Bad Crash on Bear Claw Poppy Trail

[Sombeech]

We ride the Bear Claw Poppy Trail more than any trail down in Southern Utah. We can't count how many times we've been, it's just one of those "must rides" when we're down there, even several times per trip.

On top of that, each time we ride, we stop and play on the Three Fingers of Death multiple times before we continue on down the trail. The same goes for the Acid Drops, and again on Clavicle Hill. The ride takes maybe 20 minutes to blow straight through but we average about an hour and a half.

I say this because no matter how familiar you are with a trail, no matter how experienced of rider you are, things can go wrong. I can even hear myself chuckle on the video right before the crash and now I feel sick about it.

So anyway here's how it happened. We had been on the Zen Trail (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?41283-The-Zen-Trail) and Paradise Rim (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?41293-Paradise-Rim) the day before. We were going to start this day out with our favorite ride and then maybe head over to the JEM Trail later that afternoon.

@REDFOX (http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?u=130) @glasscutter (http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?u=1411) and I headed up to the trailhead for our first run of the day, planning which "finger" to ride down. Lately we've been choosing this middle, or 2nd finger. We start flying down and I'm following Mark. He takes a decent line, but somehow his feet lose the pedals. I see him trying to find them at the same time applying the brakes. When you can't find the pedals, you're obviously on the seat, so he couldn't brake in time and went over the drop while sitting down. This is ALWAYS a bad combination but there's nothing he could have done to redeem it.

I'm sure a bunch of different numbers are thrown out there judging the height of the drop, but here's a visual:



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Photo provided by:
http://www.dostgeorge.com/st-george-mountain-biking.html
and
http://www.atozion.com/utah/biking (http://atozion.com/utah/biking)


Funny, I'm googling images for "three fingers of death bear claw poppy", I see this one and wonder if I should use it, and then realize it's Shawn, Mark, and I in the photo from another previous time. Shawn's the one hitting the drop.

So.... Mark slams down HARD at the bottom. I'm right behind him with the camera rolling, I pull over asking if he's OK and we're just thinking he got the wind knocked out of him, he'll be up and riding in 5 minutes.

It quickly becomes obvious that this is not the case. After becoming clear that we are finished with the ride, I ride back to the truck parked down the road blocked by the gate.

I find a way to drive around the gate and I'm able to park the truck right up by the trailhead near the water tank. I make my way down to Mark and Shawn, which fortunately is only about 200 yards from the truck now. There are some others that have helped move Mark off of the trail for fear of being plowed into by another rider. This is when we should have called 911 but we were thinking we could just get him 200 yards up the trail to the truck, then be on our way to the hospital.

We couldn't even get him to his knees. Excruciating pain. I decided to go up to my truck where decent Cellular reception was and make the call to 911. They brought a truck with 4 guys, and we were able to haul him out on the board.

Currently, the damage is a severely broken Clavicle, and 7 broken ribs. He has internal bleeding and they've drained 1500 CCs of blood through a chest tube inserted between 2 of his broken ribs. He is still in the hospital in St George as of 11/16/2010 and we hear he might be released tomorrow.

Here's the video. It doesn't look that bad because we're both on the downward angle, but keep in mind he falls @13 feet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H00M3h9qKHI


Here are a few pictures....

Just minutes prior

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The swerving pattern of his front tire as it hit right below the drop

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Helmets... It's nice to have a rock NOT embedded in your skull. We saw two other riders go past us without helmets. :roll:

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Proceed with Caution....

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The X rays. Notice all of the criss crossing bones. :eek2:

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Clavicle bump - before surgery:
http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39498&d=1291101172


after surgery

http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39499&d=1291101202

http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39500&d=1291101207

http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=39501&d=1291101217

[Sombeech]

Here's the video from earlier this year, (http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?38067-Bear-Claw-Poppy-jan-2010) taking the same route.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKhh0oq5sC0&feature=player_embedded#at=107

[Pelon1]

Man I really hate those people riding the loop backwards:crazy:

[blueeyes]

Thanks for the report. I had wondered if you guys were able to get him off the trail with out assistance, which would mean it might not be as bad as it sounded. Wishful thinking... Sweet shirt Mark is wearing in the pic. :cry1: Sorry they had to cut if off.

Mark I have been sending healing vibes your way everyday at work as I look over that way. Hope you get out tomorrow and go home to heal!

Justin the pic you found on the internet. I remember that day riding with you guys. There was another fellow there watching with a nice camera, talked to him for a second but didn't get a name or anything. Funny finding that.

