what was the stupidest thing you did when you first started?
Well, this wan't the first stupidest thing (and probably not the last either), but two Decembers back when winter was really starting to come on, where heavy snow fall was being predicted for the mountain ranges below 5000 ft (a lite snowing had already taken place a week earlier), knowing I had a battery in my 4x4 truck that been showing signs of retirement, I headed out to do a final check on the property (Mineral Estate) postings and what not. Now, this property is approximately 45 miles from town, much of the accessed by a dirt road, the last 7 miles of which is pretty much 4x4 country only (I'm talking rough and narrow), and on the other side of a 4200 ft pass.
Well, early afternoon made it to the property entrance. Before continuing on in, I stopped to take some pressure off the bladder and inadvertently shut the engine off before getting out. Outside temp had dropped from 45 degrees just a couple of hours ago to just above freezing already...ice crystals not quite forming on the outside body panels yet. I'm thinking, OH SH*T! Sure enough the battery was nearly dead. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK is all the starter did. Well, I figured I had about four hours, at most, to hike about 3+ miles back to the main road on the opposite side of the mountain range and hope someone was coming down from one of the other roads. I figured my best and quickest bet would be to climb up the mountain (which I estimated to be about a 2000 ft) and down the other side which would bring me to the main road below the 4200 ft level.
Off I go. Climbing step ass terrain, over and under downed trees and through bushes, all of which are covered with remnants of the last weeks dusting of snow. About two hours later, I'm getting pretty close to reaching the point of the mountain where I intended to cross over. I'm Cold. Soaked from head to toe. Looking off in the distance, as far as I can see, its coming. A very dark band of clouds. Thoughts are racing through my mind. Continue on, hopping when, or If, I do make it to the road, will I come across help before I turn into a popsicle? Or do I go back down to the property, start a fire, get warmed up and hope someone comes looking for me? I've got food and water, and will have the truck as shelter from the elements. NO BRAINIER at that point. I got back to the truck a little before dark. Its getting real cold now, ice crystals forming all over the truck's body. I coast the truck down into the the flat of the property (I know, some are thing roll start the truck you idiot. It's an automatic) and proceeded collecting wood for a fire. I get the wood all set for the match and found I had no matches. I forgot to put them back in the truck after a clean out.
My body is shivering uncontrollably and starting to stiffen up. I'm having trouble thinking. Its almost dark to the point I can't see but a few feet. I'm thinking I have to pull a MacGyver, and quick. I had gas in a container for the chain saw and jumper cables (even if I forgot to bring matches, I learned some time ago, one never goes into this area without a working chainsaw and fuel. Its in an area of major fire damage. Dead trees fall over the access constantly). Jumper cables? Go figure. And there was still a little charge in the truck battery. Great idea, right? You all know what a spark near open flammables will do. I couldn't be so lucky. It was so cold the pre-mixed fuel, as cold as it was, wouldn't ignite with what little spark the battery could muster.
What now MacGyver? Answer: Heat the fuel and get it's molecules more active.
So I started the chain saw and worked it cutting up some of the wood I collected for the fire, and then while the saw was good and warm, poured some fuel over the hot muffler and onto the wood. Didn't take but one or two arcs from the cables and I had me a fire. And with all the fallen dead trees to choose my fire material from, I had a fire someone could see from a long ways away.
Couple hours later my cloths were dry and I was toasty warm allover. Now the wait for my rescue.
Snowfall still holding off, about midnight I hear the rumble of a familiar truck exhaust and see the glow of headlights coming through the trees. It was my son. He pulls up next to me standing by a nice fire and says, if I knew you intended a stay over, I wouldn't have come looking for you. The little Smart Ass.
Well, on somewhat of clear skies, I got back and after a nice shower I was in bed about 3:33 am only to be awaken by the wife at 7 am and told to take a look outside. There was atleast an inch of snow already on the lawn, and it was COMING down hard. This is at an elevation of just under a thousand feet. The winter snow fall starting that morning in December placed in excess of four feet over that mountain range, blocking access til some time in May.
hehhh
