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The Indian Peaks Wilderness

A Biography and Portfolio

By Chris Davis Published 4 years ago 5 min read
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Arapaho Pass, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Colorado

My mind rushes/drifts like the rivers of high Colorado and my heart lies in the arms of Mother Nature. My soul is tied to the strings of the universe and my energy flows to and from the consciousness around me. I wander the roads and trails of the world; traveling, meditating, experiencing. I accept the past, indulge in the present, and look forward to the future. -King Llouie

Caribou Lake Trail

In the small town of Springville Utah, I was raised as well as my stubborn, rebelious, naive self allowed my parents to raise me. Not only did I make it out alive, I learned some quality common sense and put a head on my shoulders. Like most adolescence transitioning into adulthood, I had to suffer through twelve years of excruciating pain and psychological torture known as high school. While I value education and incourage the expansion of the mind, I spent most days feeling caged or trapped. Anxious about getting the highest grades and worried about getting stuck in a nine to five job, I developed a need for freedom, adventure, and inner peace. Although teenhood provided sneak peaks at the main game, the very real and unfathomable world I was about to be thrown into was just waiting for me to graduate. With the help of high school woodshop and the tools in my dads garage, I was able to convert a 2007 Chevrolet 15 passanger van into a small cabin on wheels. Miraculously passing my english class, I DROVE through my graduation cerimony hanging out the side of my new house.

Red Devil Pride

Along with frequent hiking, climbing, backpacking trips, my new and improved van, and a lifelong gathering of gear, I had everything I needed to spend the summer living in and exploring Colorado.

(My backpack is bigger than I am and isn't pictured)

That table turns into a bed;)

The Kitchen

The Cockpit
Sticker Collection

June 5th was the day I left to Colorado, driving five hours to get to Vail where I parked at a trailhead and backpacked five miles into the mountains to sleep in a hammock in the snow! It was a refreshing and exciting intoduction to a new state and a good rest stop before driving another two and a half hours to get to Boulder. After going through the Pearl Street Mall and adding some rad stickers to my van, I decided to pick up a hitch-hiker at the mouth of a canyon. I asked him where he was heading and he responded with,

"All the way up the canyon, where are you heading?"

I said,

"All the way up the canyon I guess!"

I noticed he had a fishing pole sticking out of his bag and asked him where a good place to fish was, he said theres a few good places around the place he was going. I drove him up to Nederland, 8,234ft above sea level and went fishing at Barker Reservoir right at the edge of the tiny mountain town. After an unlucky day, the kind stranger bought me thai food for dinner in return for the ride and gave me his number in case I was interested in work.

After meeting an interesting native and deciding I liked the food options in town, I picked up a job at Indian Peaks Ace Hardware as a sales associate and wilderness permit specialist. With a stable income and an amazing area, I was able to go fishing every day, meet new friends and people, enjoy the luxeries of Colorado, and backpack the Indian Peaks on my days off.

Barker Reservoir

One of my favorite trips was to Kings Lake through the Middle Boulder zone of the wilderness. A seven mile hike to the continental divide that ended right above the beautiful Kings Lake and overlooked the valley I had just hikee through. Unfortunately I forgot to bring my camera and my phone died so I couldn't photograph how beautiful it really was. The wildlife was absolutly stunning, I saw a huge moose just a mile into the trip and about half a mile after that I spotted a mother and her calf eating in a little meadow.

Old train tracks in a mountain

MOOSE

Mother and her calf

Seeing these big majestic creatures just living out in this beautiful place and existing so peacefully really was an amazing moment that I will always remember. After finishing the hike and setting up camp at the top of Kings Lake I enjoyed a juicy steak and some snacks before sleeping in a warm sleepingbag hanging in a hammock. An amazing first trip into the wilderness to kick off my summer in Colorado. I spent the next two months going on trips like this and fishing all around this amazing stretch of Colorado mountains. The third trip into the central part of the Indian Peaks was a very successful fishing trip!

2nd biggest trout I've caught!

The fifth trip into the wilderness was definitely an adventure. That morning I had bought a rain poncho just in case the weather decided to change when I got to Lost Lake and just like the mountains often do, it slowly started POURING. With only a hammock and a waterproof sleepingbag the night got a lot more interesting. I caught a sizable fish and cooked it up on my small butane stove (Dry season in Colorado means Stage 2 fire ban; no open fires) and ate a lemon fish dinner as the rain faded away. I slept like a baby, woke up to the songs of birds, and made some coffee and bacon for breakfast. The first thing I did when I got back into town was buy a tent with a rain fly!

Garlic Lemon Fish and Rice
Lost Lake

Mornin'

After traveling through the wilderness numerous times over the summer I decided to head home and see some friends again. I came back with some new gear, new experiences, new friends, and great pictures! The time I spent living on my own out of my handmade home was the best thing I could have done for myself as an eighteen year old straight out of high school. I figured out the type of person that I am and what I like to do with my time. I loved meeting new people and seeing so much of the world and definitely plan to visit the Indian Peaks Wilderness in the near future!

NEVER ENDING TREES

america
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About the Creator

Chris Davis

My mind drifts like the rivers of high Colorado and my heart lies in the arms of Mother Nature. My soul is tied to the strings of the universe and my energy flows to and from the consciousness around me.

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