>>1364056>this past summer>working for an outdoor education guiding company>It's staff training week so all 30 of us contracted staff go on a mandatory week-long training trip>out backpacking in Bear Creek area of LaPlata Mountains just a couple hours west of Durago>set up our 4th night high camp under Sentennial Peak>hear there are forest fires in the area>Head guide: "fuck, those clouds are awfully orange">We're close enough to Burro Canyon Fire that we call Basecamp and get an update on the spread>Smoke everywhere>Basecamp: "if you stay you're gonna die, get the fuck outta there and meet us on the other side of Kennebec Pass">30 people just pack their shit as quickly as possible and ascend to Kennebec Pass to get away from the flamesIt was 12:45PM by the time we made it to 11,600 feet, and we stood there on this massive scree field silver glowing scree field on the crown of the LaPlatas. As we all took a water break, all I could see was the milky way above us, and this blazing inferno below where our camp used to be. Certainly something worth remembering.
How did I get to that point in my life?