Doug on the summit of Mont Blanc, Chamonix, France (Photo: themountainguidedougnidever.blogspot.com)

After suffering a stroke and a heart attack on Jan. 28, June Lake local, climber and guide Doug Nidever is in stable, but still critical condition at Renown Medical Center in Reno, Nev. According to his friend, Dean Rosnau, Nidever was able to get to his feet and eat some food on his own on Wednesday. However, doctors found extensive clotting throughout Nidever’s body, which continues to put him at great risk of another event.

Rosnau said that Nidever is suffering common side effects of a stroke, including slurred speech. Clarity comes and goes, but he was able to ask doctors if he “was going to be normal?”

“He will be at Renown for a few more weeks at least,” Rosnau said, who added that he was surrounded by his family and was receiving a lot of support.

Rosnau went on to describe the day of the event. Apparently, Nidever was expected to meet fellow June Laker, David Naden, at Gull Lake on the morning of the 28th. The two were going to work on the ice rink that Nidever had been championing. When Nidever didn’t show, Naden assumed he had overslept and went home. Nidever was found at 4 p.m. that day, on the floor of his home.

“It looked like he had been making coffee before going to meet David when he collapsed on the floor,” Rosnau explained. He had been laying there all day and “didn’t look good” when he was put in the ambulance.

Rosnau has set up a benefit fund at Union Bank to help offset Nidever’s medical costs. He has health insurance, but Rosnau believes there may recurring costs if Nidever needs long term care. You can use PayPal or write a check. If using PayPal, send donations to cragmandr@hotmail.com. If writing a check, put the account number (3720028580) in the “Pay to the Order of” line and “Nidever Benefit” in the Memo line. You can drop checks off directly at the bank, or mail them to Union Bank, PO Box 2729 in Mammoth.