08/05/2026
My predicament was my hurt wrist from falling on my hike into Lake City. At the bar Climb, where we grabbed a beer before the Sunday night dinner, fellow hiker BMW took one look at my wrist and said matter of factly that it was broken. I wouldn’t necessarily take the word of any hiker trash, but BMW was also an ER doctor. Uh oh.
At hiker dinner, one of the locals I met was Marsha who happened to be the X-ray tech at the local clinic. So bright and early Monday morning, I went to see Marsha and the rest off the staff at the clinic. They were all so nice and I was helped right away. Unfortunately, BMW had been right. My wrist was broken and the nurse proceeded to wrap my arm in a brace that surely would prevent me from putting on my backpack or setting up my tarp. My hike was officially over.
The next course of action was to return home. But Lake City is famously remote. There’s no public transportation — no bus or plane service. The hiker center recommended I post on the locals’ page and ask for a ride to Gunnison, about 55 miles northeast.
Within a short time of posting, I had offers of help pouring in. In total seven people offered specific assistance, including an offer from someone driving all the way back to Texas in a few days! Wow. Where ever I went in town, locals would recognize me from my post. The check-out lady at the General Store asked if I’d found a ride yet. People at the Packer Saloon and the Bakery asked if I needed any further help with a ride. The woman who runs Breakfast Hangout & Euphoria and Hangout Hostel (which by the way are both awesome!) also checked to make sure I had found transportation.
It was incredible generosity. Not just a willingness to help a stranger … it was an eagerness to help someone in need. I’m still completely humbled by the experience.
