's what will get you through this--and 2) you have a new community now, and one that is already engaged and supportive in a big way.

No matter what happens, you now have two communities that really care about you. Keep PUSHING.

Tom

[aspenmike]

Captainwelch,
I am so sorry to hear about this. If anyone can make it through this, you can. I am some friends in Aspen, that have been to Craig, and they rip on their bikes, and their ski's now. Keep up the good attitude, and keep pushing hard. My good vibes are heading your way.

[rem48]

Captainwelch, Sorry to hear about the accident. I loved the alaska write up. keep up the positive outlook. If you don't fold, you can't lose!

[saskatchewanian]

Shit man, hope you recover, if not get yourself one of those off road chairs and I would love to meet you on a trail somewhere.

I got another friend in a chair, still goes hunting, fishing, and can climb almost more stuff than I can.

Peace and Love

ERIC

[unicycle6869]

Wishing you a fast and safe recovery!

[Bondo]

CaptainWelch posted some pics from the ride here:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=439108

I can't get Facebook at work, looking forward to checking them out at home.
Unless someone wants to rehost a few....wink

Heal up!