“It’s gonna get a little hot and a little dusty in here.” That was the warning from our bus driver as we pulled down the dirt road that led to our start.

Dusty it certainly was. Within minutes we were sitting in a fog as we waited to exit and prepare for day 4.

A photo of the finish

It was a good day. The gun went off at noon. Jeff and I started at the back of the pack (thanks to someone’s last minute bathroom run… ahem… not mine) making our way towards the mIddle. I rode strong up the fIrst long clImb, along side of the second place sponsored ladies team and past the teams that were walking. The first climb was the most significant double track hIll of the day, taking almost an hour.

We had several stream crossings today. Wet feet were unavoidable- an unfortunate combination of wet shoes and camping (where things are harder to dry).

We also had several injuries today. Riders were sliding out along the loose gravel and endoing over the large rocks that were spread over much of the single track.

Jeff and I stopped to aid the 6th place co-ed team. (The second time in a month where I’ve been thankful of my WFR knowledge!) The woman had clipped her pedal on a stump hidden along the trail side. She flIpped over the handlebars and landed about 12 feet from where her bike hit. It was a fast downhill section about 8 km from the finish.

When we arrived, she was still lying in the trail. Two men had stopped to slow down traffic and her partner was by her side. No one seemed to know what to do.
Jeff arrived first; when I rolled up he look at me and (with a serious/ concerned tone) said something to the effects of, “you should do your thing.”

I dropped my bike, took off my pack, and proceded with a frIendly assessment  (askIng her not to move her head). FallIng at such a hIgh speed Is certaInly a mechanIsm for a broken back. She was cold (although covered with a space blanket) and had two serious problems. One, she was complaining of intense lower back pain (In her SwedIsh accent)… so much so, that she couldn’t lift up the 1/2 inch needed to get my space blanket under her. Secondly, her lower left leg was in so much pain that she wouldn’t let me remover her tall knee sock to look at the injury. (We left it on knowing that help would soon arrive.)

We kept her warm, povided reassurance, kept away the bugs, and had a constant hand on her sholder until first aid arrived… 45 minutes later! The paramedic (or whatever he was), couldn’t roll her to look at the back Injury. Her pain was too severe (… It was really bad). He started an IV drip with Morphine and trIed to reach continued care on the SAT phone. The helicopter or ambulance was standing by. He opted for the ambulance. A quad made it’s way to us (through a thigh high river crossing) and evacuated to the road. It was to be an extremely uncomfortable ride out for her. ( WIth a possible broken leg and potential kidney damage. I’m sure the MorphIne helped.)

An hour and twenty minutes later, Jeff and I made our way to the finish line ( and across that sketchy river crossing.) Keep your eyes peeled though… our river crossing photo may make the TransRockies Facebook page. (We saw ourselves on the slideshow tonight. Me carrying my own bike, but Jeff lending a hand. Aw.)

Now here we are in tent city at Little Elbow in Alberta. Day 4. what a day.