Our group, which was staying at Smiley Creek Lodge, drove out
to camp at 9 am on Sunday morning. Riders were organizing rides
in all directions. After talking to djones, we decided to ride
a modified Big Smoky Loop - shortened somewhat befitting the interest
and stamina of our group, which consisted of three over-55 seniors
(me, Frank, JimW) and a couple of over-40 kids (Terry, JimB).
We departed camp in a southerly direction and soon found the first trail, a pleasant meander through the woods with a few water crossings. We were able to track our progress by noting several side-trail turnoffs, and eventually we reached the "side-hill" section of the trail.
A typical side-hill
had us climbing out of the canyon bottom and up the side wall
on a narrow strip of tread known generously as a trail. After
traversing a series of minor washouts and other narrow parts,
the trail would then descend back down to the canyon bottom and
become "normal" again. These side-hill trails, interspersed
with frequent water crossings, followed one another all the way
to the end of the canyon.
When we reached a hot springs, Terry found a discarded horseshoe and decided to keep it for good luck. Later, as we crossed a stream we discovered orange-colored fish and stopped to gawk and take pictures. Apparently they turn this color when they spawn. Eventually we found ourselves in an open flat area, and we began rolling along eagerly anticipating a lunch break.
Then we encountered the twin signs "Low Trail" and "High Trail." Frank rode right onto the high trail which climbed out of the wide canyon and traversed the canyon wall hundreds of feet up the side. It was the side-hill to end all side-hills, and when we eventually got back down to the canyon bottom, we were all joyous to be still riding whole and in one piece.
Eventually we reached the Big Smoky Ranger Station, then backed up to start up Paradise Trail where we stopped for a brief lunch at the first level green spot in the woods. After lunch, we continued up Paradise Trail until we reached a road, crossed it, and struggled up a steep rocky switchback. Frank and I were in front, and we stopped to wait for the others. Eventually Terry arrived and informed us that JimW had hurt himself - his toes and or foot were severely cut - and that he and JimB would get JimW out on the road and down to the Big Smoky Ranger Station. There, they would make a decision on whether to ride to Ketchum and seek medical help or wait for me to drive in and pick JimW up. Frank and I were to head back to camp and then Smiley Creek Lodge where a message would be waiting telling us what JimB, JimW, and Terry were going to do.
Flashback to JimW's incident. JimW was riding along at a good clip because the trail was fairly easy when he felt a sharp blow on his left foot. The end of a down lodge-pole pine caught his left foot, ripped his boot open, and severely impacted his foot. JimW saw a mangled toe that he shoved back into the boot and then he laid on the trail waiting for help. It wasn't long before JimB turned back and found JimW laying on the ground with his foot elevated. JimB told JimW about the dirt road a few hundred yards down the trail and soon they were riding the bikes again. They had to ride through some heavy vegetation, and JimW worried that it would drag foot parts out of his boot. When they stopped at the road, he stuffed his toes into his boot and then stuffed paper towels on top to help soak up and maybe stop the flow of blood. He then wrapped the boot with tape for good measure. Unbeknownst to JimW, he was actually saving his second-littlest toe - the smallest toe had already escaped and was laying somewhere on the trail. (This little piggie stayed on the trail.)
JimW, JimB, and Terry stopped at the Ranger Station, and the folks there kindly radioed Twin Falls and had them call Smiley Creek Lodge and leave the message that they planned to ride to the medical center in Ketchum/Sun Valley. And ride they did. It took them about an hour and with some assistance from a young lad in a car, they were soon at the medical center in Sun Valley.
Meanwhile,
Frank and I were on our way back to the Smiley Creek Lodge. We
still had to go over Snowslide, but we planned a shortcut after
that.
The ride up to the top and then down the back at Snowslide was outstanding with magnificent scenery everywhere. As we descended Snowslide, I repeatedly got a look down to the valley floor far, far below, and the view was breathtaking. I was constantly wondering if the trail really went all the way down because the valley is very steep. But yes, the trail did go all the way down, with a few switchbacks and woods sections, and we made it safely to the lower regions where we boogied back to camp on a shortcut easy section of trail.
At Smiley Creek Lodge, we got the message that the crew would be heading for the medical center, so we quickly hooked a trailer to my van and drove over Galena Summit and into Ketchum/Sun Valley.
At
the medical center, we met Terry, JimB, and JimW, and talked about
the whole affair. JimW knew then that he was missing his little
toe, but felt that the second toe might be savable. The rest of
us then left JimW to wait for the surgeon while we went to the
Pio and had a great dinner.
JimW had his second littlest toe amputated - it was essentially dead - and two pins were installed in nearby broken bones. (This little piggie stayed at the medical center.)
JimW spent two days in the hospital, then he roomed with me
two nights in a motel room in Ketchum. (I drove out Warm Spring
Road each day to ride trails with the others.) JimW got a shuttle
to Boise in a 4-door black caddie, then a flight home to Albuquerque
on Thursday. A piece of his heart, and a couple of his toes, will
always be in Idaho. (And all the rest of the piggies laughed all
the way home to Albuquerque. ;-)
