I feel very lucky to be alive. I've often wondered if we were lucky to encounter an avalanche when we did, since we may have both been buried later in the day.
I think my recovery is about as complete as it's going to get. Five years and I still have double vision - I don't think it's going away.
Happy to have you around these past 5 years. I thought maybe I was getting faster. No matter, we've had some good ones since. Good to hear the story directly from you.
Glad you're both still around. The survival story is incredible in and of itself, but the recovery is what's inspiring to me. Not many people are able to "get back on the horse" like that. Thanks for the write up and I hope to run into you soon.
Joe,
Thanks for taking time to write up your story. I have always wondered every time I'm on the final few feet of the Pfeifferhorn "how did he survive that?". Your motivation and determination are inspiring to me and many others. Thanks for sharing your story!
Randy
Cool to hear this in first person Joe, and that you got right back out in the Wasatch so quickly after it happened. I can't imagine what that would be like to go over those cliffbands up there like that! Guess it's a good thing you don't remember.
Cool to see you on Olympus today! Likely we'll cross paths up there again soon. Thanks again for sharing this! Cory.
I remember exactly when this happened. Glad you both survived, which to me is amazing. I've never hiked with you but met you a bit before the stream crossing on Olympus once. You ended up spending the night on the summit that day. I'll see you again.
I only breifly met you once on a snowshoe up Lone years ago. It is noce to finally hear a 1st hand account of this. Believe it or not you were somewhat of an early influence for me in hiking through some of your innovative route pages and endless summits of Olympus among others. I was naive and blown away at how many times you had done certain routes and it got me to do certain climbs I would have never done otherwise and to think about routes in a new way. Thanks again and keep on summiting!
Dmitry Pruss - Nov 27, 2011 11:11 am - Voted 10/10
Happy Thanksgiving!
For I think it is a true Thanksgiving story, about those interlocking puzzle pieces of luck and determination which make one being alive, and thankful for it.
I haven't been to Pfeifferhorn after your accident, and probably won't ever visit again, but this mental picture continues to give me strength when the odds are stacked against me. Thanks Gristle!
Brian looks like he's done a couple of rounds with Muhammad Ali in one of those shots.
A timely warning for us as we head out to the NZ alps this week. After recent weather conditions windslab does appear to be a very likely problem. We'll bear your cautionary tale in mind.
ZeeJay - Nov 21, 2011 1:26 pm - Voted 10/10
You da man!You've made an incredible comeback since your accident. The local mountaineering scene just wouldn't be the same without you.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 22, 2011 11:38 am - Hasn't voted
Re: You da man!Thanks Judy ....
lcarreau - Nov 22, 2011 11:26 am - Voted 10/10
Seriously ..So many people do not survive the traumatic events of an avalanche.
Best of luck for a complete recovery, and kudos for your courage.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 22, 2011 11:41 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Seriously ..I feel very lucky to be alive. I've often wondered if we were lucky to encounter an avalanche when we did, since we may have both been buried later in the day.
I think my recovery is about as complete as it's going to get. Five years and I still have double vision - I don't think it's going away.
Matthew Van Horn - Nov 22, 2011 1:20 pm - Voted 10/10
The storyHappy to have you around these past 5 years. I thought maybe I was getting faster. No matter, we've had some good ones since. Good to hear the story directly from you.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 22, 2011 2:56 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: The storyNo Matt - you've been getting faster. I've gotten slower this year, but it's because of house projects.
Mooner - Nov 22, 2011 2:12 pm - Voted 10/10
Good to know yeaNice write up Joe. I'm sure glad to have yea around.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 22, 2011 2:57 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Good to know yeaThanks Jake ....
Travis Atwood - Nov 22, 2011 6:34 pm - Hasn't voted
JoeGlad you're both still around. The survival story is incredible in and of itself, but the recovery is what's inspiring to me. Not many people are able to "get back on the horse" like that. Thanks for the write up and I hope to run into you soon.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 23, 2011 7:58 am - Hasn't voted
Re: JoeThanks Travis -
It took a long time to "get back on the horse". I did very little in 2007, and it wasn't until 2008 that I really began to hike with gusto again.
rmjwinters - Nov 23, 2011 3:06 pm - Hasn't voted
ThanksJoe,
Thanks for taking time to write up your story. I have always wondered every time I'm on the final few feet of the Pfeifferhorn "how did he survive that?". Your motivation and determination are inspiring to me and many others. Thanks for sharing your story!
Randy
Joseph Bullough - Nov 24, 2011 12:38 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ThanksThanks Randy -
I have the same feeling when I look down those cliff bands.
Wasatch Summits - Nov 23, 2011 9:53 pm - Voted 10/10
Great write up.Cool to hear this in first person Joe, and that you got right back out in the Wasatch so quickly after it happened. I can't imagine what that would be like to go over those cliffbands up there like that! Guess it's a good thing you don't remember.
Cool to see you on Olympus today! Likely we'll cross paths up there again soon. Thanks again for sharing this! Cory.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 24, 2011 12:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great write up.Thanks Cory -
Good to see you on Olympus also. I'm glad you said something or I would have walked right past you.
Bignick - Nov 24, 2011 12:15 am - Hasn't voted
ThanksI remember exactly when this happened. Glad you both survived, which to me is amazing. I've never hiked with you but met you a bit before the stream crossing on Olympus once. You ended up spending the night on the summit that day. I'll see you again.
Joseph Bullough - Nov 24, 2011 12:42 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: ThanksThanks Nick -
I remember that day on Olympus also, although I'd forgotten I was on my way to an overnighter. I've been thinking about doing that again this year.
apachedino - Nov 26, 2011 8:10 pm - Hasn't voted
ThanksI only breifly met you once on a snowshoe up Lone years ago. It is noce to finally hear a 1st hand account of this. Believe it or not you were somewhat of an early influence for me in hiking through some of your innovative route pages and endless summits of Olympus among others. I was naive and blown away at how many times you had done certain routes and it got me to do certain climbs I would have never done otherwise and to think about routes in a new way. Thanks again and keep on summiting!
Dmitry Pruss - Nov 27, 2011 11:11 am - Voted 10/10
Happy Thanksgiving!For I think it is a true Thanksgiving story, about those interlocking puzzle pieces of luck and determination which make one being alive, and thankful for it.
I haven't been to Pfeifferhorn after your accident, and probably won't ever visit again, but this mental picture continues to give me strength when the odds are stacked against me. Thanks Gristle!
alpinedon - Nov 27, 2011 1:34 pm - Voted 10/10
WowGlad you made it!
dadndave - Nov 27, 2011 6:08 pm - Voted 10/10
JeezeBrian looks like he's done a couple of rounds with Muhammad Ali in one of those shots.
A timely warning for us as we head out to the NZ alps this week. After recent weather conditions windslab does appear to be a very likely problem. We'll bear your cautionary tale in mind.
Glad you came out of it OK