This blog was supposed to be about our time in Telluride and my races in Silverton and Aspen, but instead it’s about how our car ended up totaled on a forest service road outside of Silverton, CO.
First, I want to say that I decided to run Mogollon Monster 100. I ran Zane Grey (mostly ran Zane Grey?) to prove to myself that I could run Mogollon Monster. Although my day did not go as planned, I finished that race. I had been on the fence about the race since my trail running wasn’t going so well, but I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I hired Cheryl Miller of GetFit Sports Training to coach me. I have pulled together a crew leader, not Norm but Hayley Pollack. I need someone who is not afraid to get mean. Of course what started out as “I just need to finish to get my Hardrock qualifier” quickly spiraled into “I want to finish under 30 hours.”
Friday, we left Telluride for Silverton. We stopped at the hot springs in Ouray. Sinjin and Norm had a blast on the obstacle course. Ava and I had fun people watching. After a few hours at the hot springs we headed to Silverton to camp at South Mineral Springs. I love dispersed camping, but the kids like to have a toilet close by. I decided to be nice and see if there was a spot at the pay campground with a toilet, but the campground was full. We headed about a mile down the road and picked a spot that was right on the river. The kids played while Norm and I set up tents and got out the food for dinner. We weren’t unpacking everything because we were only staying the night. We would be up early the next morning so I could race Kendall Mountain and then leave for Aspen. At some point Ava and I had decided to walk to the bathroom and it was a little more than 15 minutes to get there. After dinner, Sinjin needed to use the bathroom so I told Norm to drive him down there. They hoped in the truck and took off. Ava, Enzo and I were being very loud. We were laughing and being silly. We joked when the San Juan County Officer drove by that we were going to get kicked out of nature for being too loud. Enzo and I decided to run up the side of the mountain, just rock scrambling. Ava wanted us to stay up there so Norm could take a picture when he came back, but it was starting to get dark and I was worried the sun would set fast.
First, I want to say that I decided to run Mogollon Monster 100. I ran Zane Grey (mostly ran Zane Grey?) to prove to myself that I could run Mogollon Monster. Although my day did not go as planned, I finished that race. I had been on the fence about the race since my trail running wasn’t going so well, but I couldn’t get the thought out of my head. I hired Cheryl Miller of GetFit Sports Training to coach me. I have pulled together a crew leader, not Norm but Hayley Pollack. I need someone who is not afraid to get mean. Of course what started out as “I just need to finish to get my Hardrock qualifier” quickly spiraled into “I want to finish under 30 hours.”
Friday, we left Telluride for Silverton. We stopped at the hot springs in Ouray. Sinjin and Norm had a blast on the obstacle course. Ava and I had fun people watching. After a few hours at the hot springs we headed to Silverton to camp at South Mineral Springs. I love dispersed camping, but the kids like to have a toilet close by. I decided to be nice and see if there was a spot at the pay campground with a toilet, but the campground was full. We headed about a mile down the road and picked a spot that was right on the river. The kids played while Norm and I set up tents and got out the food for dinner. We weren’t unpacking everything because we were only staying the night. We would be up early the next morning so I could race Kendall Mountain and then leave for Aspen. At some point Ava and I had decided to walk to the bathroom and it was a little more than 15 minutes to get there. After dinner, Sinjin needed to use the bathroom so I told Norm to drive him down there. They hoped in the truck and took off. Ava, Enzo and I were being very loud. We were laughing and being silly. We joked when the San Juan County Officer drove by that we were going to get kicked out of nature for being too loud. Enzo and I decided to run up the side of the mountain, just rock scrambling. Ava wanted us to stay up there so Norm could take a picture when he came back, but it was starting to get dark and I was worried the sun would set fast.
Our camp site in Silverton
We LOVED this campsite!
Norm and Sinjin before the accident.
Right after Enzo and I got back to camp the San Juan County Officer pulled up. “Oh crap!” I thought we were in trouble for either being too loud in nature or running up the side of the mountain where there wasn’t a trail. The officer got out and I took a minute to finish pouring my water, not wanting to deal with whatever was about to happen. Then I see Norm get out of the back seat. My first thought was, “that’s nice they got a ride.” I temporarily forgot they took the truck. When I saw Norm’s face I knew something was wrong. “Are you okay?” I asked. He just shook his head no. Then Sinjin got out of the car. He immediately started crying. To be honest, I don’t really remember how the rest happened. I guess someone told me there was an accident. Sinjin was shaking and crying so I sat him down and had someone get him a blanket to wrap around him. We waited for the ambulance to come check Sinjn. He checked out fine, just some scrapes on his leg and back. He needed a change of clothes because there was glass in his pants.
