Last weekend hunting whitetails in the Northeast, I got to experience an episode of hysterical strength, first time in my life. Not nearly as dramatic as lifting a car off someone, but I was crossing a narrow basalt ravine on a downed ponderosa that seemed solid when the log abruptly snapped in two and fell down in the ravine. I grabbed a 3” live alder with my fully extended right hand and was dangling about 15’ above rough rocks. I was able to pull myself up one-handed, reached my left leg up fully extended to hook a rock on the far side with my toe, and lever myself up and forward onto the far side. Tore some muscle in my left calf, right arm and shoulder are fine.
I am definitely not capable of either maneuver under normal circumstances. Have never been able to do a one-arm pull-up, even when I was young and very fit, much less 50, fat and with health issues. Rifle, pack, boots and clothes I was approximately 280 pounds.
Curious to hear anyone else's experiences with this phenomenon, hunting or otherwise?