W
HEN WE WERE YOUNG, my brother Alvin and I, went elk hunting together up the Valicito River in the San Juan National Forest of Southern Colorado. We hired an outfitter to pack us in to a campsite at the foot of Sheep Draw on Mount Emerson. We were camping at 9,000 feet elevation and planned to hunt up toward the timberline, which was at nearly 12,000 feet. After the packer dumped our gear and headed his pack horses back down the trail, we quickly searched for a place to erect our A-frame tent. It didn’t take long because we wanted to scope the high meadows before dark. We knew that if elk could be spotted before dark they would be near there at daybreak. We spent a sleepless night because the flow of the Valicito was noisy and there were several wind squalls
we started up Sheep Draw. Alvin took the left side and I the right. Our next rendezvous was planned for late in the day or after dark at camp. At about 10,000 feet elevation, my path was blocked by a steep rock wall. To get over the barrier I climbed on top of one rock and reached for another to assist my climb. However, it was inches away from my reach. Just a small jump would help get me to the trail I needed only twenty yards away. Leap I did, which was a terrible decision. The ledge that was to hold me was a loose rock. In that instant, I realized it was one of the worst mistakes of my life. In the early darkness, I fell and began sliding down a very steep slope leading to a giant rock slide stretching far below. I could feel my slide gaining momentum as I tried to grab small trees and rocks but to no avail. Just ahead of me was a small clump of bushes on the edge of the rock slide. Beyond these bushes there was nothing to stop me from going over the rock slide. THE WILDERNESS WILL GREET YOU WITH ITS BEAUTY My only chance of survival was AND INDEPENDENCE. YOU ENTER ON ITS TERMS. IT to spread my legs wide to catch OFFERS YOU ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY BUT NEVER as many bushes as possible. PROTECTION AND SYMPATHY. YOU ARE WELCOMED Suddenly my slide stopped in BUT NOT SOLICITED. the middle of the bushes. I lay very still not wanting to loosen anything holding me. I soon throughout the night. We also were anxious about our realized my hunting rifle had gone on down the rock slide and I could sense the vast open space near my feet. The early rise that would allow us to be near where we saw elk grazing a few hours earlier. So while it was still dark, few sprouts had probably saved my life.