I wasn’t there, but here is what I understand to have happened. Norm and Sinjin were headed back from the bathroom. They had pulled over and stopped to let a few cars pass. They had just started to go again when Sinjin waved at some people camping. Then the next thing Norm knew the passenger side tires were slipping off the road. He tried to correct, but too late. The car rolled down a 10 feet ravine and landed driver side door on the ground. The people at the camp ground that waved to Sinjin told me later that they heard a noise. One of them said to the others that it just didn't sound right and they went to check it out. They helped Sinjin and Norm get out of the car and waved down the officer.
I wasn’t there, but here is what I understand to have happened. Norm and Sinjin were headed back from the bathroom. They had pulled over and stopped to let a few cars pass. They had just started to go again when Sinjin waved at some people camping. Then the next thing Norm knew the passenger side tires were slipping off the road. He tried to correct, but too late. The car rolled down a 10 feet ravine and landed driver side door on the ground. The people at the camp ground that waved to Sinjin told me later that they heard a noise. One of them said to the others that it just didn't sound right and they went to check it out. They helped Sinjin and Norm get out of the car and waved down the officer.
The wrecked car the day after.
We had no cell service where we were camping. The officer was kind enough to take me into town so that I could try to get in touch with Hayley or Jamil for some help. The officer told me he really wanted to see me race the next day. Enzo was with us and happened to see Hayley’s tent. We stopped to talk to her. What did I need? I couldn’t really think straight. My bag was the only bag still in the car. Hayley gave me some warm clothes and granola bars. She offered to come get me in the morning so that I could still race. I told her there was a random boot in front of our campsite. But the officer had picked up that boot. He said he would leave a large orange cone and the boot so she could find my campsite. The officer was kind enough to take us back to the car so he could get my bag for me. All of my running clothes were still in that bag. When I saw the car I felt a little sick to my stomach. I knew they had rolled the car, but seeing it in the bushes with all the windows broken out, it was too much. Back at the campsite I realize that we have food at camp but no bear box because we keep everything in the car. I also realize I do not have any tampons. Those are also in the car.
We cleaned up the campsite best as possible and put all the food and trash in a plastic box. I took the box as far from camp as possible and covered it in the vinyl roof top soft box. I will admit that I was a little worried about attracting a bear. We got into our sleeping bags and tried to go to sleep. This is when I realized the officer did not leave the cone and boot for Hayley to find my campground. My mind was racing with all the things that we would need to do. Also, we were in the national forest with no cell reception. We were going to have to hitch a ride to town in the morning. Sinjin lost one shoe in the accident so he had no shoes to wear. There wasn’t much sleep. 1. Sinjin was having nightmares all night. 2. I couldn’t fall back asleep thinking about what we should do the next day and the fact that we did not have a bear box. 3. I was FREZZING cold despite wearing 2 pairs of socks, a shirt, a hoodie, and a puffer jacket and 4. My wallet and tampons were still in the truck. When Hayley came to pick me up, I was not outside waiting.
When Norm and I woke up there was ice all over everything. No wonder we were so cold! I was also pleasantly surprised to see the officer had come back to leave the boot and the cone for Hayley to see. We walked down to the bathrooms and saw the cutest thing! There was a deer on the road just looking at us. It started to walk towards us and then went up the road that goes to Clear Lake. Then all of the sudden it popped out of the bushes and started hopping along the road in front of us. We were so delighted! We laughed as the deer showed off for us. It was a great moment. We stopped to talk to the people camped next to the accident. They told us that people stopped constantly to look and see what happened and if anyone needed help. They also said people stopped to ask them questions. We joked they should charge for information and make a few bucks. Walking through their camp it was easier to get to the wrecked car. We used a long stick to get my bag out of the car, but my wallet had fallen out. So now I had tampons, but no wallet. I have never been so happy to see tampons! We walked down to the bathroom and on the way back to our camp asked the people near our wrecked truck if we could get a ride to town. They said yes. We walked back to camp to wake up the kids. We got everyone up and dressed and walked back to our ride (Sinjin just wearing socks). In town the kids headed to the park. Enzo was recruited to take finish line photos of the race and Norm and I went to have coffee at Mobius. It was nice to sit for a minute and just drink coffee. We headed back to the finish line and started making calls. The poor Allstate insurance call operator in India could not understand the concept of BLM land or forest service road. She really was concerned that we had ruined someone’s property. “The bushes you hit are worth something to someone”, she kept saying.
As the storms rolled in I put the kids in back of the Aravaipa supply truck. I bought lunch for everyone, but Norm had to wait in line to get a burger for him and Sinjin. While he was in line he started talking to a guy named Luke. When he told Luke our story, Luke offered to drive us to Durango. In the end, Luke drove us back to the wrecked car so we could get my wallet, Sinjin’s missing shoe and our laptops that I was convinced where ruined from the rain. Then we went back to our campsite. I told everyone to grab a few items of clothes. Everything had to fight in my small Patagonia bag. Enzo took apart his bike and we put everything in the trunk. We left all of our camping supplies and bags of clothes at the site. Luke was so kind to drive us to Durango, but also offered us money (we didn't take it) but it was so very kind of him to be concerned about us.
