Dumped On

Yesterday was the last day of our field season.  After a brief visit to finish surveying some of our plots that had been covered in snow at the beginning of the season and some time tromping around the area to find some control soil cores to use for another experiment, my friend Jill and I decided to call it a season and head back down.  Now the hike to our sites is 3.5 miles one way and we noticed heading back that the sky was beginning to darken, signaling an impending thunderstorm.  We figured we would have plenty of time to make it back to the car before any serious trouble happened.  When we got about halfway around the lake, we started hearing some thunder and seeing some lightning.  A few weeks ago some hikers who were about 3 miles south of our location had been struck (no one was killed, but they were knocked down pretty badly) so we concurred that getting down would be a good idea.  We encountered some day hikers who were wondering about how far around the lake the trail would go and advised them that they should think about heading to lower ground considering how close the lightning was getting to us (approximately 6-10 miles by sound).  As we got out of the lake valley the ominous sound of the lightning continued at all sides and we hurried down only to see groups of hikers hunkered down in trees.  The whole time Jill kept chiming in, "Oh it won't rain, not really."

Low and behold, 5 minutes later we're pulling off to the side of the trail to put on raincoats and get out of the way of other hikers who are hurrying down the mountain as fast as they can.  Then it happens, the sky opens up and the rain and hail start coming down.  Bits of frozen rain pelt my ears and fingers causing them to sting and I am surrounded by the continual sounds of rain smacking my rain coat.  We pull off a few times to gauge how much longer it will take us to get to a fork in the trail or to a rock outcropping that might offer some shelter.  We stop a few times, unable to hear each other clearly and getting away from the trail that has suddenly become a muddy creek bed.  A puddle begins to form in my left boot causing me to slosh with each step and my pants have become completely soaked.  So have my clothes under my seemingly plastic raincoat.  We decide to make a break for it since Jill is freezing in her shorts and I'm already drenched.  Along the way we encounter poor youngsters who have gotten into more than they bargained for and are whimpering for warm clothes and an end to the agony of the hike downhill.  We slip and slide and find our footing in fresh mud as we maneuver past slower hikers until we finally arrive back at the car.  Pulling off the wet boots in favor of some sandals, we settle into the car and our heated car seats. 

When I finally get home, though, another surprise awaits me.  After showering and having some hot cocoa, I begin to unpack my bag so it can dry out.  The only electronics I had thought about were the digital camera which was protected in yet another bag.  But I had forgotten about my cell phone.  I pulled it out and found I could turn it on.  So I plugged it in to charge with a sigh of relief.  An hour later I went to turn it on, and nothing.  No power, no signal, no contact with the outside world.  Now I'm freaking out just thinking about the fact that I can't get a hold of anyone and no one can get a hold of me.  I run down to the office to hook up to the wireless network so I can send off some emails and let Josh know the situation.  In the middle of one of them the computer dies and I've forgotten the power cord.  In a mild panic, I run off downtown where I try to call him on a pay phone (but it doesn't take coins), then I try to collect call him (but he declines because it's outrageous) until I finally just find the nearest ATT dealer, which is the Radio Shack/True Value/Crafts store.  Eyeing the calling cards, I humbly give the man my phone explaining the situation.  He fiddles with it explaining that if it really is broken the most he can do is notify ATT but he can't replace it.  I sigh and start going through my options in my head when he miraculously plugs the phone into a power jack and the screen comes on.  The phone is saved, I have a connection with the outside world, and I don't have to worry about a freak rainstorm ruining the rest of my time here.

Comments

[Richard]

I worried that the "Dumped On" was in reference to the people you are working with. I'm happy you are safe and dry and have your connection back to the rest of the world.

Stay safe.

Love,
Richard