In early January, Carl Natale, an avid winter hiker and MaineToday.com editor, was hiking up Wildcat Mountain in New Hampshire's White Mountains with an experienced party of MOAC friends. The group was on the Wildcat Ridge Trail, which leads from Carter Notch to the summit.

Part way up, the route crosses an open slide with a significant drop-off down toward the notch. It's one of those spots where you say to yourself, "Geez, I really wouldn't want to fall here." It makes you think, but then you gather yourself together, step carefully, and make your way across without incident.

On most days.

On this day, though, Carl started carefully across, but snagged a crampon, stumbled, and went flying. Downward. At a high rate of speed. And with his dog Burly sliding right behind him. The pair sailed down some 200-300 feet, over a 20-foot rock ledge and into the trees, narrowing missing some large boulders. All while the group at the top watched in horror.

Immediately, several of the group descended to Carl, while others went for assistance. Carl was found at the base of the cliff, alive, alert, but injured. A miracle, really, given such a fall! A group of physicians who were hiking in the area quickly arrived on the scene and began to administer care. Carl's group was quite first-aid knowledgable, but these guys were g-o-o-d! With help from the AMC hutmaster at nearby Carter Notch Hut, rescue operations were started. In all, though, it took 12 people more than 6 hours to package Carl up and evacuate to the trailhead, a distance of about 4 miles. There, Carl was rushed off to the hospital, to be treated for a broken femur and ankle.

I saw him for the first time since the accident at the MOAC meeting a week or so ago. He appears to be recovering well, thankfully. Of course, everyone wanted to know the details, so Carl very eloquently recounted the highlights to a hushed room of adventurers.

Rather than dwell on the incident itself, however, Carl focused on a few of the lessons that he learned from his brush-with-death day in the mountains. They're good ones. I took copious notes. You might want to to also.

Here they are, paraphrased from Carl:

1. Everybody who goes out in the woods should have some kind of first aid training. You've got to know what to do and how to get somebody out if they get hurt.

2. Carry a bivouac bag and sleeping bag in your group. It can take a looooong time to get somebody out of the woods. You need to have the means to keep an injured companion warm and dry during that time.

3. Carry hot liquids. Nalgene bottles filled with hot liquids (e.g. water, Gatorade) carried in insulated sleeves are essential for hydration and for providing critical, body-warming fluids in an emergency. A Thermos of hot tea or soup is an added bonus and may be a real lifesaver.

4. Hike with other people, experienced people. Potentially serious trouble can occur at any time, anywhere. You've got to have companions that are woods savvy who can handle emergency situations. And you've got to have numbers. Enough people to care for the injured, while others go for help.

5. Carry an insulated "sit-upon" pad to, well, sit on during rest breaks and for use in an emergency. Sitting on cold snow is silly and saps precious heat from your body. And for the injured, you must have a way of insulating them from the cold ground, especially when help is many hours off.

6. Luck. A little of this goes a long way for sure. How lucky are you when you take an ungodly screamer down a mountain, crunch yourself up pretty good, and there's six (count 'em) six doctors on the scene within minutes. Carl can tell you how lucky. Pretty damn lucky.

Every single one of these items came into big play during Carl's accident and rescue: First aid knowledge, bivy bag, sleeping bag, hot liquids, people of all experience levels, a foam pad, and a heavy dose of good luck.

Backcountry travel in winter ups the safety ante considerably. Remember that this happened only 4 miles from the road, not too far from a hut, and on a popular hiking trail on a weekend. Change these factors a little--a more remote destination, a mid-week day, a group of only two--and the outcome might be different.

Be safe. Be prepared. Be smart. Hook up with the experienced folks at the Maine AMC or MOAC or other outdoor club. Take a basic wilderness first aid course, like those from SOLO or Wilderness Medical Associates.

We're glad you're up and about Carl! And hoping for your quick and full recovery. And we're happy Burly came through okay too!