Mostly I have been very business like. We need to do this. We need to do that. I know that Norm feels terrible and I don't want him to feel that way. I did have one moment of breakdown after we checked into the hotel in Durango. I just cried thinking about the what if.
We heard today from the tow truck in Silverton that our truck was towed out, but that it was definitely totaled. Tomorrow we will head back to Silverton to deal with insurance stuff and get our things that survived the wreck. We would like to buy another Expedition while we are here so we don't have to drive a rental car to Arizona. Hopefully we will be back in Arizona by mid week. I normally love camping and love Colorado, but I am ready to just be home.
I do want to say a huge THANK YOU to Officer Ian Tanner of the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. He went above and beyond and I appreciate all of his help.
We cleaned up the campsite best as possible and put all the food and trash in a plastic box. I took the box as far from camp as possible and covered it in the vinyl roof top soft box. I will admit that I was a little worried about attracting a bear. We got into our sleeping bags and tried to go to sleep. This is when I realized the officer did not leave the cone and boot for Hayley to find my campground. My mind was racing with all the things that we would need to do. Also, we were in the national forest with no cell reception. We were going to have to hitch a ride to town in the morning. Sinjin lost one shoe in the accident so he had no shoes to wear. There wasn’t much sleep. 1. Sinjin was having nightmares all night. 2. I couldn’t fall back asleep thinking about what we should do the next day and the fact that we did not have a bear box. 3. I was FREZZING cold despite wearing 2 pairs of socks, a shirt, a hoodie, and a puffer jacket and 4. My wallet and tampons were still in the truck. When Hayley came to pick me up, I was not outside waiting.
When Norm and I woke up there was ice all over everything. No wonder we were so cold! I was also pleasantly surprised to see the officer had come back to leave the boot and the cone for Hayley to see. We walked down to the bathrooms and saw the cutest thing! There was a deer on the road just looking at us. It started to walk towards us and then went up the road that goes to Clear Lake. Then all of the sudden it popped out of the bushes and started hopping along the road in front of us. We were so delighted! We laughed as the deer showed off for us. It was a great moment. We stopped to talk to the people camped next to the accident. They told us that people stopped constantly to look and see what happened and if anyone needed help. They also said people stopped to ask them questions. We joked they should charge for information and make a few bucks. Walking through their camp it was easier to get to the wrecked car. We used a long stick to get my bag out of the car, but my wallet had fallen out. So now I had tampons, but no wallet. I have never been so happy to see tampons! We walked down to the bathroom and on the way back to our camp asked the people near our wrecked truck if we could get a ride to town. They said yes. We walked back to camp to wake up the kids. We got everyone up and dressed and walked back to our ride (Sinjin just wearing socks). In town the kids headed to the park. Enzo was recruited to take finish line photos of the race and Norm and I went to have coffee at Mobius. It was nice to sit for a minute and just drink coffee. We headed back to the finish line and started making calls. The poor Allstate insurance call operator in India could not understand the concept of BLM land or forest service road. She really was concerned that we had ruined someone’s property. “The bushes you hit are worth something to someone”, she kept saying.
As the storms rolled in I put the kids in back of the Aravaipa supply truck. I bought lunch for everyone, but Norm had to wait in line to get a burger for him and Sinjin. While he was in line he started talking to a guy named Luke. When he told Luke our story, Luke offered to drive us to Durango. In the end, Luke drove us back to the wrecked car so we could get my wallet, Sinjin’s missing shoe and our laptops that I was convinced where ruined from the rain. Then we went back to our campsite. I told everyone to grab a few items of clothes. Everything had to fight in my small Patagonia bag. Enzo took apart his bike and we put everything in the trunk. We left all of our camping supplies and bags of clothes at the site. Luke was so kind to drive us to Durango, but also offered us money (we didn't take it) but it was so very kind of him to be concerned about us.
Mostly I have been very business like. We need to do this. We need to do that. I know that Norm feels terrible and I don't want him to feel that way. I did have one moment of breakdown after we checked into the hotel in Durango. I just cried thinking about the what if.
We heard today from the tow truck in Silverton that our truck was towed out, but that it was definitely totaled. Tomorrow we will head back to Silverton to deal with insurance stuff and get our things that survived the wreck. We would like to buy another Expedition while we are here so we don't have to drive a rental car to Arizona. Hopefully we will be back in Arizona by mid week. I normally love camping and love Colorado, but I am ready to just be home.
I do want to say a huge THANK YOU to Officer Ian Tanner of the San Juan County Sheriff's Office. He went above and beyond and I appreciate all of his help.
