KK: Absolutely. Did you have any of the classic symptoms like photosensitivity, nausea, or vomiting?

MJ: I did get some nausea, and I vomited once.

KK: When this happened, how far away from civilization were you?

MJ: We would have had to go at least two miles in either direction to get to one of the main roads.

Dr. Jarosick on a bike ride.

KK: Were you going to try to ride out, or were you going to have someone come up and get you?

MJ: They asked me, “Can you ride out of here?” and I said, “No, there’s no way I can do that.” It just so happened that we were at a junction in the trail that crosses a hiking trail. I knew that if they could just get me up to that parking lot, I’m basically at the ambulance.

KK: Did you experience any fear or other emotions?

MJ: I saw myself as patient and rescuer at the same time. I couldn’t effect the rescue by myself, but I had to participate in it. I was in a survival mode.

KK: What kind of thoughts were you having? Were you starting to think about how bad this would be? What if you didn’t make it out?

MJ: I stayed pretty positive because I’m thinking I’ve seen some subarachnoid hemorrhages in the ED; they get treatment, and some of them do all right. I used to never carry a cellphone because I believed in rugged self-reliance. I always carry a cellphone now. Between the three of us, one guy had a cellphone. There are valleys there where you really can’t get a signal. My friend Jamieson, the athletic trainer, rode up that trail to the open parking lot, and he was able to call 911.

KK: Did they transport you by ground, or did they fly you?

MJ: I was in the submissive baboon position with my butt in the air, my hands on the ground, and my head in my hands. It was the most comfortable for my neck. As I was in that position, the paramedic [Tom Gallagher] walked up to me and said, “We have the stretcher and the rig. Want us to go get it?” I said, “Can you carry me out in this position?” I knew I didn’t want to lie on my back. He said, “No, we’d have to lay you on your back.” So I said, “Get me up, and let’s see if I can walk out of here.” At that moment, I had to push the guy away so I didn’t puke on his shoes.