A Short Update: Healing will take time!

Well, its been a little over 3 weeks since I took a spill while #climbing #outdoors I just had my plaster cast removed and replaced with a lighter fiberglass cast. They examined my wounds, and the skin is healing as good as can be expected given the amount of trauma it recieved when my Tibia broke through the skin, and the 9 inch scar from the metal plates and pins are also mending well on the opposite side if my leg. Now its a matter of time to see how well my bones heal and how well my ankle will work with so much joint damage. I still have at least 3 more weeks before I can hope to get into a walking cast and then I have several weeks of therapy before I walk again. Some people have asked me, how do I feel about it happening, referring to my later in life passion for rock climbing. And I tell them this... I could've broken my ankle as easily by slipping on some ice while getting groceries to my car, but instead I got hurt doing something that I loved, pushing my limits while learning more about myself and feeling alive while doing it. I learned a lot that day, lessons I will take with me into the future. This summer I pushed myself, to get myself back into being the outdoor active person who loves exploring, hiking and adventure that i used to be when I was younger! I had a great year outdoors, and although I ended with a badly broken ankle, I got some of the best memories I could've asked for. And it goes along way to compensate for the last 20 years I feel I squandered away. I have combined my newly recent passion for climbing with a lifetime passion of #hiking into the best combination I could ask for! "See it, Hike it, Climb it" #seeithikeitclimbit #noregrets #olyo #healing #fracture #thinkpositive

A photo posted by Jeffrey Corey Locke (@lockeoutdoors) on Dec 2, 2016 at 2:06pm PST

Locke"Indoors" Indoors?.. What?

Warning, *Maybe Graphic to some" Reader/viewer Discretion Advised 

Well, my first full day at home after being in the hospital for 6 days, after getting two surgeries to repair my compound fractures of both leg bones at my ankle! 6+ weeks of not being able to do anything adventurous.Sad Times

While on a short excursion last weekend I ended up taking a very short slip on some inclined slab. I slipped roughly 12 to 16 inches when my foot caught a ridge and effectively broke off my right foot!

Trust me, it was a pretty good surprise to me when it happened, as at first I thought I may have strained my ankle, and it was only when I looked down at where I was going to stand did I noticed my foot was not in its usual position!

EMS arrived roughly onsite 30 minutes later, and I was back down to the mobile unit about an hour after they arrived. It was a rough old slog!

By the time I got back to the closest hospital it was roughly 2 hours, where I then went under a series of treatments to re align my shattered ankle!

This is roughly 1.5 hours after the slip, and just getting back to the ambulance. Yes, I am smiling, adrenaline does wonderful things! Photo Credit: Greg Locke 

Warning.
So, I have the picture of what my foot looked like when I got to the hospital, just before they sent me to surgery, but I am not going to show you that! But to give you an idea, picture looking down the length of your  own leg right now and pretend instead of a foot you see a long white bone tip sticking out. Next to that tip, is someone elses foot is laying perpendicular  and you are looking almost directly at the outside of their ankle. Ok, I am sure thats clear enough.

So, then I went into surgery and placed me in what is called an EX Fit is where they put my bones back inside my skin, align my foot back up with my leg, and attach a exo skeleton type of jig which holds everything in place and is drilled directly into bones. Google it! its pretty impressive!

My own EX Fit!

Two days later, they send me into surgery for a second time where they actually remove the Ex Fit and throw enough silverware into my leg and foot to hold everything in place.

Foot pointing in the right direction and in the right location after my second surgery!

Anyways, So, that's it for me till the spring I would say, but I fully plan to keep doing what I love! Getting outdoors! I have lots of things I like to do inside too!

My Friends and I Outdoors

A video that shows some of my cool friends, who with out them, I would not have been able to do all the cool stuff I have done!



Thanks for the best summer ever!

Newfoundland Tundra

This could be from the lord of the rings!!

The only trails here are those made by Caribou. #outdoors #maintopsail #GaffTopsail

A photo posted by Jeffrey Corey Locke (@lockeoutdoors) on Sep 25, 2016 at 5:29pm PDT

Like something out of the #lordoftherings story. Walking through the barren but beautiful tundra. #GaffTopsail #maintopsail get #outdoors and go #climbing

A photo posted by Jeffrey Corey Locke (@lockeoutdoors) on Sep 25, 2016 at 5:03pm PDT

Climbing at BloodBath

Photo credit @greg.locke Thanks for the shots Greg! Get #outdoors and go #climbing at Bloodbath

A photo posted by Jeffrey Corey Locke (@lockeoutdoors) on Oct 2, 2016 at 4:45pm PDT

Photo credit @greg.locke Toping out at bloodbath doing #topropesolo . Great morning for #climbing I love getting #outdoors Big stupid super #grin #smile on my face.. Thanks Greg!

A photo posted by Jeffrey Corey Locke (@lockeoutdoors) on Oct 2, 2016 at 4:44pm PDT

Main Topsails Hike and Climbing Expedition 2016

Gaff Topsails - Main Topsails 2016

Shawn and I complete another great hike on the Gaff Topsails. Here is a short slideshow of our exploits. 

Climbing: Special Agent Man!

