Always carry your phone!!

[Jstpssng]

I painted houses for about three years when I was in college; I'm very fortunate, having ridden down the side of a house a few times with no injuries to speak of. My only injury (other than sunburn and a burned bun from a thinner soaked rag) was the result of my own stupidity. For reasons I can't recall, I decided to stand on a sawhorse inside of a house instead of using a ladder. Stepping down off the sawhorse, I sprained my ankle big time.

You were a lot younger then. Somewhere between the Clinton and Bush eras somebody decided to turn up the force of gravity... while also making the ground a lot harder.
In my line of work you just expect to fall down; an aspect of constantly walking on uneven ground through bushes, often not even seeing where you put your feet. Then there's snowshoeing through the same terrain... I'm finding it harder and harder to control my falls. Rather than a graceful tumble, one second I'll be walking along, the next I'm down for the count. My body's too young to look like this.

 

[Oaktree]

Then there's snowshoeing through the same terrain... I'm finding it harder and harder to control my falls. Rather than a graceful tumble, one second I'll be walking along, the next I'm down for the count. My body's too young to look like this.

My knees have gotten to the point where snowshoeing is an activity of the past, but when I did I learned to carry poles after a couple times when I caught a shoe on something in powder, fell and had a helluva time getting back up (snow was so deep I couldn't feel bottom to push myself upright). Obviously, I managed to get up, but it was a scary thought being alone in the woods and not being able to get back on my feet.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
I used to enjoy snowshoeing, as it's a good way to stay in shape. But like you my knees have gotten bad over the years, and I try to stay off them. I usually have something in my hands so poles aren't really an option.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

^^^^
I used to enjoy snowshoeing, as it's a good way to stay in shape. But like you my knees have gotten bad over the years, and I try to stay off them. I usually have something in my hands so poles aren't really an option.

Snowshoeing? You mean that toxic white stuff that comes once, maybe twice a year, makes everyone rush to the store and buy milk and toilet paper, makes your car spin and slide and gets all dirty and such?

 

[Oaktree]

Snowshoeing? You mean that toxic white stuff that comes once, maybe twice a year, makes everyone rush to the store and buy milk and toilet paper, makes your car spin and slide and gets all dirty and such?

Yeah. The same stuff that is a cornerstone of the economy in this part of the country in the winter. Bad snow year=lean times.

 

[Jstpssng]

Snowshoeing? You mean that toxic white stuff that comes once, maybe twice a year, makes everyone rush to the store and buy milk and toilet paper, makes your car spin and slide and gets all dirty and such?

Yeah. The stuff that gives me something to look forward to during those hot sticky days of summer. I always chuckle at people's reaction... I enjoy our four season climate yet summer is the season I dread every year.

 

[Doofy]

Yeah. The stuff that gives me something to look forward to during those hot sticky days of summer. I always chuckle at people's reaction... I enjoy our four season climate yet summer is the season I dread every year.

I wish I could dread Summer. We didn't have much of one this year.

 

[deezler]

Another time to always carry your phone is when using the chainsaw, for any job, big or small.

I ran a tank through my Stihl yesterday afternoon on the log pile, and almost left my phone back in the garage playing some tunes. Then I thought of this thread, and many other helpful ones here on TBN, and took it with me. Sever a major artery and you might not be able to move well to get home, let alone have time to call someone for help before you pass out.

Always carry your phone.

 

[tradosaurus]

No one has mentioned securing ladders to the ground. Some ladders have a way to hammer in stakes to secure the bottom.

I have a foldable aluminum ladder that I fold the top section so that looks like the letter 7 with the top of the 7 on the roof.

 

[gstrom99]

Then I thought of this thread, and many other helpful ones here on TBN, and took it with me. Sever a major artery and you might not be able to move well to get home, let alone have time to call someone for help before you pass out.

Always carry your phone.

I'm glad I posted this, if it saves anyone from trouble...