8/1/21 Had a good night at the October Mountain Shelter. Weather was cool and cloudy with storms expected in the afternoon. Got some trail magic just after beginning our hike with soda,snacks and even some bags of raw vegetables like carrots and green peppers. Shortly after that Laurie slipped in a bog with muddy conditions landed on her outstretched extended right wrist hearing a crack. She immediately felt like she broke it. A camp group that had stayed next to us at the October shelter came up from behind. One of the counselors had some gauze got a stick and wrapped the area to try and immobilize her right wrist. This happened and we watched. Embarrassing as she is an MD (radiologist) myself an internist. Fortunately she wasn’t having much pain. It was obviously swollen. I suspected a distal radial fracture as I had this in my early 20’s. She is a “trooper” and we continued to hike but still had at least 8 miles to get to where her camper was parked. We got to a paved road shortly and given the length of the hike we had left and possible thunderstorms coming in we decided she should get to a medical facility after getting to that road. Called for a shuttle I waited with her and within 20 minute she was off to Berkshire Hospital ER. I continued to hike to the camper being in touch with her by phone. She told me she indeed had a distal radial fracture and ER MD was going to try and reduce it with a block and let it hang with weights. I got to the camper after the trail led me thru the town of Dalton, Mass. Took a few pictures and saw. Cottontail rabbit in someone’s front yard.Once at the camper which I am not comfortable driving drove to the ER. She just had repeat X-RAY which ER doctor thought showed good alignment. He was quite good and she was discharged with a soft cast on her right arm extending from the nearly the whole hand except a few fingers to well above the elbow. Laurie took all of this to heart and said she was still glad she went hiking. I felt just terrible it had happened. She can’t drive and how is she going to get home to Maryland. She was scheduled to leave tomorrow AM and I was going to continue hiking. She was given a few Percocet to take with her for pain control.

8/2/21 I drove the camper last night to a nearby Walmart where you allowed to stay overnight. Laurie did well pain fairly well controlled. She called her daughter who can get ride here on Wednesday and Laurie was fine waiting until then. I could have driven her to Maryland but how would I get back. I didn’t want to leave her and she wanted to see how she would do on her own so I decided to slack pack and come back to the trailer in the afternoon. I got a ride about 15 miles up the trail just below summit of Mount Greylock. It was quite cool and foggy and I headed south. I passed several NOBO thru hikers I knew. Initially it was all down hill then flattened and went thru the town of Cheshire, Mass and took some pictures. Then climbed “The Cobbles” which had excellent views of the Hoosic River Valley, town of Cheshire and Mount Greylock. By then weather had cleared. Hiked back to Gulf Road where shuttle driver took me back to the camper at Walmart. Laurie had down just fine. I feel so bad that this all occurred but she is taking it all in stride and says she is retired and has nothing she has to do. Of note the Hobble Bush’s leaves are turning red indication that fall is just around the corner. Today is Piper’s birthday and she turned 4 yo. Hannah had taken her somewhere during the day. I miss her and I told Michele to give a big hug for me.