Life changed in an instant

Blue skies and seasonally warm temperatures greeted 44-year-old Jeremy Johansen as he headed for the Palmer Moose Range on August 22 to set up his hunting camp. “Normally I just take off and don’t tell anyone where I’m going. But this day my mom asked so I told her my plans.”

Just an hour’s ride up into the wilderness, he staked out a secluded spot on the edge of a small lake overlooking the lake, marshes and mountain ranges in the distance.

“It’s a really great place where I can glass the hillsides looking for moose.”

This day he had the place all to himself. “The state fair was in full swing and everyone else was there,” he explained. “It was the perfect time to get my hunting camp set up before the season opener on August 25th.”

After snapping a quick photo, he headed downhill toward home; a familiar route he’d driven more than a 100 times. Traveling about five miles an hour, he was startled when a boulder rolled down the side of the bank above him and onto the trail.

“This boulder caught me off guard. I hit it with the knobby part of my front tire but I was able to steer out of it. But a second later I hit it with my back tire and it just bucked up and booted me right off the wheeler.”

Twisting in the air, he saw 900 pounds of metal hurling right for him.

“I tried to tuck and roll out of the way but only made it part way when the machine body slammed me to the ground.”

Pinned in place, Johansen knew he was in serious trouble. He thought his legs were straight behind him but couldn’t feel or move anything. At first, even the slightest twitch happened only in his mind.

“I couldn’t even wiggle my little finger.”

The realization that he was alone spurred him on. “I knew I had to do something if I was going to survive.”

His Apple watch had detected his crash and was asking for him to confirm. Struggling to lift his hand, he felt something move in his neck. “I knew I shouldn’t move. But I also knew I didn’t have any other choice.” He felt the machine shift and froze, terrified it would slide further onto him.

He stayed still for what seemed a long time, contemplating what to do next. “I was getting chilled and knew, I needed help. I finally managed to get my watch up to my face and touched the screen with my tongue.”

Instead of alerting authorities of his crash, he inadvertently hit the dismiss button.

“By this point, I figured I was going to die,” he said.

His final hope was Siri. “Siri call help,” his said, his voice soft and weak. The watch remained silent. He tried again. The watch didn’t respond. “It took three tries before my voice was strong enough when I said Siri, call 911, that I was suddenly connected to the Alaska State Trooper emergency dispatch.

“I’ve crashed and need help,” he told them.

He heard them dispatch the Alaska State Troopers from the other side of Wasilla. “I knew it would take them at least two hours to get to me. They asked if there was anyone they should contact, so I said, call my mom. Only she didn’t answer.”

He knew he had to hang on no matter what the consequences or shape he would be in.

“I lay there thinking about my mom and how she’d already lost my little brother when he was nine, and then my dad. I just couldn’t die and hurt her again like that.”

He felt his resolve beginning to weaken when the sound of a wheeler reached him and an Alaska State Trooper and EMT rolled up to find him.

Minutes later Johansen was surprised to see his friend Jordan Spera ride up. “I asked him, what are you doing here dude?”

His friend said, ‘I came to find you man, and I brought more help.”

Turns out, his mother contacted his friend who served as a guide to point the way. “There are so many trails and places to go in that area,” he said, “unless you really know where to look, it’s tough to find anyone out there.”

The EMT began treating him for shock and hypothermia, secured his neck with a c-spine collar, and called for a life-flight helicopter. When they learned they were busy on another emergency, they called in the National Guard Jayhawk helicopter and para jumper crew who successfully transported him to emergency care. After a lengthy surgery to piece his spine back together, he’s now on the road to healing.

“I know I’m really lucky to be alive. And I know it’s going to be a long, hard battle ahead,” he admits, “but I’m determined to walk again.”

His advice to others; “When I ride snowmachines I usually wear a helmet and tech vest, but when I’m hunting I usually don’t. I wasn’t that day. I didn’t end up with any head injuries, but I easily could have. I understand, this could have turned out a lot worse, so I’d definitely recommend wearing safety protection. And even more important, tell someone where you’re going and when you think you’ll be back. I am guilty of not doing that. This day, for some reason my mom asked so I’d told her. That really helped the troopers and my friend get right to me in time to save my life.”

The biggest lesson after all of this for Jermey? “Don’t take anything for granted. You might have done the same trip 100 times, but one loose rock and you could find yourself in a whole new world. Everything changed for me in an instant. Instead of climbing mountains and harvesting moose, now I need help just to sit up.”

You can follow Jeremy’s healing Journey at https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.johansen.9