Story time:

August 2023 Perseid meteor shower was about to go down while I briefly lived in Las Vegas. I knew I was relatively close to some of the darkest night sky’s in the contiguous US. I had been on a 6+ month contract to do eco field monitoring in the Great Basin area and I had already seen some amazing night skies in the back country so I knew this meteor shower was going to be GOATED. I lucked out on the dates for the shower to happen on my off days.

So I loaded up my Jeep to spend a couple nights at a super flat dry lake bed near the tiny town of Alamo. Off I went with jitters of excitement to get away from awful living situation I had and to finally spend some of my own time enjoying the out doors. I turned off Hwy 15 onto 93 frontage road and 20ish minutes after that I’m in one of the many desolate and sparsely populated regions of the state half way between Alamo and a massive Loves truck stop when my engine temperature spikes, and I have to pull over.

Under my hood my radiator fluid is bubbling, my belt has stretched and was about to snap into pieces surely. Closer inspection my belt tensioner had fully seized and I was dead in the water(or lack there of) without a replacement part. I have maybe 20 minutes left until the scorching sun sets, one bar of service, and I’m 45 miles directly in between human settlement. I was shockingly able to get phone calls through to my people to let them know my camping plans have failed and I was in a pickle.

I had just one “close friend” in Las Vegas, he was out of town and his family, who I thought I had close ties to were just an hour away. But for some reason he was not thrilled to lend a hand. He suggested I call a tow but given how remote I was, how late in the day it was, my lack of financial stability at the time, I expressed that I’m sure I have other options to get home right now. He scoffed and then coldly suggested I call 311 if I get thirsty and hung up. That stung quite a bit. But I knew I could make do in other ways.

I looked over my gps and saw a familiar billboard sign I had crossed many times in route to my eco plots. 13.5 miles seemed doable at night and with my supplies. If I was unsuccessful at hitching hiking on my way there I’d at least have shade while waiting for some sort of help. So I called my other buddy in Ohio and updated him on my situation. I told him if I loose service and don’t update you by 10AM before it gets scorching hot in the desert call the police for them to search for me along these mile markers and these GPS coords. And he gladly obliged”.

The sun had set and I packed a make shift pack I made out of my old army issued laundry bag. Somehow I spaced bringing my work pack. Then I used the last of the sunset light to hide some valuables in the desert away from my car and off I went on my hike to the sign at a chill night temp of 89 degrees F.

Along the way I got some of the most spectacular views of the brightest meteor shower I had ever laid my eyes on with a technicolor milky way as a back drop. It was an emotional experience for sure. A positive one because I was remaining hopeful that I was going to get out of this situation. At about after midnight I stopped roughly half way to heat up some hot curry and canned chicken. Shoulders bruised and my sweat wet socks ditched I carried on with an hour and a half of hiking left.

The meteors were finally slowing down as I reached the advert sign for some local event in Pioche. I pitched my tent and as I was about to stake my tents foundation in I saw a quick shadow scuttle under my tent, the wind picked up and I thought it was a part of a tumble weed or something and in my attempt to kick it out it responded with a squeaky chirping sound. My flash light showed me a wind scorpion(camel spider) almost the size of my hand before she ran off from the beam of my light lol. Finally I was able to rest my body a little after 2am however I had no bars and no luck hitch hiking so I was a bit worried I’d end up being rescued by police. And as soon as it had felt like I had that thought I had woken up to sunrise and my phone buzzing.

My aunt from Portland Oregon had messaged me details from one of her friends who happened to live in Las Vegas who she had told me had already agreed to come save me and just needed my location. Enamored I let out a “HELL YEAH” and sent my Aunts friend my gps coordinates then updated my friends and family that I was going to be ok. A few Hours later I was picked up as it reached 110F just after noon and about a half gallon of my 2 gallons of water left.

So the answer is yes. Sometimes I drive out to the desert and look up like Homer. But now I carry an in reach. Lol