McGill McGot Him Again… Mikie is Down...

Voodoo Tom

Voodoo Tom

MTB Addict
Guys I don’t feel right posting this or know how to say it other than to just say it. Our buddy and fearless leader @Mikie went down hard last night on McGill trail. I don’t have too many details yet as to any injuries but I know for sure he took a helicopter ride and an ambulance ride and spent the night in the hospital. I suspect he will be just fine. When I know more I will update but in the meantime spill some imtbtrails love here for him and keep him in your thoughts and prayers for a quick and full recovery. Please DO NOT try call or text him or Cathy as I’m sure neither got any sleep at all. If I find out you did I will use my Voodoo super powers and break your bike in half, trust me.
 
About 7:40 last night I got a call from @Mikie. He said he was on the lower section of McGill and had crashed and thinks he hit a tree and was stuck in his pedal. He said he was OK and could move but was in a lot of pain and could not get loose from his pedal and needed help. I made a mad dash and threw some gear and lights and my bike in the truck. As I started out the driveway I thought ok so if he’s hurt bad at all wtf am I going to be able to do by myself other than keep him company and keep him warm. I made a couple quick phone calls to some friends. My father in law owns the pizza parlor in Frazier and on Wednesdays there is always an informal meeting with the local 4wd club there. Several of the members are also members of the local search and rescue group and a couple are Kern county fireman so I called on some troops knowing they could probably get to him quicker than I would. Took me about 35 minutes to get to the base of Pinos doing about 85mph the whole way. I talked to Mikie a couple times on the way so he knew help was coming. Just before I got there my phone rang and my fireman buddy Kenny said he had already found Mikie and he was OK and they would work on getting him out. By this time there were tons of fire engines and ambulance personnel already there and waiting as well as the local search and rescue group mobilizing. A couple minutes later Cathy pulled up and we just tried to figure out what we should do and where we should be. I really did not expect a full blown rescue effort especially so darn fast. I just thought I may be able to get a couple locals to help me get him out of there. Apparently he was about ¾ mile below McGill campground and the fire personnel opted to call in the helicopter to lift him out rather than trying to hike him out on a gurney. The helicopter took him to the “Y” parking lot where the ambulance was waiting as were Cathy and I. He seemed good and was perfectly coherent and talked to Cathy for a minute before being transported by the ambulance. As I was rolling home about 11:30pm my phone rings and it’s Mikie calling me from the back of the ambulance just to say thanks. He’s a heck of a tough dude and such a great friend. That phone call tells me he will be just fine. That’s all I know for now and when I know more FACTS I will update. Again please DO NOT try to contact him or Cathy. I’ll let you know when the time is right.

Helicopter ride...
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Then an ambulance ride...
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And then a pic of him all doped up sent to me from Cathy...
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What the?!

Thanks for the quick thinking and acting, VT. It's a boon to have a pal like you. Good work!!!!!

Mikie! Ya renegade kid in a man's body...or would that be George of the Jungle? Watch out for that tree! Mostly, get well soon with complete recovery. Take it easy!

And get yerself a PLB, man. Out of phone reception would not have been pretty. Luck worked for ya here; don't count on that every time.
 
scottay said:
Bummer deal! Was lucky cell phone worked....
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So true and for me, one of the reasons I refuse to stray from Verizon. I may pay more but 95% of the time out in the sticks, those of us with Verizon are the ones that have a signal. If I was riding solo in remote areas, I’d have to look into getting a PLB. I should get one anyway but technology and I generally don’t play well together. Healing vibes sent to @Mikie who needs to get ready for Downieville
 
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Guys I didn't do anything other than come to my senses and make a couple phone calls real quick. One of them just happened to be the right call. I lived in Frazier Park for almost 40 years and being a small town you pretty much know the right people. I can tell you though that I owe a few old pals up there some ice cold beer for jumping right on it.
 
mtbMike said:
If I was riding solo in remote areas, I’d have to look into getting a PLB. I should get one anyway but technology and I generally don’t play well together.
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You don't do anything other than sign up with NOAA for free and pull your beacon when you need it. You never have to touch a computer; fill out the paper form and every two years update your info on the phone. <$300 for a PLB, no other cost.

