Mike Simmons died of injuries last night at about 6:30 p.m. PST, after 18 days in a coma.

He was a real man. Born dirt poor in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon, Mike lived there all his life. He became a logger (a "Faller") when young and still was at the time of his death at 61 years of age. But that was his job. His life was elk hunting. He is the only man I have ever known who NEVER missed a season of hunting the big deer. I've known him to quit his job when his his boss wouldn't give him elk hunting season off. In later years, he would work the summers in Alaska, and return home for elk season...home being all of Oregon, and the elk pastures of central and east-central Idaho.

He kept in shape for hunting by both hanging on to mountains and a running chain saw, and by doing such other mundane, everyday things as running (and finishing) in the Boston Marathon (and others), and bicycling 60 miles a day after work.

He loved guns, but they weren't his primary hobby, He couldn't afford a lot of them. Thinking like an elk and out-stamina-ing them was his hobby. His elk rifles were secondary to that...a Winchester Model 70 in .30-06 Ackley Improved, and a Winchester M-1886 in 50-110. Just months before his fatal accident, he actually sold the 50-110 to help raise money for a local children's hospital, so his Model 70 was to be this year's sole rifle.

Mike also was a self-taught author. His book, "Bullets, Blood, and Backstraps" is a compendium of very human, very interesting tales about some of his various hunts, from childhood on.

When he took up biking, he did it as he did everything else ...with all his heart. He never really rode a bike until the year just before his 60th birthday. For that 60th birthday, he rode his bike from the top of the Steens Mountains (9,000+ elevation) in Eastern Oregon, to his home in Roseburg, western Oregon. By the route he took, that's over 450 miles, one way.

He suffered his fatal injuries on a large annual ride with a local organization, from Crater Lake, Oregon, to Medford, Oregon. Somehow shortly after leaving the National Park, Mike's bike became involved with a very slow moving escort motorcycle and Mike flew over his handlebars to the pavement. As he hit the tarmack, he tried to break his fall, but the impact broke both of his wrists. He also suffered a broken neck, a broken back, several broken ribs, punctured lungs, and various other damages to his torso. But the fatal part was head injuries. He WAS wearing a helmet. The impact split it in half. The helmet reportedly pretty much scalped him, and the front of his skull was crushed and driven into his brain.

Mike was a life member of the Roseburg Rod & Gun Club Rifle Range, and contributed endless hours of work as a Range Officer there, and doing such things as cutting, splitting, and stacking the winter supply of wood for the range shack every year.

Last, and probably least important to anyone except me, he was my elk hunting partner. I don't have many years left, but I will never forget him. They don't make many like Mike any more.

AC, my condolences......sounds like a great loss.

Sorry to hear about the loss, he sounded like a great guy.

Sorry for your loss. I am near to losing a hunting partner and it hurts. Treasure the memories. I know that is what I am thinking.

My condolences to you as his friend, ant to his family. Nate

My condolences... for what you wrote, and inspite some of us never met him, we will all suffer for his loss

Sorry for your loss. You have many mememories to keep your good buddy with you.

I still think of my Grandfather while out hunting, he was a die hard hunter and never missed a season(or day most years) and a true friend as well. You just have to keep on w/ the leassons you've learned from him and pass them on to others so that your good friend's knowledge and skills keep getting passed on.

Reloader

Please accept my sympathy and condolences.

Your post would make a fitting eulogy.

I agree, a very fitting eulogy.

I am very sorry for your loss. May God be with you and his family.

AC:

Ever coming down to GP... Send me a PM or If I am going to go up to Roseburg, I'll drop you a line.. and lets go out and get a beer and toast his honor!

You are a lucky guy to have known a person like that and had him as a good friend...

He isn't gone, he is just waiting up there for you to get around to getting there also, so you guys can go out and do all the things you always did together... all the time for eternity...

Bet he already has an 06 ready to go up there!

cheers
seafire

Hey AC, I lost my best hunting buddy 3 years ago, so I know what it feels like. I never see a Deer that I don't think of him, along with lots of other things that trigger memories.

For what it is worth, "I believe" everytime we think of someone who has passed on that they are aware of our thoughts. Don't care if anyone else believes that or not, but it allows me to share some funny things with them today.

Best of luck to you and many good memories of the past.

AC, for all the sorry outdoor writers out there, there are also those like you; men who SHOULD be writing. You have a gift...

I too, extend my condolences at your loss. Hold fast the memories of a friend that was from all indications quite a man. The world could use a bunch more like him...

Tragic loss for you and his family, but also for those who never had the chance to have met him. He sounds like someone that stood tall.

My condolences to you and his family. Here's hoping your next elk is your finest, and hunted in his memory. From what it sounds like, he'll be by your side out there anyway.

KG

I will keep a fond thought for Mike and you after what you wrote. Mike had a good friend....

My thoughts and prayers go to him and you.


Kind Regards--Don