One year ago today, I drove to the edge of a wilderness area to do a little shed hunting. Backed my truck up to the edge of steep drop-off so that it would be out of the way of any passing vehicles. Should have been concerned when I tried to lock the truck up and the automatic locks didn't work, but it's an old beater and I just assumed they had worn out. Spent the next ten hours hiking up and down mountains, combing for elk sheds. Found eight with one nice matching brown set. Got back to my truck just after dark. Loaded in the sheds. Turned the key, and got no response whatsoever--battery was completely dead. Cell phone had been left in searching-for-service mode all day and was dead, and I could not re-charge it because the truck battery was dead. Could not push my truck up the hill to try to push start it, and could not back it up because of the aforementioned steep drop-off. The temperature had dropped below freezing, and I was dressed in only a light jacket. I had not intended to camp, and didn't have any way to make a fire or stay warm. Over the years I've displayed more than my share of stupidity, but I don't recall ever doing so many stupid things in such short succession.
I was already stiff and sore from hiking all day--figured I'd already put in at least ten or twelve miles. But the next day was the turkey opener, so I thought if I just stuck to the road, I'd probably pass a turkey hunter camp and be able to get some help. Started walking out at about 8:30 p.m. Walked for 15 miles. Didn?t see a camp or another vehicle until I was all the way off the mountain, and hiking along a paved road that runs through Pueblo land. Finally, at 1:30 in the morning, I saw headlights off in the distance coming toward me. My first thought was to hide because I was not completely comfortable with the idea of who might be driving out in the middle of nowhere at that time of the morning, but my feet (also cursed with flat feet) and legs were so sore that I just didn't have the energy. So I just stood there holding my flashlight and literally prayed that the occupant of the oncoming vehicle would either offer help or otherwise just leave me alone.
Seeing me, the vehicle quickly slowed and stopped about 20 yards short of pulling up along side, the driver?s side window cracked open, and a deep voice boomed: "What the hell are you doing?" He obviously wondered what kind of idiot would be wandering around in the middle of nowhere at 1:30 a.m. on a freezing morning. I explained my plight. Dude turned out to be the Lieutenant Governor of the Pueblo. He was on patrol that night because earlier that day there had been a fight between some of his tribe and members of a neighboring Pueblo. He allowed me to use his cell to call my wife, and then drove me 20 or so miles to the nearest gas station where she came and picked me up. Dude wouldn't accept any payment or anything, but turns out, we both share a common friend, so I'm hoping that I get a turkey this year, so that I can get my friend to take him the tail feathers.
Gave my buddy who drove me back up the next day and towed my truck out of there the matching set of browns. My truck? Turns out the wire that recharges the battery came loose while driving up that rocky road... ;-(