[REDFOX]

That is cool that you found that pic. I have been thinking about that drop and if I would ever do that again. I was trying to talk myself into launching it that same day. That is why I waited so long at the top. After what seemed like forever not seeing mark ride out from the base of the hill is when I followed the trail down to where I had last seen Justin and Mark. As soon as I arrived, I realized Mark was hurt bad. I will say this, Mark is one tough guy. I think that all 3 of us thought that he would limp his way back to the truck after resting for awhile. I think that Mark was testing his level of pain threshold. Looking back, I wish that we would have sought assistance sooner. I may just be speaking for myself, but I think that some of us might ride more conservatively for the next few rides. Get well soon Mark.

[asdf]

Man that sucks
I hope Mark is back on his feet soon.

[blueeyes]

For kicks I googled "three fingers of death" found the page you pulled that picture from. Mark is in three of the pictures used for this site. http://www.atozion.com/blog/?tag=bear-claw-poppy-trail Smile you are on candid camera.. guess ya never know when your pic is going to be posted out there in the interwebs.

[glasscutter]

Thanks for the concerns guys. Looking back at the short ride I still shake my head and wonder what happened. I know I took a line alittle more to the left than usual, but all I can think of was losing my pedals at which moment I lost total control. It happened so fast, but I wasn't going any faster than normal. Just goes to show that ya never know when it's gonna happen to you. Man, I didn't realize how long we sat trying to get me up and back to the truck. I heard Justin say something like 2 hours, it felt like 20 minutes to me. Sorry for holding you guys up so long. Goes to show, better safe than sorry, I think I'll be wearin more body armor from now on. Thanks again for the concerns and visits from everybody in St. George who came to the hospital and offered help. I love mountain biking, I'll be back asap.

[ibenick]

Hey, at least your back on the internet. :haha: Hope ya heal quickly!

[Ryan]

See you out there soon!

[greyhair biker]

Mark, it doesn't matter how many times you ride a trail - one day like you found it could be your turn to go down. Bounce back soon man - we'll ride!

[Sombeech]

I updated the original post to show the xrays. Mark is home and walking around a bit. He will have to go in and get his clavicle fixed tomorrow. I have the permission to post up the video so I'll get to that maybe tonight.

The chest tube removed @14 cups of fluid from his lung cavity.

[tanya]

Hoping you have a good Thanksgiving and your wife is giving you LOTS of TLC!!!!

~hug!

[accadacca]

I updated the original post to show the xrays. Mark is home and walking around a bit. He will have to go in and get his clavicle fixed tomorrow. I have the permission to post up the video so I'll get to that maybe tonight.

The chest tube removed @14 cups of fluid from his lung cavity.
14 cups! :eek2:

My wife said all those dark spots are the fluid in his lungs. He must have had a punctured lung?

[offpiste]

WOW! Glad to hear you got him out and to the hospital.

[Sombeech]

The video is uploaded

[accadacca]

YouTube? Must be something else and that's why I cant see it on this damned iPad. :angryfire:

[Sombeech]

this damned iPad. :angryfire:

blasphemy. :haha:

I added it to the original post, but I'll throw it down here too:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H00M3h9qKHI&feature=player_embedded

[accadacca]

Nasty man. :nono:

[theking648]

ipad :lol8: thats a baby toy :bootyshake:

[Babyhead]

Oh Mark, I am so sorry to hear about your crash. I wish you a solid recovery!

[Sombeech]

This might show a little better how far he fell.

http://www.bogley.com/forum/files/markclavicle.gif

[blueeyes]

I can not believe how hard he had to have hit to break knock himself out, break 7 ribs and his clavicle. I cringe with pain each time I watch it... you can't look away. :scared: Anyhoo glad he is home and on the mend.

[mfshop]

Thanks for posting that up in time for the holidays. Shared it with the family & they all really enjoyed it:wink:.

But seriously, glad glasscutter made it back home in time for some turkey. The crash doesn't look too bad, just a really bad landing I guess.