Voodoo Tom said:
Guys I didn't do anything other than come to my senses and make a couple phone calls real quick.
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No deflections, humble guy. You owned it and made it happen, straight up. Your buds were instrumental in the heavy lifting, but you were the key.
 
Oh Sh!t!!! :eek: :thumbsdown::poop:

Great work Tom to get the posse rallied so quickly. I am so glad @Mikie had cell reception and was conscious. Mt. biking can go really bad in a hurry, I just hate it when one of us has to prove it!

Mikie, you are a strong MoFo in mind, body, spirit and heart. Healing rays, postitive vibes, thoughts, prayers, mojo and everything else positive headed through the ether to you. Your community is here for you.:inlove:

As for the rest of us, get your locator beacons for lonely solo rides!
 
Hey fellers,
Doped up and awake now.
Thank you for the well wishes! There may be a few mispelled words.
Was having an amazingly fun ride. Did not see it coming but had a huge pedal strike on a big rock that catapulted me off the trail and I hit a tree head on. I think the contact points was the back of my head and right shoulder blade as I arched over the bars. It happened lightning fast, bam! Done. I must have fractured my pelvis when I hit the ground. I thought I broke my neck.

Laying there I did a quick what has feeling check and saw relatively everything worked. I thought I broke some upper ribs on the front and back but did not.

I was laying face up on the down side of the trail with my left foot locked in my pedal and excruciating pain in my right groin (the pelvic fracture). Could not move. Started getting scared.

Wiggled my cell phone out and had 3 bars. Called Cathy but she was at Church. Called @Voodoo Tom as I know he grew up here and his Dad was on search and rescue.

Tom made it happen as Tom ALWAYS makes it happen.

Waiting for the first responders, I began to panic, so I forced the bike to flip over as I screamed and cried and got unhooked from my pedal and worked myself into a sitting position and just shivered and waited. I was getting cold and the shivers were becoming violent and out of control, possibly Shock was setting in.
Search and Rescue guys found me first on Mountain Bikes. By this time it was pitch black.

Things get hazy here. 7 maybe 10 headlamps shining down in my face, A thousand blood pressure checks concerned my blood pressure was too low, shivers like I was in shock.
Tried to stand me but that was not going to happen based on my right hip. I screamed like a banshee when the guy tried to stand me up. I was embarrassed.

Called in the choppah! Pain IV and they loaded me in a basket. Dropped me at the Y.

Two pelvic fractures and some very bruised ribs. Was going to need surgery for internal bleeding but the bleeding stopped in the pelvic area. In the hospital I now have to prove I can walk (which I now understand to mean take 3steps with a walker) to get to go home.
Keep you guys posted
 
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Mikie said:
Hey fellers,
Doped up and awake now.
Thank you for the well wishes! There may be a few mispelled words.
Was having an amazingly fun ride. Did not see it coming but had a huge pedal strike on a big rock that catapulted me off the trail and I hit a tree head on. I think the contact points was the back of my head and right shoulder blade. I must have fractured my pelvis when I hit the ground. I thought I broke my neck.

Laying there I did a quick what has feeling check and see everything worked. I thought I broke some upper ribs on the front and back but did not.

I was laying face up on the down side of the trail with my left foot locked in my pedal and excruciating pain in my right groin (the pelvic fracture). Could not move. Started getting scared.

Wiggled my cell phone out and had 3 bars. Called Cathy but she wad at Church. Called @Voodoo Tom as I know he grew up here and his Dad wad on search and rescue.

Tom made it happen as Tom ALWAYS makes it happen.

I began to panic, so I forced the bike to flip over as I screamed and cried and got unhooked from my pedal and worked my into a sitting position and just shivered and waited.
Search and Rescue guys found me first on Mountain Bikes. By this time it was pitch black.

Things get hazy here. A thousand blood pressure checks, shivers like I was in shock.
Tried to stand me but that was not going to happen based on the tight hip.

Called in the choppah! Pain IV and they loaded me in a basket. Dropped me at the Y.

Two pelvic fractures and some very bruised ribs. Was going to need surgery for internal bleeding but that id all clear now. I have to prove I can walk out of here to go home.
Keep you guys posted
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Holy guacamole, brother – glad things came together like they did. From here, you know the drill, just follow protocol. Good outcome considering possibilities.

Holler if I can do anything other than continuing to post like there's no tomorrow on IMTBT :)
 
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