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> OT: Almost Lost Nicole Last Thursday..., ...she must have an angel looking over her.
Eric_Shea
post Jul 8 2008, 10:38 PM
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We just got back from our Payette river trip in Central Idaho and the water is flowing. Fantastic runs on the North fork of the Payette outside of Banks, ID.

However, the story starts just outside of Stanley, ID at a most beautiful place called Redfish Lake and it involves our youngest, Nikki. You may remember her from here:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...5051&st=200

Shes almost 5 now and full of energy. Not enough energy to make it through last Thursday night as we waited for our Kayaking and rafting friends to arrive at camp from Salt Lake City. It was a beautiful night and she dozed off in the folding chair around the fire. Vanessa decided to put her in the tent for the night as our friends finally arrived around 10:00PM.

While I was helping them back their enormous 5th wheel into the site a gust of wind blew up and all I could see was dust in my head lamp. I looked at a nearby tree and motioned for him to leave the site and pull the trailer into a clearing. The tree was getting dangerously close as we could see a thunderstorm approaching over the Sawtooth Mountains... what a beautiful site but, it soon got worse; way worse.

We looked over at the tent Nikki was sleeping in and it was starting to move as the wind picked up. All of the tent stakes pulled up and it began blowing a few feet across the campsite. By now we were headlong into a massive dry microburst. The winds were said to exceed 75-100mph as we held onto the front of the tent to keep our young'n from tumbling across the campsite. Vanessa was on the left and I was on the right. Our friend Rob yelled "look out" and that's when it happened; a 50-60ft pine came crashing down on the tent on the side Nikki was sleeping. It narrowly missed Vanessa. I immediately unzipped the tent and pulled out a still sleeping Nicole.

Still basically in a state of shock, we whisked her into a car and began trying to figure out what just happened. We tried to get out of the park but all of the roads were covered with downed trees. With a bit of energy still running through my body, I spent the next 30 minutes helping others pull downed trees off the roadway.

Within a few minutes all was calm. We looked up into a crystal clear sky and the nearby lake was like a mirror. I got a saw and made a few cuts in the tree and rolled the middle section off the tent. There was a fairly large tear in the rain-fly and the tent where a branch went through. We got a little duct tape and we were good for the night. The girls air-mattress on that side was toast but we figured with a tree falling on it and such it probably just blew out. All that night we heard sirens and watched the ghostly flashers of rescue vehicles illuminate out tent as they hauled out 4 of the less fortunate. We counted our blessings that our little girl was safe and sleeping soundly next to us that night.

It wasn't until morning that the gravity of the situation sank in. As we broke camp, Vanessa came to me with the air-mattress and said "This is what caused it." I looked to see what looked like a bullet hole through the mattress... right between the pillows and about 8" from Nikki's head. A branch from the pine went through the back wall of the tent, between the pillows, through the sleeping bag, through the air mattress and through the floor of the tent. Imagine what could have happened. That's when I welled up and it sank in.

Protect those little ones. As we know from recent experiences, they can be gone in an instant.

Here's some pics:

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Me trying to muster a smile for the camera...

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The sleeping quarters:

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The next day:

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The hole...

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Our buddy Mr. Tree:

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The carnage by the lake... this was a powerful storm:

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The Nikkster (she "loves" river rafting):

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She even got a little rowing in!

Attached Image

Read more about it here and click on the "See the massive destruction" link:

http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories...s.36d6387f.html

All's well that ends well. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
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MoveQik
post Jul 8 2008, 10:43 PM
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Wow Eric...not sure what to say. I am so glad to hear you guys are ok. That is quite a story for sure.
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PeeGreen 914
post Jul 8 2008, 10:51 PM
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Wow... That is just scarey. I'm happy to hear everything is okay and you little girl is safe. That is one thing I do fear is seeing something terrible happen to my kids. Glad to hear you are safe too.
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plymouth37
post Jul 8 2008, 10:54 PM
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Wow, that is one scary situation! I am so glad your little ones guardian angels were on there game that night!
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LarryR
post Jul 8 2008, 11:09 PM
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All I can say is WOW! Glad to hear that the outcome was a big scare and nothing more. I know if anything happened to my daughter I would not be able to deal with it.

