Editor’s Note: Bill Powell is sharing his “hike for literacy” adventures with the Journal. This is the third submission we have received from Powell as he makes his way along his route. As I entered the Collegiate West I knew I was entering the most remote segments of the Colorado Trail.
The Collegiate West is known for spectacular views, fewer re-supply options and subject to menacing weather. But, the remoteness appealed to me. Within the first five miles I had my first close-up wildlife encounter when I surprised a rather large bear which stood no more than fifteen feet from me.
He seemed to be as surprised as I was, and luckily not interested in getting to know me better. He ran off one way and I quickly went another. Other animal encounters were not nearly as exciting, but still fun as I had frequent close sightings of mule deer, marmots, picas and other various species.
The Collegiate West can best be described as a series of mountain passes requiring long difficult climbs followed by knee testing descents. Hope Pass was the first test with an elevation change of more than three-thousand feet. This pass was followed by Lake Ann Pass which also had immense boulder fields to cross.
Boulders as big as cars to football sized rocks required some significant scrambling and a severe test for my ankles and knees. Of all my memories of the Collegiate West the one that will forever be imprinted in my brain is the weather. It stormed every day.
..EVERY DAY.
Storms in such a remote area can be life threatening. Being caught in the open when a hailstorm starts is concerning, but when it is promptly followed by earth shaking thunder and blinding lightning it becomes very frightening. Running with a full pack to find something to hide under provides some real clarity.
Luckily, I was ultimately able to quickly set up my tent, get dry clothes on to avoid hypothermia and hike on to camp. However, the worst weather awaited. That very evening, after a rare glimpse of blue sky, a series of thunderstorms came through for a solid three hours, ending at 1:30 a.
m. It would be understatement to say that prayers were spoken during that time. As several inches of rain fell and severe winds blew I was forced to hold my tent poles in place to avoid the tent collapsing around me or being blown down.
It was an ordeal I hope to never be part of again. So, the Collegiate West is spectacularly beautiful, but subject to intense weather and treacherous hiking. I am now more than halfway through this adventure and completed the Collegiates.
I am Hiking for Literacy on behalf of Rotary. Why am I so passionate about literacy? It is because I know from personal experience how a lack of literacy can half a profound effect on life. My father was not literate.
He lived in a time where education was a nice bonus, but working to help support the family was more valued. However, his lack of literacy profoundly affected his ability to get higher paying jobs. He was clearly embarrassed by the situation, and to his credit took reading lessons in his forties to improve his reading skills, but opportunities were lost by that time.
I can’t imagine the struggle to hide his deficiency. I can never repay his encouragement for me to read as much as possible. The importance of literacy cannot be overstated.
My father quit school in the fourth grade. I have no doubt that part of that decision was because he could not do the work due to his lack of literacy. I don’t ever want to see a child not be able to read for a lack of encouragement or a lack of easily available books.
Please consider supporting Rotary’s literacy project. Follow the link: https://martinsburgsunriserotary.org/ep-reading-program/ .
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