Solitude to Survival
A Journey Through the Colorado Mountains
In the fall of 2020, I set out on a journey into the remote wilderness of the Colorado mountains. It started as a quest for solitude and tranquility in nature but quickly turned into an adventure filled with unexpected obstacles and surprising acts of kindness.
At the beginning of the year, I was gearing up for an adventurous year. I had been training for an ultramarathon in May, planning cross-country road trips, and looking forward to all the new experiences the year would bring. But early in the year, everything changed.
A global pandemic shook the world, altering everyone’s plans, including mine. Many places restricted their operations or shut down entirely. My 2020 plans were put on hold.
As fall approached, I felt mentally exhausted and decided that a cross-country road trip would be a safe way to salvage some of my plans and give me a much-needed mental boost. So, I planned a two-week leaf-peeping adventure, with one of my first stops being a remote, beautiful area in the mountains of Colorado.
Hard To Get To
One of the biggest appeals of this location was its remote nature. Nestled high in the Colorado mountains, the only way in or out was via a 20-mile “road,” accessible only by hiking, ATV, or a high-clearance vehicle. The challenging nature of the journey made it inaccessible for many.
During my drive into the remote wilderness, I got the full Colorado experience. Within the two-hour drive, I saw bighorn sheep, vast views, and crisscrossing mountain paths. However, the drive was very bumpy, and there were moments when I questioned whether my Jeep Wrangler could handle the rugged terrain. The landscape's beauty was breathtaking, but the rough road jostled everything inside the Jeep, including me.
Beautifully Dangerous
When I finally arrived at the destination, I had a slight headache from being thrown around so much. But it was all worth it when I laid eyes on the forested area surrounding the hoodoos and geologic formations.
Even though I had just finished a strenuous drive, I didn’t want to waste time resting. Nightfall was coming soon, so I decided to hike the surrounding trails and explore the area's beauty before setting up camp.
Despite being in such a remote location, the trails were well-maintained, making for a leisurely hike. The trails led to the geologic formations, through a pine forest, and up towards the top of what used to be an active volcano. When I arrived, I was surrounded by views of the hoodoos below and the San Juan mountains in the distance. It was a truly breathtaking experience to witness the beauty around me with no one else within miles. However, the elevation and vertigo forced me to my knees, making me question my decision to hike without resting.
This close call was a quick reminder that danger was very present in this remote place despite its beauty. I took it as a sign to slowly hike back down to my Jeep to set up camp and rest for the evening.
When I returned to the Jeep, I set up my tent and sleeping bag and began preparing dinner. Within minutes, nighttime crept up, and the temperature started to drop. The mountain air went from chilly to freezing quickly. Having a jacket on wasn’t enough, so I tried to start the heat in the Wrangler, only to hear a click when I turned the ignition — my battery had died.
I felt an immediate sense of worry, realizing I might be stranded in the mountains, 20 miles from civilization with no ability to call for help. Not wanting to waste time, I rummaged through the back of the Jeep, hoping I had something to jump-start the battery. But just as I thought, there was nothing I could use.
Unlikely Kindness
Overly aware of the danger of my situation, a sense of dread started to take over. I would need to either find a way to start my engine or hunker down for the evening and hike back to town the next day. Luckily, a miracle drove up in a gray Jeep Wrangler just as my worry overtook my senses.
Out of the Wrangler stepped an older couple who shared my love of adventure and remote campsites. They were beginning to set up camp when I timidly approached them, asking, “Excuse me, but could I bother you for some help?”
After explaining the battery situation, they disappointedly told me they did not have jumper cables to start my battery. Luckily, they had been gifted a self-jump starter, which had never been opened. They shared it, allowing me to get the Jeep started to warm myself up. I thanked them, finished setting up camp, and called it a night.
I woke up to frost the next morning, a sign of a frigid night in the mountains. Despite being in a sleeping bag with wool socks and a heavy coat, I still needed the Jeep's heat to warm up. But when I started it up, a familiar situation presented itself — my battery had died once again.
At this point, I was confused but thankful the couple sharing the campsite beside me had not left yet. So, I once again sheepishly headed over to ask for assistance. This time, not only did they help me jump-start the Wrangler, but they also gave me a few more gifts.
Memorable Moments
After yet another battery mishap, I was able to get the Jeep running again. This time, however, I spent more time conversing with the couple. They saved me from getting stranded in the mountains and gifted me a book of trail maps I could use to navigate the backcountry of the Colorado mountains. They also expressed joy and excitement for me and the journey I was on.
This couple was thrilled to see someone my age out on the trail, having such a wonderful and unique experience. Through our conversation, they expressed how too many people did not take the opportunity to have these types of experiences until much later in life. It was a great conversation and validation of my journey at that particular time in my life. This moment was memorable, even after being interrupted by a bird that decided to swoop down and eat from the older gentleman’s cup of noodles—another memorable moment in what has become such an unforgettable trip.
Life Lessons
My experiences here set a tone for the rest of the trip and how I would approach every future adventure. These moments taught me to embrace the unexpected and appreciate the kindness of strangers along my journeys. What could have been a trip mired in difficulties became a unique adventure filled with valuable lessons, leaving me with an important reminder: adventures come with obstacles, but those obstacles make the journey memorable.