Not to TC, but who else has been injured while riding their bike? Other than some badly sprained ankles, wrists, fingers & a concussion, I've been pretty lucky so far. Since it's the season of sharing, let's hear about/see some more nasty x-ray/scar pics:mrgreen:

[Sombeech]

Not to TC, but who else has been injured while riding their bike? Other than some badly sprained ankles, wrists, fingers & a concussion, I've been pretty lucky so far. Since it's the season of sharing, let's hear about/see some more nasty x-ray/scar pics:mrgreen:

2 of my bad crashes have been on this trail. I've broken ribs on Clavicle hill, and I've had a contusion on my hip from the Acid Drops.


http://www.bogley.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=16816&stc=1&d=1194834857


Here's my cousin @shagster (http://www.bogley.com/forum/member.php?u=350) and his friends wiping out on the same area, a different drop:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9pWhwSEp4M

[REDFOX]

I don't have any pics or video of my worst crashes. In my late 20's I had several bad crashes on some downhill trails in the Bountiful area. In my early 30's I was riding alone at Deer Valley on the National race course and I crashed bad enough to have compound fractures in 1 vertebre in my neck and 2 in my back t3 and t4. It really doesn't make any sense that I now ride more agressive and I have done more extreme stunts by comparison than before. I like to prove to myself what my bike is capable of doing. I think that I justify some things because I usually don't ride alone anymore and I figure someone can call for help if needed. If I had crashed while doing some of the stunts while being taped, I probably would not be writing this now.

[mfshop]

Saw a fire truck parked at the top of green valley yesterday. Appears that clavicle hill took out another rider - read he got airlifted to DRMC. Sorry, no pics though...

[KanyonKris]

The x-rays made me cringe. Ouch! That's a lot of broken bones. Heal fast and heal well, Mark!

[chromehead58]

nothing better than to watch someone else wipe out..and not be hurt tooo bad...LOL..nice wipe out.

[Sombeech]

Here's Mark's "clavicle bump" before the surgery

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[Sombeech]

And no more bump

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[Sombeech]

YEOUCH! That looks painful
:dropmouth:

[tanya]

Oh MARK!!!! A man with stitches and scars is so SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hail2thechief::hail2thechief::hail2thechief::hail 2thechief::slobber::slobber::slobber:

[Sombeech]

Oh MARK!!!! A man with stitches and scars is so SEXY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :hail2thechief::hail2thechief::hail2thechief::hail 2thechief::slobber::slobber::slobber:

Where did I put that knife....

[tanya]

:wink: ~smooch!!

[lebleup]

Ouch! Oh man. My son and I have recently discovered Bear Claw Poppy. We've hit it 3 times in the past month. Great fun, but as the video shows, care must be taken. AND WEAR A HELMET!!! We actually saw a couple with 4 kids on bikes out there. Not one of them were wearing helmets. = recipe for a disaster.:nono:

[Sombeech]

Sounds like a similar accident just happened a week later, unless this was the same story that might have gotten a little sloppy with the source...

http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010101126018

ST. GEORGE – A 33-year-old male cyclist with broken bones was transported by helicopter to Dixie Regional Medical Center Friday after falling during a ride near Clavicle Hill.

St. George Police Officer Tyrell Gangerter said Las Vegas’ Mercy Air’s medical service helicopter was nearby when the cyclist fell around 3 p.m. and was able to reach the cyclist from the remote location of his fall.
“He had possibly broken ribs and collarbone,” Bangerter said. “Mercy landed and went en route to DRMC.”

[greyhair biker]

Hope you're healing well Mark. I was just thinking 'bout you today. I went over my crash in my head over and over...and over again to try to figure out what I'D done wrong too. it just takes a split second. I am constantly aware of my grip/footing/concentration now when I ride...it's kind of exhausting but you'll never forget. Get well soon man!:ride:

[Sombeech]

Mark emailed this to me today, his latest xray.

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[blueeyes]

Hey that kinda looks like they used a bike chain to put him back together. :haha: Sorta.. you could hallucinate that.

Keep healing Mark!

[accadacca]

Nice. How is he doing? Tell him to give us an update.

[Sombeech]

Nice. How is he doing? Tell him to give us an update.

Well we kinda left this hanging, but I think everybody knows that Mark is back in the saddle. He's actively biking and hitting the Snowbasin Mid Mountain races each week, trying to get me to join him :lol8: Mark's in great shape and can still climb better than me. His ribs are healing up kind of in the position that they broke, he wears his body armor most of the time now. Even a slight fall on the ribs could be disasterous.

Here's one of the latest vids this year up in the snowbasin area, Mark is on his new 29er in the blue shirt. (And I really wish I had the GoPro filming his crash rather than my old camera. Better than no footage of it at all I guess.)

http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?57743-Coldwater-Canyon-and-Sardine-Peak-Trails


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFocqRgK1ao

[blueeyes]

Mmmmmmmm. Love that trail. So happy to see Mark back in the saddle. :2thumbs:

[accadacca]

Garbanzo had a very similar injury in Moab this weekend...maybe he'll share the details in the motorcycling section. :2thumbs:

[blueeyes]

Oh no! You boys play to hard. Heal up fast Garbanzo.