Page 38 - 2007 DT 12 Issues

May My Hikes, continued from p. 1 were frozen. Wally babbled on. “When
I bought this car, the first thing I did
D e s k S c h e d u l e the desolate trailhead where we would was buy a little magnetic box and put a
end our trek and drove together in my duplicate key in it and hide it outside the
car to the PA-NJ state line, where we car.” . . . “GET THE KEY—NOW”!
Tue/1 M. Slagle T./N. Hughes
started off. Nearly six hours later, ex- Wally slumped at the thought.
Wed/2 D. Kavula D. Schoengold hausted and shivering, we came down “But I bought the car six years ago and
Thur/3 G. Wojciechowski F. Davis the ridge to Wally’s car. Wally fumbled haven’t thought about the key since then.
J. Barrett for his keys, while I sat on a log staring I haven’t any idea where I hid it.” . . .
blankly into space. “Under the hood, Wally. Normal people
Fri/4 OPEN P. Gertis
Soon I heard mumbling. “I can’t hide . . . Never mind. Look under the
Sat/5 W. Barbuck W. Barbuck believe I did such a dumb thing. I just hood.” I buried my face in my hands
Sun/6 OPEN R. Erickson can’t believe it.” again. I heard the hood being lifted;
I sighed resignedly. “I believe it. Wally’s mumbles; The hood closing;
Mon/7 S. Stenzel J. Geier
What dumb thing did you do now?” “I Fenders being pounded; Trunk rattling;
Tue/8 C. Camburn J. Geier left my wallet and my car keys locked And then—-silence. I lifted my eyes.
Wed/9 OPEN D. Powers in you car.” It took a while to absorb this Nobody was around. I was deserted in
Thur/10 G. Wojciechowski F. Davis news. “Why would you do such a dumb the wilds. “Wally”! I was panicking.
thing, Wally?” “Wally”! A familiar mumble came from
J. Barrett Wally replied in his most profound beneath the car. “What are you doing
Fri/11 OPEN OPEN tone. “I just read in a hikers’ magazine down there? You wouldn’t hid a key on
Sat/12 P. VanDooremaal C. McLaughlin about two guys on the Appalachian Trail the power drive.” I heard a heavenly
in Virginia who were mugged and lost voice: Oh, yes, he would.
Sun/13 J. Sacks T./N. Hughes
all their money and car keys.” . . . “That I hauled the contrite Wally back
Mon/14 D. Schoengold OPEN story is five years old. Magazines keep to search under the hood. I noticed he

Tue/15 M. Slagle OPEN regurgitating it because it’s so rare—like had produced a flashlight. He told me
Wed/16 L. Mills D. Powers getting hit by a comet”! Wally intoned, he had packed one in his gear. “Always
“Well, you can’t be too careful.” prepared,” he assured me. With our
Thur/17 G. Wojciechowski F. Davis My head sunk to my knees. The heads buried in the engine compartment,
J. Barrett valley had darkened and become colder. Wally let out a yip. “See it? There. . .
Fri/18 G. Fazio OPEN Snow flakes were dropping down the wedged between the knootin’ rod and
back of my neck. Suddenly I heard the the bleston gasket.”
Sat/19 J. Kisosondi C. McLaughlin
smack of flesh upon flesh. Wally was Extracting the key box was difficult
Sun/20 OPEN T./N. Hughes slapping his forehead with his palm. and I repressed the question why Wally
Mon/21 S. Stenzel J. Geier “How dumb can I be”! he kept repeating. ever hid it in such a god-awful place. I
Tue/22 C. Camburn J. Geier I waited for an answer. He stopped beat- knew his answer: Can’t be too careful.
ing his forehead and was now patting his The box and key were rusty but they did
Wed/23 R. Kinn OPEN waistline. “I forgot. Can you imagine? the job and we were soon on our way,
Thur/24 OPEN F. Davis I forgot that I got on a money belt with me in silence, Wally babbling happily. I
J. Barrett plenty of cash. I always take precau- never hiked with Wally again.
tions.” I stared back at him dumbly. But I’m being unfair. In truth Wally
Fir/25 G. Faxio M./L. Utah
“Don’t you see? We’ll call a cab and go was a good trail companion and a loyal
Sat/26 OPEN R. Conductor back to your car and . . . .” friend. Actually, only one person was re-
Sun/27 OPEN M./L. Utah “Wally. Look around you. We’re sponsible for my worst experience—me.
Mon/28 T./N. Hughes R. Erickson in a wilderness. No wires. No poles. It was decades later-—mid-1990s—-and
No telephones. No cabs.” Wally’s face I was then a confirmed Nevadan explor-
Tue/29 M. Slagle OPEN slowly registered despair. I wondered ing its endless trails. On this lovely
Wed/30 B. Wolin OPEN how long hypothermia takes before spring Sunday, I was walking alone on
Thur/31 G. Wojciechowski F. Davis merciful death. A long silence. Then a trail beside Mount Potosi when a small
Wally’s hallelujah rang, “All this worry herd of wild horses (remember?) joined
J. Barrett
and for nothing. I’ve got a key”! I should me. They followed along for almost 10
have joined the rejoicing, but instead I minutes until I was spooked and then,
Changes? Call Kate at 515-5350 rose to strangle Wally, but my fingers satisfied that they had intimidated me,

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