It was a typical summer Saturday in Missoula, it was early afternoon. The temperature was dropping a little and I thought I would head out on a quick hour and a half ride before heading to a friends BBQ. I only brought one water bottle to ensure that I would not be out longer than planned and I headed out. The ride was going well, I was pushing it hard on the uphills and I was on pace to be home a little early. I had heard rumor of a tree down on the popular trail Fence Line. Being the over-confident rider that I am I thought little of it and was sure that I would see it in time to stop. So, I headed down Fence Line to enjoy the downhill. I felt good, I was letting the bike do its thing. I quickly forgot that I was "looking" for a downed tree. I came around a fast sweeping turn that had a bush blocking the outrun, then I saw it. A 16in tree down across the trail. My mind quickly goes through multiple scenarios. I hit the brakes hard and try and remember back to grade school bike classes where they teach you the "emergency stop" (it didn't work). I was still coming in to fast. I look for a way around the tree, nope it was to wide. I was still coming in to fast. I notice the tree has a bunch of chainring dings on it so I go for the last possible thing, I am going to jump over it. I give the bike one hard pedal stroke and I jump. Front wheel got over just fine. Then CRACK! Back wheel hits the tree at 15mph and I am flying through the air. "Tuck and roll baby!" was what my brain was screaming at me. I hit the ground hard on my right should and neck and I rolled several times before I popped up and saw my bike completing three or four flips of her own. First things first, I run down to the bike and check her vitals, all is good. Then I notice that something is not right in my should, I give a quick rotation of my arm and that checks out. I grab my collar bone and notice that there is a sharp edge under the skin. I quickly compare to the left side to find that there was not a sharp edge. That's when I realized it was going to be a long walk out. With one arm holding on to the bike and the other placed in my unzipped Led Zeppelin jersey I start the walk down the hill where I hope to run into someone. Every step in my carbon soled shoes reminds me that I had just crashed. I look around for a spot to ditch my bike, but the thought of leaving her in the woods all by herself made me to sad so I carried on. My focus went to not passing out and to take one step at a time. Forty-five minutes goes by before I run into a person who drove me home. As I walked into my home, tail tucked between my legs, I holler to my wife across the house that we need to go to the ER. The doctors at the hospital told me I had an "impressive break" and that I would need to see a specialist. But life goes on. My mountain bike season might have come to an abrupt end, but at least I will have another one next year. There will still be fish in the rivers to catch. And plenty of nights to sleep under the stars. Cheers and keep the rubber side down. Chad