Into The Ditch

Ahhhh yes! Let me tell you a story

The plan was simple: drive to Abraham Lake to see the frozen bubbles. Easy day, right? Wrong. The road was closed because of avalanche risk. So I thought, fuck it, I’ll go to Emerald Lake instead.

On the way there I already saw a few cars tipped over on the road. At that point turning back probably would’ve been the smart move…but my mom didn’t raise a pussy. Also, I was rolling on all-season tires, which in hindsight was already a dumb-ass decision.

Halfway through the trail I thought the ice was thick enough to walk on. It wasn’t. I stepped through and got soaked. Good thing I had spare clothes in the car — gym shorts and dry socks — because otherwise that would’ve been even more fucked.

Then on the drive back, about 15 minutes in, my car just skids straight into the snow on the side of the road. A few people stopped and tried to help push it out, but no luck. So they drove me to this fancy-ass lodge so I could call a tow truck, because there’s zero signal anywhere out there.

I called a bunch of towing companies — all of them said anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour to get there but would have to be the next day. Luckily one guy said he could come that same night and planned to meet at the car. The problem? My car was 8 km away.

No street lights. No houses. No nothing. Just me and a flashlight from my phone that had 28% battery left. The second I turned the light off it was pitch black, I shit you not. Like the kind of dark where you can’t even see your own hand.

I kept walking, hoping some car would pass and give me a ride. Nope. Not a single one.
That was easily the scariest walk of my life. I’m out there thinking if something comes out of the woods I’m probably getting cooked. No breaks, just walking fast trying to beat the cold.

Then about 10 minutes away from my car, I see headlights in the distance. At first I’m thinking please let that be the tow guy. And it was.
I was happy as hell.
Dude pulls up, super chill, hooks the car up, and goes, “Yeah man, this is probably the easiest recovery I’ve done all day.”
And the best part? I still havnt bought winter tires.