by Alina Rosenkranz |
On Halloween, senior Peter Luciano found himself in the perfect set-up for a horror movie.
After crashing on his mountain bike, Luciano was injured and alone in the woods.
Luciano hit his leg against cinderblock while mountain biking in Sandy Ridge near Mt. Hood and slipped into a turn that he was taking too fast. Despite recent weather conditions, his mountain bike was still equipped with summer tires.
“When I first hit my head, I was like, ‘Thank god I’m wearing a helmet,’” Luciano said. “And then my leg hurt and I looked down at my leg, and it’s dented. It was just a wide open spot.”
He hiked about one mile back to his car and drove himself 40 miles to the hospital. Despite being concerned about a possible concussion, he had no injuries aside from a gash on his leg that required stitches.
While Luciano’s injuries were minor in comparison to what could have happened, he is now encouraging other students to consider outdoor safety more carefully.
“If you’re gonna push the boundaries a little bit, you’ve got to make sure that you are with your friends, (that) you’re well prepared,” Luciano said.
One hundred and twenty-two people have died on Mt. Hood since 1883 from a variety of accidents, including skiing and hiking according to a report from The Oregonian. 43 of these fatalities have occurred in the last 15 years.
Nathan Hingley, director of Outdoor Pursuits, explained that preparation is the most important aspect of outdoor safety.
He suggests looking at the weather forecast, bringing a map, wearing an appropriate amount of layers, bringing water and food and planning your route and the time it will take thoughtfully. This applies to mountain biking, hiking, skiing, climbing or any other outdoor activity.
At Outdoor Pursuits, students can rent supplies to help them be fully prepared like backpacks, tents, sleeping bags, backpacking stoves, sleeping mats, pot sets and snowshoes. Equipment rental fees vary.
“Each semester we also offer an 'intro trip,' which focuses on backcountry skills, such as how to pack a backpack, how to set up a tent, how to use the cookers,” Hingley said.
Sprained or twisted ankles are the most common injury Hingley sees in his job, often caused by wearing the wrong footwear while hiking. He also pointed out that for sports like skiing, it’s crucial to know your limits.
In case of an injury, Hingley suggests taking a moment to assess the situation in order to make rational decisions.
“Just that (moment to) stop and think and evaluate where you’re at, so that (everything) calms down,” Hingley said. “Let that adrenaline just go through the body a little bit. Just take that second to see where you’re at.”
Several resources beyond The Bluff provide safety information that can be crucial to successful adventuring. Portland Mountain Rescue lists conditions reports as well as emergency contact information. Next Adventure is an outdoor store in Portland that also provides information about outdoor safety on their website and blog and also has supplies for rent.
Alina Rosenkranz is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at rosenkra17@up.edu.