Are tent cages in the near future? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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championgt1
post Jul 8 2008, 11:10 PM
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Eric,

Glad to hear you and your wife and especially your little girl made it out ok. Scary but everything is good now.

Take care.
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jimtab
post Jul 8 2008, 11:33 PM
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Eric, you continue to take care of my "Nickie" or the lion will have his way with you.....just glad it is only a "war story".....I'd still be drinking.....
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So.Cal.914
post Jul 8 2008, 11:53 PM
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To may Wow's so...FUCK ME! What a story, I loved the ending. God Eric...
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Elliot Cannon
post Jul 9 2008, 12:18 AM
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Glad everyone is OK. Micro bursts are an incredibly strong phenomenon. They have killed more than one pilot. I ran into one near Cologne Germany in the DC-8. Full power on all four engines, climb attitude and we were SINKING 500 feet per minute. Someone was truly looking after her.
Cheers, Elliot
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brant
post Jul 9 2008, 01:00 AM
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Eric,

I'm really glad it worked out that way
really really glad.
brant
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ConeDodger
post Jul 9 2008, 01:20 AM
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Eric,

I am so glad that turned out the way it did... Nicole is so beautiful. Clearly Vanessa's phenotype expressed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Nicho and I have been yard camping for the last ten days... It was supposed to be just him but he was afraid to be alone so... After your story, I'm glad I have been with him.

Though tonight it is too freakin' hot and I am staying inside...
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dw914er
post Jul 9 2008, 01:33 AM
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that's crazy

Maybe that's why my parents have an motor home


Glad everything is ok
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seanery
post Jul 9 2008, 02:45 AM
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Damn, dude! That's some scary shit!!!

I'm glad you are all ok!!!

-relieved-

-sean
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hcdmueller
post Jul 9 2008, 05:12 AM
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Glad to hear everyone is okay. It is amazing how kids will sleep through anything.
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orthobiz
post Jul 9 2008, 05:20 AM
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Until now I never really knew why I don't go camping!

Paul
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Richard Casto
post Jul 9 2008, 05:52 AM
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It's not until you have children of your own do you really understand how terrifying the thought of loosing one is. I can't think of anything worse. Reading stories of other kids who loose their life tears me up because I can do nothing but imagine it was one of my own. Glad this had a happy ending!
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carr914
post Jul 9 2008, 06:12 AM
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Eric, Glad everyone came out safely. It just reinforces that we all need to appreciate and love the people in our lives.

I've been to the Shea's house, and those little girls are as cute and nice as they look in pictures.

Micro-bursts are in Hurricanes as well. Everyone worries about the shear strength of the wind speeds and water, but the micro-bursts are wicked

Give Nikki a big hug from all her "Uncles and Aunts" here on the World

T.C.
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watsonrx13
post Jul 9 2008, 06:15 AM
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Unbelievable story, glad everyone is OK....

-- Rob
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Gint
post Jul 9 2008, 07:00 AM
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That camping crap is highly overrated! Glad everyone is OK.
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Eric_Shea
post Jul 9 2008, 08:09 AM
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QUOTE
It just reinforces that we all need to appreciate and love the people in our lives.


Thanks Gang,

That kinda sums it up T.C. Someone else mentioned that you have to be a parent to understand what the loss may be. It's heartwrenching to even think about for sure. I'm not advocating going into lock down mode and being overly protective (as you can see, she was in class III and IV rapids on Sunday), I want them to live a full life.

As T.C. says... make sure you love and appreciate them every single day. I'm hoping that others out there with kids never have to come this close to understand the lesson.
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