They are strangers, but they're strangers who woke up that morning knowing they'd be helping some dumb hiker like myself! They totally deserve my appreciation, though. They worked just as hard to get me out! Things I did right: I let people know where I'd be and when I'd be back. I researched the hike and knew what the weather would be like (even if this changed later). Up until I broke my leg, I was moving responsibly through the canyon. Things I did wrong: I didn't have a buddy - I was travelling solo, and I went off on my own. BIG, huge, glaringly horrendous mistake. I didn't have a first-aid kit with bandages in it, just ibuprofen and stuff for blisters. I could've really used more material to make a better splint!Question: what would you do differently the next time, other than not jump off the boulder?
Honestly traveling solo doesn’t seem like such a huge mistake here. You traveled on a highly populated path at a good time with decent weather. Something happened and other people were close by, I doubt having a travel buddy would have made any significant difference.
That's actually a fair point - The crisis itself wouldn't have been any different if I had someone there, but the trip to the ER and journey home would've been simpler. I had to Uber from the ER back to my AirBnB (expensive), and my dad actually flew out to drive our car home and help me make a flight back in time to talk to an orthopedic surgeon. Having a friend along would've simplified things for me after the splint was set :)