All Discussions Tagged 'Gold' - Pikes Peak Sports2024-03-29T06:29:37Zhttp://pikespeaksports.us/group/mountainbiking/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=Gold&feed=yes&xn_auth=noCyclist Alicia Jakomait shares story of getting lost, knocking herself unconscious, night in the woodstag:pikespeaksports.us,2013-10-02:5021591:Topic:5022402013-10-02T21:50:23.656ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><em><span><span class="text_exposed_show"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656419286?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656419286?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> Editor's note: Special thanks to Alicia for permission to reprint her story. She hopes that telling it will help others avoid a similar experience. This account first appeared on her Facebook page.</span></span></em></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">It was a beautiful day on Sunday around 1 p.m. when I found myself…</span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span class="text_exposed_show"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656419286?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656419286?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a>Editor's note: Special thanks to Alicia for permission to reprint her story. She hopes that telling it will help others avoid a similar experience. This account first appeared on her Facebook page.</span></span></em></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">It was a beautiful day on Sunday around 1 p.m. when I found myself uncertain of where I would ride due to both storm damage and accumulated fatigue.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">I've been fortunate to ride on new trails often this summer and I felt confident that I would successfully link the Emerald Pipeline trail back to the road which I planned to ride down to get home (South of Old Stage/Gold Camp).</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">This area was unexpectedly difficult to navigate as it was in a steep valley with faint/lightly used trails and downed trees and various rivers flowing down from all the storm damage.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">As night fell in the valley I passed by the ever important reservoir where I had planned to re-join Old Stage Road. I became lost when hiking the bike through some meadows and marshland areas, and I mistook the marsh as being the reservoir. I walked around that area a great deal looking for the main road without success and in that process lost track of where I came from, so backtracking was no longer possible. It was in the marshy areas where I lost the faintly worn-in trails and was not sure how I got to what direction was what.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">Once I realized I had lost the trail, I scrambled up steep, rocky terrain to reach high points. Armed with a headlamp, a very light jacket, a map, bike tools and about 400 calories, I began bushwhacking in what I thought was the right direction as the terrain became increasingly steep and rocky.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">It must have been between 8 or 9 p.m. (sun) when I somehow fell off a boulder, knocked myself out and woke up face down on the ground. I don’t remember falling just waking up, and the head injury impaired my sense of direction greatly.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">I felt the confusing effects of a concussion as I could no longer make any sense of the map as I continued to hike the bike off the marked trails in circles all night. Determined to get home, I kept moving on Sunday night to about 3 a.m. to a high point so I could see and survey the area in the morning and to save my energy for getting to the right place the next day as I decided to wait till dawn so I could keep the city to my east and make sure to go north and keep going north to join Old Stage Road. I found a good tree, used my map to wrap up my legs, pine needles and branches to try to be warm until dawn.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">At 7 a.m. when the sun was up I was unable to see any landmarks or roads and decided to try to go north to the road, but found myself in very unfriendly class 2-3 terrain with downed trees and debris all over. I believe that going around so many obstacles contributed to remaining lost.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">The battery in my phone was getting less and less so I turned off my phone several times and probably tried to call 911 about 50 times without success.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">Hiking through the forested area with the rocks everywhere was very difficult and slow going. I’d catch my bike or my legs on big sticks or the branches would get tension then release and whack me over and over again. As Monday afternoon approached I was trying to find the reservoir and much to my despair, I ended up in the same place as the night before.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">I could see a rock formation I knew was close to Old Stage/Gold Camp and decided to use this visual tool to go north to the road. I carefully studied the map and the mountains and elevation and would pull up the limited Strava GPS map view to see I kept going in circles again. My phone battery died shortly after my last effort to point myself in the right direction.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">The sun kept moving West and I began to doubt if I was really going north as it seemed like I should have run into the road after going that way for several hours. I began to yell “help” every so often hoping maybe a horse or hiker would hear me, and it was a good thing because that is how I was found.