WhiteBlaze Pages 2024
A Complete Appalachian Trail Guidebook.
AVAILABLE NOW. $4 for interactive PDF(smartphone version)
Read more here WhiteBlaze Pages Store

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 22
  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default SOBO Rock Plopper

    Letting everyone know that SOBO Rock Plopper was doing a slack from Manchester to my house in Bennington and was struck by lightning last night on Glastenbury Mtn. She has been taken to a Boston hospital's burn unit. No other details right now but everyone should send positive healing energy her way.

  2. #2

    Default

    Oh my God! This is horrible and crazy. I'll keep her in my thoughts -- let us know if you get any updates.
    Drab as a Fool, as aloof as a Bard!

    http://www.wizardsofthepct.com

  3. #3
    2010 complete
    Join Date
    06-24-2007
    Location
    hickory, nc
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,971

    Default

    I met Rock Plopper last week in southern NH. "positive healing energy" ?? how about PRAYER. Was Nap Time with her? Please keep us posted.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-11-2002
    Location
    Manchester Ctr, VT
    Posts
    2,367
    Images
    13

    Default

    She stayed with us at Green Mountain House Thursday night and I dropped her off near RT 7 to hitch to Bennington so she could get her maildrop before the weekend.

    Please keep us posted Arla.

  5. #5
    Registered User Zabigail's Avatar
    Join Date
    08-10-2008
    Location
    SE Kansas
    Posts
    41
    Images
    16

    Default

    Thoughts and prayers sent!
    "Only when the last tree has withered, the last fish has been caught, and the last river has been poisoned, will you realize you cannot eat money." Cree saying

  6. #6

    Join Date
    08-04-2004
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fla
    Age
    67
    Posts
    686
    Images
    8

    Default

    Prayers enroute.
    Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair. -Kahlil Gibran

  7. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    I don't know if I will get any news. I do know that she changed her direction and was actually hiking north, after leaving her stuff here at my house. She was able to make it out of the woods and was picked up by a woman from Dorset, who took her to our hospital. They transferred her by ambulance to Boston. Positive healing energy is the same as prayer to me. And I know it works. I also don't know if anyone was with her but I don't think so.

  8. #8
    2010 complete
    Join Date
    06-24-2007
    Location
    hickory, nc
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,971

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by arla View Post
    I don't know if I will get any news. I do know that she changed her direction and was actually hiking north, after leaving her stuff here at my house. She was able to make it out of the woods and was picked up by a woman from Dorset, who took her to our hospital. They transferred her by ambulance to Boston. Positive healing energy is the same as prayer to me. And I know it works. I also don't know if anyone was with her but I don't think so.
    thanks Arla

  9. #9
    2010 complete
    Join Date
    06-24-2007
    Location
    hickory, nc
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,971

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by modiyooch View Post
    thanks Arla
    what is her real name? I know she was from FT Lauderdale

  10. #10
    Registered User
    Join Date
    02-12-2003
    Location
    Warwick, NY - 3 miles from Wildcat Shelter on AT
    Age
    72
    Posts
    352
    Images
    185

    Default

    My biggest concern is that I met Rock Plopper on Smarts Mountain with a friend Nap Time. She and Nap Time were going to spend the night on top in the fire tower cabin. I just wonder since Glastenbury Mountain had a fire tower if she didn't start making this a practice as if she was sleeping and a storm came up, could she have got electrocuted due to the tower being a good lightning rod. However Arla said she was slackpacking but that is a 22 mile stretch without a road crossing. What is amazing is that she got out to a road after hiking quite a long distance if the incident occurred at Glastenbury Mt. and nobody came upon her to assist until she got to the road. Maybe the incident happened much closer to the Kelly Stand Road which will then take you out to the Stratton-Arlington Road. There seems to be alot more to this story. I am hoping that Rock Plopper did not do something stupid to bring on such a self-inflicted injury. Sleeping in firetowers is not a good practice. However hiking in lightning storms can sometimes not be helped and you hope and pray for the best. I was caught in a serious storm last year near the summit of Lafayette and hunkered down just below treeline in the midst of two foot high shrubbery and prayed. After the storm subsided I climbed over Lafayette and descended to Greenleaf Hut. Right now I pray for Rock Plopper's full recovery and hope in due time all is well.
    Aaron

  11. #11

    Default

    She is in my prayers.
    As I live, declares the Lord God, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn back from his way and live. Ezekiel 33:11

  12. #12

    Default

    Surprised this thread is not getting more attention as one of our own has been badly hurt.

  13. #13
    2010 complete
    Join Date
    06-24-2007
    Location
    hickory, nc
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,971

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by RITBlake View Post
    Surprised this thread is not getting more attention as one of our own has been badly hurt.
    There is absolutely no information to be found. I scanned the local news, trailjournals, and lightning strike agencies. It would help to know her real name. She may have been alone, because the girl she was hiking with stopped off in Hanover to spend time with family. Since her personal items are at the hostel, maybe we will know more later.

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    I have a little more info. Rock Plopper was actually struck twice by lightning. She was taken to Mass General Hospital and is being treated by their burn unit. She is receiving therapy as she is having trouble walking. A friend of mine saw someone dropping her off at the Arlington exit of Route 7 and she was having difficulty walking. I think it is a very good sign that she was able to hike out. She apparently had no damage to her internal organs but has burns on a hand and foot. So, really she is very lucky and may have to change her trail name to Lightning Rod. When she is discharged from Mass general, she is going to Springfield, MA, where she will be staying with family. I have let Rob Bird and Tom Levardi know so they are on the look out for Light Weight to get him the message. I will post again if I get additional info.

  15. #15
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    I don't know her real name, not unusual. And I don't think she was sleeping in the fire tower. A Long Trail hiker met her in the shelter and she sent him here because it was so stormy. I think she just got caught and there was nothing she could do to prevent this.

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Join Date
    09-11-2002
    Location
    Manchester Ctr, VT
    Posts
    2,367
    Images
    13

    Default

    I have her name and contact info. PM me for details.

  17. #17
    2010 complete
    Join Date
    06-24-2007
    Location
    hickory, nc
    Age
    64
    Posts
    1,971

    Default

    any updated info?

  18. #18
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    No news. I was able to reach Lite Weight finally. I heard Rock Plopper was going to recuperate in Springfield, MA. I did get her name and e-mail so hopefully I will hear from her eventually. I sent her a message.

  19. #19
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    As of the 28th of August, Rock Plopper was still hospitalized and is in a lot of pain. Her real name is Becky Garriss.

  20. #20
    Registered User
    Join Date
    07-24-2004
    Location
    Bennington, VT
    Age
    70
    Posts
    32

    Default

    As of today, I learned that Rock Plopper was discharged and is recuperating briefly in MA and will be returning to FL. She is very lucky and will need ongoing therapy for her hand and foot, which were internally burned.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
++ New Posts ++

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •