For avid outdoorsman Josh Anderson, a summer day in the Colville National Forest was supposed to be an adventure with a friend—mountain biking down rugged Hall Mountain after an early morning of fly fishing. But when his leg slipped while climbing over a fallen tree, a sharp branch tore deep into his calf, leaving muscle and tissue exposed.

Bleeding heavily and miles from help, Josh and his friend David improvised a tourniquet and began the grueling hike back up the mountain, pausing often as Josh’s strength faded. A brief cell signal allowed them to call 911, but with little hope of immediate rescue, they pressed on. By the time they reached Josh’s car, the tourniquet had slowed but not stopped the bleeding. Driving toward town, they intercepted Pend Oreille County Fire District 2 paramedics, who immediately called for Life Flight Network.

When the crew met them at the Ione airport, the severity of Josh’s injury was undeniable. Flight nurse Dawn recalls assessing the wound and knowing the team needed to act quickly to stabilize him. With seamless coordination between local EMS and Life Flight Network, Josh was rapidly flown to Providence Sacred Heart in Spokane. There, surgeons closed his wound with nine stitches and 39 staples—saving both his leg and his life.

Josh’s recovery was remarkable. Within 12 days, he was back at work in a wheelchair. By December, he was snowboarding again and teaching his first avalanche rescue course, a longtime goal. “The support team that got me through was just insane,” he says. “Everybody was on top of it and super humble and nice.”

For Josh, who had been a Life Flight Network member for five years, the experience was surreal. He never imagined needing to hand over his membership card—but he did, and he’ll never forget the crew who stayed with him in the hospital to check in on his family. Today, Josh is back to mountain biking and grateful for the expert care and teamwork that gave him the chance to keep living the outdoor life he loves.