Mountain Hiking and a Stone Hut

Twenty-four hours ago Anita and I were under the impression that our husbands would be spending the night in a stone hut near the summit of Long's Peak. That was the word from Chris who had called using the cell phone of another hiker (one of about 17) who had sought refuge in that tiny space. They had successfully reached the summit about 11:30 a.m., enjoyed the awesome view, and had taken several photos.

It was on the descent about 1:00 p.m. that the storm (predicted by TV forecasters and park rangers to begin about 4:00 p.m.) hit without much warning. They were caught in the open in wind, rain, hail, and lightning. The only thing to do was to hunker down together so as not to be lightning rods and wait till it let up enough that they could see and more safely make their way to a safer part of the trail. It was at what is called the "keyhole" that they would be off the most dangerous and difficult part of the descent.

Bill is making his way across the Boulder Field to the "keyhole" at the top of the photo. Upon going through this feature, Chris said the view was absolutely the most awesome thing. This, of course, was on the ascent to the summit with the bright sun upon them.

Bill gives a "thumbs up" sign in the entrance to the stone hut that (on the way down) provided 15-20 hikers with welcome shelter from wind, rain, and cold. Someone had put a makeshift fabric door on the entrance by the time Bill and Chris arrived.

By the time they reached shelter, both were soaked to the skin, cold and shivering, and near complete exhaustion. Bill and Chris both said that there was a point where they questioned whether they would make it down off the mountain or die there. Everyone who reached the hut was wet, cold, and in various stages of "health" as far as continuing was concerned. Someone had a cell phone and called the park rangers for help. In very few hours help arrived with warm, dry clothes and other equipment to prepare the stranded hikers to continue their descent.

Bill was one of those having more trouble than some (A bit of altitude sickness, low blood sugar, a bit of hypothermia). The park rangers ordered Chris to go on with the first group to leave the shelter since he was now warmed up and seemed fit to continue. He was not pleased to leave his dad behind; however, there were experienced rangers and a physician to see that Bill was made able to go on. Before beginning his descent with the last group, the rangers used some heat packs to help warm Bill up. Along the trail these rangers and a medic made sure that he was in as good shape as possible.

Chris made it down to the ranger station (9400 ft.) by 8:45 p.m. with his group who ran part of the trail in order to cover as much as possible in daylight. Anita picked him up and got him home to a hot shower, dry clothes, food, and a comfortable bed. Bill was at the ranger station by midnight where Anita and I met him. However, he was transported by ambulance to the ER so that he could be checked over. Except for finding him somewhat dehydrated and with low blood sugar, the doctor found no reason to admit him. Bill was not very talkative. After a hot shower he dropped into bed.

In the past forty-eight hours I've been through a range of emotions. Even before the guys left for the trailhead at 1:00 a.m., I was not keen on their hiking this mountain. Bill and I had watched the instructional video on the climb (his second viewing, my first). This was not a walk in the park. Forty to fifty people have died on this mountain over the years! So I was very apprehensive when they left.

As I watched the clouds roll in and compared the time with the optimum schedule printed in the instructional book, I became uneasy and worried. Chris' first call about their situation really had me scared. Sure, they were in a shelter and not alone, but they were still far above timberline and in wet clothes with no way to warm up. His second call was to let us know that there was no way to get out except to hike it; and since some of the group would need some attention, they might be forced to spend the night. Now I'm not only worried and scared, I'm also angry that they attempted such a climb for their first one ever!

Chris' call at 9:00 p.m. that he was at the ranger station and his dad was three hours behind him with the park rangers brought me such relief that I wanted to cry. A few hours later when I saw my husband of nearly 41 years taken away in an ambulance, I felt relief and that old anger again. And as I've listened to him and Chris recount their experience to Anita and I (and to the several who have called or emailed to check on their well-being), I have thanked God many times for bringing these two precious men home safely. We are truly blessed.

If you visit with either of these guys, you will get a better picture of their experience than I could give here. By the way, they intend to hike other less strenuous (translated, dangerous) trails in the future! I just hope I can survive the emotional roller coaster.

Following are some of the photos they got before the weather intervened:

Sunrise above treeline on Long's Peak hike

Bill is having "breakfast" in the Boulder Field.

Chris is also in the Boulder Field, and far behind him you can see the "keyhole" mentioned earlier.

Chris just made it through the "keyhole".

Bill and Chris at the top of Long's Peak

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