Snowmobiling in the Mountains Before the Accident

Last Stop Before The Accident

Last Stop

2nd to last stop

Icicles abound this winter in Southern New England  

A young child we saw at lunch prior shoveling for an hour

The first image was the last stop before what I thought was finishing up a couple of hours of my 2nd day of snowmobiling 3 weeks ago on my birthday. It was so pretty to be in the woods on a snowmobile and it was a lot of fun riding. 

The temperatures were below 0 and it was around 4:30 before dusk. There was a fresh foot of snow from the previous evening. A bit different since the last New Hampshire trip.

All I had to do was cross a little street and be done in 10 minutes. When I began the cross another sled was headed my way and I did not make the trail. 

My friend, an expert snowmobiler told me to push the throttle to make it over a small snowbank. The throttle was harder on this machine from the prior day so I pushed it really hard.

Within seconds I knew I had gone airborne and there wasn't anything I could do. I remember thinking "Oh shit" and then before I knew it I was up about 30 ft. before falling into a ravine near a rock. 

I do not remember the fall or trees I hit coming down. I just remember the numbing sounds of silence and wondering if I would be found and started to scream for help.    

My friend found me within 5 minutes after flagging people passing by for help. I knew my left arm was broken and that I could at least move my legs. It took over 30 minutes to be lifted out on board in basket as hyperthermia and shock began. 

I could not believe the results at the first hospital as they had to transfer me to a trauma center an hour away. Not only did I break the arm - but the shoulder blade, wrist and 10 ribs along with a few other injuries.

3 weeks have passed and I feel lucky to be alive. I saw the jacket and pants last night for the first time since and the tree marks are on them mostly on the left side where the injuries are. 

People ask if I would do it again. I quickly answer yes. I learned last year how quickly lives passes  us by and since have wanted to live life fully. 

One of the doctors at the trauma center commented how many people come in with injuries or death by doing mundane things and how much better it is if you are doing something you enjoy or are having fun. I think he's right.

Did you do anything fun this year in the snow? 

Would you go again if you were me?