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Stuck at the Bottom of a Steep, Slick River Bank and Out of Cell Phone Range

Ok, folks, this is kind of a "saving face" semi-survival story and test. A couple of weeks ago, I went spring Salmon fishing on Oregon's Wilson River, a tributary of the Pacif.ic Ocean. As I drove the highway along the river looking for good fishing holes with easy access, I discovered most of these spots were already taken or only accessible through posted private property. Finally, I found a spot that looked promising, but the bank access was steep, gravelly, slick and wet from recent rainfalls. (Spring in Oregon - you gotta luv it, right?) Narrowly focused on making that first cast into the river, and forgetting that I'm almost 70, I decided the "iffy" path down, which was lined with grass and brush, was going to require some careful progress, but my lugged-sole hikers would keep out of trouble as long as I stayed on the driest side of this "water slide."

HOW WRONG COULD ONE RETIRED ENGINEER BE? Thinking I could use a switchback approach for descending, I grabbed my gear in one hand and started down this steep, unforgiving path. I had descended about 2 yards on muddy and rocky ground that was a heckuvalot wetter than it had looked; I stepped on a relatively flat rock and BOOM, I was careening downhill on my butt and side thinking, "OK, I'm definitely in trouble here. The river's high and there's not much of a bench at the bottom of this ride. Get ready to join those Salmon!" I plummete down the path, shredding my pants on the sharp rocks, and gouging my right hip in a few places as I went. Instantly, it seemed, I hit the bench at the bottom and stopped abruptly. After that, I fished a little, but my heart wasn't really in it and the fish weren't biting, so packed up and started up the path.

NOW FOR THE "SURVIVAL TEST" PART OF THIS TALE! I took my tackle box and pole in one hand, and put my left foot forward for my first step up. Those lugged soles on my boots? They were almost as effective as furniture moving pads, and I got absolutely no traction on my first step. So I tried stepping up to another, drier spot. SAME RESULT! After a few more "first steps", it hit me: This is going to be UGLY! AND IT WAS! Every upward step was a challenge and a risk of rocketing back down the slope, so I rested about 10 feet up the 50-foot bank, and considered my options. After catching my breath, realizing how old I had gotten, and worrying about my wife at home alone and how late I might be getting home, I gritted my teeth and eyeballed every possible dry, rocky foot-hold in sight. I also checked for brush I could grab onto, and it was all too small to trust my life to. So I thought about looking for a new path somewhere up and down the river, but I was trapped by rock outcroppings on both sides, and the path I had was my ONLY PATH. I concluded that I was going to have take some risks, and start rock climbing on wet granular rock and outcroppings. After a lot of sweating, panting, cursing, and reaching the limit of the strength in my legs several times, I SLOWLY MADE IT TO THE TOP!

HOW WOULD YOU HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF THIS JAM???

Tags: Climbing, Fishing, Hiking

1 member likes this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by James Cole on April 28, 2011 at 10:11

First, your life is worth more than the gear you are carrying, so leave it or rope it up with your fishing line so that you can pull it up after you are safely at the top.

Second, cut two sticks, 3 to 4 feet long (I did read there was brush, right?) using the sticks and keeping them on the down slope side of your feet, sidestep up the slope by stabbing the sticks into the ground. If you are lucky enough to find sticks with a branch to put your foot in/on it will make the climb easier since you'll be using your legs to stab the sticks into the ground rather then your upper body.

Or using two sharpened stick like ice picks, creep up the slope on your belly, pushing with you feet and pulling with your arms. Not pretty, but we are talking survival aren't we?

Jim

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on April 28, 2011 at 13:14

Excellent advice, James! In my original posting, I forgot to mention that the average slope of the path was probably 55 to 60 degrees from the horizontal, which should have been a clue to me to avoid it, but at my age it's easy to overestimate what I can do physically. I thought about leaving my gear at the bottom, and almost did, but thought I could make the climb carrying it. Your idea of cutting the 2 sticks didn't occur to me, but remember I said the brush was very small? Well, that was true of all the brush that I could get to between the rock outcroppings on both sides of my fishing spot, so there was no way to get to bigger brush to cut for climbing poles. Probably my worst handicap was those lugged-soled boots I was wearing, because the rubber in the soles was very hard and had hardly any flexibility in them. One of the first things I did when I got home was to buy a good pair of hunting boots. Thanks for giving me some good options!