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">It was around 6 p.m. when I heard someone yell my name, and I yelled back. Apparently someone heard me yell “help”. I felt both very happy that I was no longer “lost” yet very embarrassed for being so lost and unable to get myself out of the jam I was in. My leg was getting very swollen, the concussion headache seemed impacted by the lack of nutrition, mild hypothermia, nausea, and soreness, my body was slowing down so I was extremely happy to have the assistance.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">The two men who found me told me that I was .5 mile from the road I was trying to get to and that my husband was looking for me all night and found my tire tracks and was able give a better idea of where I was, which was between Emerald Valley and Old Stage road in a valley. Jesse was amazingly accurate that I would keep moving towards the road, and it’s wonderful that he knew me well enough to help pinpoint my location. I feel so very fortunate.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">The amazing Search and Rescue people were prepared with warm clothes and a sleeping bag and because of how swollen my tib/fib was and the concussion a bunch more people came and they wheeled me out of the trail to an ambulance and to Penrose Hospital. I almost had to stay the night to have my kidneys flushed, luckily after a bag of fluid in the ambulance and two more at the hospital, my labs improved and I was able to go home with a new appreciation and zest for living and enjoying life.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">That is perhaps the most positive aspect of this unwanted adventure, is a fresh perspective about what matters and what does not matter. I also learned a lot of lessons about making solid plans, sharing those locations with someone and not just going for random rides. I thought about the potential of crashing and being really hurt and it took only one night cold with no clothes to stay warm to learn that it is really unsafe to go out alone and not tell anyone where I am going. I also learned that it’s worth it to carry a few tools with me as things can always happen.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span class="text_exposed_show">It was not a good experience, however, I feel like a better person from drawing positive learning experiences from this ordeal. I never wish to be lost with no supplies again and needing the assistance of a rescue crew. It was very irresponsible of me and I deeply regret having made the poor choice to adventure alone without telling anyone where I was going. Fortunately, the rescue crew was incredibly helpful and professional and got me out of the woods. I can’t thank everyone enough for their efforts to help me avoid another night out there. I feel very grateful to all people who took time to look for me. Thanks again to everyone, I promise to never do this again!<br/> --Alicia H. Jakomait, 10/1/13</span></span></p> Plan to ride in the inaugural CASA Bike for Hope, July 30tag:pikespeaksports.us,2011-06-21:5021591:Topic:1630002011-06-21T20:37:56.000ZTim Bergstenhttp://pikespeaksports.us/profile/TimBergsten
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656411298?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656411298?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> Please join us for the inaugural CASA Bike for Hope, a truly unique and challenging experience! Proceeds benefit CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Pikes Peak Region. <a href="http://www.casappr.org/">www.casappr.org</a></p>
<p>The ride begins at 6 a.m. July 30 at the corner of the Gold Camp Road and 26th St. in Colorado Springs. Riders will pedal up scenic Gold…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656411298?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656411298?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a>Please join us for the inaugural CASA Bike for Hope, a truly unique and challenging experience! Proceeds benefit CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of the Pikes Peak Region. <a href="http://www.casappr.org/">www.casappr.org</a></p>
<p>The ride begins at 6 a.m. July 30 at the corner of the Gold Camp Road and 26th St. in Colorado Springs. Riders will pedal up scenic Gold Camp Road for 38.8 miles finishing at a post-ride festival in Victor. Starting elevation is 6,400 feet. The route tops out at 10,150 feet.</p>
<p>The route is mostly uphill on a gravel road, so bring your mountain bike, or other suitable ride.</p>
<p>Registration is $85 through June, and $95 beginning July 1. On-site registration will also be available. Your registration fee to participate in the ride includes: A T-shirt, rider support, an information packet and a ticket to the post ride festival in Victor, Colo. The festival ticket includes: food, beverages, vendor/sponsor booths, entertainment, children's activities, and historical tours.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bikereg.com/events/register.asp?eventid=13412" target="_blank">Click here to register</a></p>
<p>A Beer Garden sponsored by the Victor Fire Department will have beer available for purchase. Have your family and friends join you in Victor for the post ride festival - additional festival tickets can be purchased for $10 each on the registration page.</p>
<p>CASA of the Pikes Peak Region is a nonprofit organization that trains and supervises volunteers to represent the best interests of victims of child abuse, neglect, and severe domestic conflict. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children in court and in the community. CASA has served about 5,000 children since the program's inception in 1989.</p>
<p>The desired result is that children be placed in safe, loving homes where they can thrive. CASA of the Pikes Peak Region aims to provide a volunteer advocate for every child who needs one. Your support will bring us one step closer.</p>
<p>Thanks and we'll see you on July 30.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656412524?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2656412524?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750"/></a></p>
<br/>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>