Re creating Hugh Glass more realistic than I had planned
Sept 3, 2013 18:11:35 GMT -7
Post by Dan'l Hickham on Sept 3, 2013 18:11:35 GMT -7
Well, recreating the Hugh Glass ride - turned out to be more realistic than I had planned - I left late morning on Saturday and within 20 minutes was caught in a thunderstorm - waited that out in a grove of cottonwoods - once that had passed I began the ride - my plan was to ride to the headwaters of the Grand River where Hugh Glass was mauled during the era - it was a pleasant ride - two river crossings went off without a hitch - about 4-6 miles in my horse got spooked by a rattlesnake and he bucked and reared and took off like a shot - I stayed on for about 30 yds but then all hell broke loose - and I hit the ground really hard - the impact was enough to rip the stitching off my canteen cover and I ended up in a heap on the ground - extra water, bedroll, saddlebags still on my horse - whats worse I was hurt pretty bad - I suffered a concussion and broken neck - the first 3 hours of the ordeal are not clear in my mind - as I was vomiting and every time I moved my head spun and I was get dizzy and could do nothing but lay helpless on the ground - my loyal jack russell Goose stayed by my side and probably saved my life - nearly dark I heard coyotes uncomfortably close - I managed to find my rifle nearby and after checking it best I could I primed it - in case I had to defend myself against the coyotes - the night passed with me getting intermittent rest but it was a cool night - I had on two linen overshirts but not much else and the temps dipped into the low 50s - I shivered miserably all night - I came up with a plan near nightfall I was able to stand up with the help of my rifle and I determined to walk out if possible - had my horse come close enough - he would not come to me - I am sure I would have shot him just to get my bedroll and extra water and food and waited for rescue - since rescue would likely not be there for at least another 24 hrs - I had already spent 16 hours laying on the prairie - I knew if I did not walk out I would likely die out there, When daybreak came I pulled myself along and using my rifle as a walking stick took every agonizing step on my way out of there - 7 hours later I found myself on the road and at a house where someone took me to Isabel were I had signal for my cell phone my son met me in Isabel and took me to Mobridge Hospital - I spent two days getting rehydrated and my neck is in a brace - my injuries are a pretty badly messed up toe and foot and a fractured C2 vertebrea imy neck - I think after this ordeal I have a better understanding of how tough Hugh Glass was and how helpless he must have felt