Regards,

Terry

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on April 28, 2011 at 21:37

Terry, that's a great story, at the end of it you finally said the right answer as to what to make it a little easer to get out of. I am no expert, thats for sure. I have no TV program that will help you survive. I have spent alot of time in the outdoors and have found the best thing you can do is slow down. Stop and think of every move you make. I think you did just fine but go a little slower next time and make every decission count.

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on April 28, 2011 at 21:46

Thanks, Robert. I appreciate the kind words and great advice regarding surviving my slippery slope adventure.

Regards,

Terry

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by D ale on April 28, 2011 at 21:58

yuppers .. panic 'll get a person quicker than a serious circumstance .. "Best of Advice" there Robert !!!!!!!

Robert Burris said:

... the best thing you can do is slow down. Stop and think ...

...

.............. and certainly glad ya made it outta there Terry !!!!!!!!!

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on April 29, 2011 at 0:56

Thanks, Dale. I was glad I made it out of there, too. The Wilson River was running deep and very fast, and was about 40 - 45 degrees F. Probably the scariest thing that crossed my mind going both downhill and back up was the image of sliding down that path so fast that I would bounce on the little bench at the bottom, then rocket into the river and die almost immediately by drowning or of hypothermia! Scary stuff, indeed!

Permalink Reply by James Cole on April 29, 2011 at 9:55

Terry, we old guys (I'm 71) have to use our minds to solve problems such as this. As a 17 year old farmboy I'm sure I could have about floated out of that position, however more than a half century later I no longer have that strength, flexibility, agility, or endurance. After re-reading your post, I have determined that you were in a very bad situation and I'm happy that you kept you wits about you and worked your way out of it.

Stay safe.

JIm

Permalink Reply by stephen tungate on April 29, 2011 at 11:43

terry i am glad you got out of that jam.you got out and that is what count's.i think that you have took care of alot of that problem when you went and got a new pair of good boots.people need to know a good pair of boots could save your life as well.if you was able to get better traction to get up that slippery hill that no doubt would of helped in that situation.they also have rubber straps with spikes to put on the front of you boots to help going up and down slippery hills.that would be good to also throw in with tackle.you can pick them up at your local hikeing and camping store.just a thought maybe your story will help others and they will be a little better prepared on there next fishing or hiking trip.....

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on April 29, 2011 at 17:28

Terry, its easy for me to tell you what you should have done but when its you in the bad situation.....Well..what do they say "hindsight". Take care my friend.

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on April 29, 2011 at 23:23

Thanks, Stephen. Louis Pasteur once said, "Fortune favors the prepared mind." This quote seems to summarize your advice, as well some other members who have commented on my story. Pasteur's quote has been modified by others to say "Fortune favors the bold," "Fortune favors the brave," Fortune favors the strong," and some others. My version would be "Fortune favors the old fart who's prepared for the worst." Take care.

stephen tungate said:

terry i am glad you got out of that jam.you got out and that is what count's.i think that you have took care of alot of that problem when you went and got a new pair of good boots.people need to know a good pair of boots could save your life as well.if you was able to get better traction to get up that slippery hill that no doubt would of helped in that situation.they also have rubber straps with spikes to put on the front of you boots to help going up and down slippery hills.that would be good to also throw in with tackle.you can pick them up at your local hikeing and camping store.just a thought maybe your story will help others and they will be a little better prepared on there next fishing or hiking trip.....

Permalink Reply by Terry Waldele on April 29, 2011 at 23:35

Thanks, James. I've started to use my mind to prepare better for my next fishing trip. My gear will include more survival tools and a rucksack to carry my fishing and survival gear in. Also, next time I go fishing, the first thing I'm going to do when I get near the river is to find a good pole to use as a hiking staff. Thanks for your support!
James Cole said:

Terry, we old guys (I'm 71) have to use our minds to solve problems such as this. As a 17 year old farmboy , HI'm sure I could have about floated out of that position, however more than a half century later I no longer have that strength, flexibility, agility, or endurance. After re-reading your post, I have determined that you were in a very bad situation and I'm happy that you kept you wits about you and worked your way out of it.

Stay safe.

JIm

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