Had a blistering hot day to hit a new climbing crag being developed in Quidi Vidi.

Love Climbing!

9 Wing Gander. A Chance Encounter.

Here is a short video of one of my most memorable outdoor experiences ever!

While hiking on the Gaff Topsails, Main Top. My cousin and I had a visit with 9 Wing Gander as they were doing training in the area.

They saw us on top of the Main Top and decided to drop by for a chat. One of the things they mentioned, is that in all of their years, they have never  seen people this far in land on foot. As usually, most people only visit here while on snow machines in the winter.

They then gave us a pile of food and decided to head home.. What a blast! Make sure you watch it in HD :D

Flatrock Fest 2016, Video Slideshow

Here is a video slideshow of the greatest rock festival on earth!

Flatrock Fest 2016

Flatrock Fest 2016

Aplin Club of Canada

Today I had the chance to participate in a pretty great festival dedicated to climbing. Flatrock Fest! held by the Newfoundland Chapter of the ACC. 

Although, just mere minutes away from my house, this was the first time I was actually able to participate  in it. And not just as a person who was going to go to it either, but actually helping out!!

My involvement started as mainly helping develop a rescue plan for the event and for the general area by the Alpine Club of Canada (NL Chapter) members. But it didnt take long for me to get sucked in with wanting to help more.

I was asked to run a "Rappelling" Clinic while I was there supervising my area. And it was the highlight of my day. I had a very young girl, no more then 8 years old.. maybe younger and her dad.

After some quick instructions, she stepped over the edge. And she loved it!! she rapped down, and ran back up again, asking to do it again. She did, this time even faster! Her father on the other hand, was not as quick to catch on as she was, but he did great.. but seeing the child laugh and smile.. Wow made my day!

At the end of the day, we had over 110 people get involved with climbing, old, young, experts, newbies.

Here are a few shots of the event activities.

Start to Finish. Melady 5 9

Lead climbing "Me Lady" 5.9 at Spankies Playground, Flatrock, Newfoundland

Climbing at Spankies Playground

Got the chance to go climbing with the Newfoundland Youth Climbing Team at Spankies Playground.

Had a blast!! Here is a short video of the day!

Spray Down. Flatrock.. First Outdoor Lead Climb!

Here is my first lead climb on an outdoor route!


Spray Down at Flatrock, Newfoundland!

Edging Over on Flatrock

Me just talking to myself as I edge over Bloodbath.

Fun on Ropes: Flatrock

Rappelling off of Flatrock.

Just be warned, this is the first time I got to use my Garmin Virb.

The Piranha: One slippery little fish!

I wanted to go climbing today, it was such a nice day for it. But after a disastrous outing bouldering the other day with people who can climb a lot more then what I can, I had my hands tore up, sore back, and a blackened toenail. (Which I didn't tell anyone about)

So I decided to go anyways and do some rope access stuff. You know, to keep my skills up when it comes to the rescue stuff. Which I really do not do enough as I should.

So off to Bloodbath I went.. with my seldom used Petzl Piranha! Gosh.. is that thing ever fast to rap on!

The little fishy :)

Looking down towards Bloodbath

Climbing in Flatrock

Picture by Greg Locke: Me on the Two Boulders.

Today was the first time this year that I managed to climb outside of a gym. In fact, since last year I only managed to climb a few times, or for that matter do anything at all outside.

So here is a few shots. We spent time doing some boulder climbs, and then we finished off the climbing day in an area called Bloodbath..

Flatrock on the Mountain Project.

Two Boulders

Blood Bath

The Crab House

The Crack.. I keep bailing out of this one.. :(

Top of Bloodbath

Me...

Safety Talk..

Looking towards the town of Flatrock

Greg, Erin, and Chantell. 

Day 1: The Path to Redemption. Reclaiming My Health

This last year and a bit has been by far some of the roughest periods I have ever had. I lost all interest in the things I loved, stopped hiking, stopped climbing, stopped everything. Even gained 20+ Pounds. So after over a year, I decided to head back to the climbing gym and start all over again.

I went on my own, not with anyone, just little ole me. I needed to, just so I could gauge where I was in my abilities. I lost a lot of my ability, but surprisingly not as much as I thought.

In fact, I had to depend more on using proper form and technique, which was something I wasn't really using properly in the first place. So this reboot may help me drop those old nasty habits I developed 2 years ago.

So, right now I am not able to climb 5.10 (which for me was my actual limit if I pushed myself hard enough) I am not even sure if 5.7, 5.8 will be to much for me. but I will get there again. But I need to take it slow.



Anyways,

Today I spent 20 minutes on the rack (3D Simulator Hangboard) and 20 minutes using light weights, and now a short walk with my dog Jack.

My goal is to climb 2 times a week, and train on the hang board 3 times a week.

The Rack in all its horrible glory

My baby soft hands :(

Why all of a sudden am I getting fired up again, and back into all this? In the past few months, I met some very inspiring people, and through working with them, I realized I can get back to doing the things I love. Also, spending time in Norway helped a lot too. All that beautiful country, hills, Fjords, mountains, and the people. That place is truly a magical place for someone like me..