...wasn't able to post this 'till just now.
A serious accident occurred yesterday on our return home fro the Mt. St. Helens gathering. Dan (Scout) Dennis (DABayliner) and myself, met in Black Diamond for bkfst. and rode down as a threesome. I'll cross post this on gen. discussion board to the FJR family at large - "Rider Down, Prayers Requested". We chose to wait until Dennis' wife was notified and granted permission. She said Dennis would do the same for another and would like it. None of us are significant posters but have years of riding experience, on and off road. We rode in a 'civil" manner and kept things reasonable: no peg scraping, no elimination of chicken strips, no hard charging, brake mashing throttle yanking thru the corners....
On our return, we chose to run up to Chinook Pass and take some pictures. Dennis was riding 3rd (last bike) and we were a little ahead of him. Very shortly, Dan noticed Dennis wasn't in his mirrors and we slowed for a brief moment, turned around and couldn't find Dennis. ????? I went to the bottom of climb to see if Dennis had turned around for whatever reason. On a turn around and slow sweep back up through the last 180* l.h. corner, Dan noticed Dennis' bike, barely visible down at the bottom., over the edge. I came back up from below to see Dan waving his arms. It wasn't good!! in a nutshell; bike off over edge (no guard rail), 2 foot sand shoulder. Went airborne 15' +/_ and struck a stout sub alpine fir maybe 8 feet up or so. Bike was at base of tree to one side, Dennis on his back at other side and the bizzarre and disturbing; helmet another 20' beyond, buckle still attached (he was wearing at the time), flip front helmet. What could have ripped, yanked, forced it off his head??? We only knew that he was still alive.
Over an hour later, he was extracted up out of the ravine, and shuttled down to Cayuse Pass where he was helicoptered to Harborview. 24 hours later, he is still not lucid but is alive, breathing and can wiggle toes. Dan would be better qualified to give a med. report as he was able to get into Harborview this afternoon and see the family. Harborview (Seattle) is, by the way, a world reknowned critical care ctr. He can be in no better place!!!!!
Dan and I have replayed this over and over and over and spent time at the site trying to figure things out and give reports to responding NPS Officers. Nobody witnessed it.., nobody, period! No skid marks (ABS model '05) just a slight arcing curve off the edge of roadway. We don't know if some downhill traffic was over the ctr. line or if he was hugging it and veered right, or just a momentary lapse of attn.. We just don't know so please dignify Dennis and his family by not trying to offer your analysis or make unknowing or assumptive comments. One thing we did conclude, the pace was not 'hot shoeing' it.
All prayers, thoughts and expressions of consideration will go to Dennis' wife, kids and extended family and we're hoping Dennis himself will soon be able to chime back in and share with us.
I'm still a bit dazed, upset, concerned and trying to sort things out. This should not have happened!!!
If anything sounds out of line or whatever.., it's still too fresh in my mind. Please understand it as such,
thanks, Fjroamer
