Freak Injured in Veatch Accident

Okay, I suppose the headline should have been “Veatch Injured in Freak Accident,” but who’s counting? All of this drama with the missing cups has made me even more random than usual.

Anyway – the story.

Former NWTA (nee PUMP) kingpin Dennis Veatch was injured on November 21st while building trail at Growlers Gulch. Veatch, who was part of the crew working on Bitter Bitch, contracted a case of tenosynovitis. Fortunately, the condition is not communicable.

Wikipedia describes it this way: Tenosynovitis is the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath (called the synovium) that surrounds a tendon. Symptoms of tenosynovitis include pain, swelling and difficulty moving the particular joint where the inflammation occurs. When the condition causes the finger to “stick” in a flexed position, this is called “stenosing” tenosynovitis, commonly known as “Trigger Finger.”

Aaron Althaeuser, who has known Veatch for many years, suggested that the injury may not have been the result of trailbuilding.

“Dennis’s thumb is frequently where it shouldn’t be,” Althaeuser said. “It would be easy to injure it in that position.”

 Our best wishes to Dennis for a fast recovery.