Hero Status

            It was after midnight and outside of the cold, wooden walls of our hundred-year-old cabin, sat one nasty winter storm.

We were in a wilderness area that our ski group has coined, “None Yo Bizniss, Nevada.”  We go there every year despite the grueling, soul crushing slog of a ski in required.  We go there to escape, to breathe, and to share in the common bond of people who just love to be outside and away from everything.

Oh, and the skiing and scenery is pretty damn good too.

It was as myself and two other buddies were sitting in that cabin, reflecting on the heinous hike we had just endured and how we expected not to see the rest of our group show up until morning, that we heard what sounded like a bear just outside the door.

The sound of a couple of ski boots clunking around on gear and the dugout porch made us all stop mid-sentence and give each other one of the biggest, wide-eyed looks I can remember.  Someone was at the door!

A bear would have been much less of a surprise.

We hustled about to get ourselves ready for whoever might come in that door.  I quickly restarted the kettle to prepare some hot chocolate while Cameron and Gregg went about clearing some room.

Then the door flew open with characteristic drama as wind, snow and Mike Colpo rushed into the cabin.

Mike had just skied (more accurately, skinned) the nine miles to the cabin by himself, in the dark, and in the middle of one burley winter storm.  On top of that, he did it with a 70 or 80 pound backpack while hauling a sled of only slightly lesser weight.  To boot, the sled had broken halfway through the hike and Mike had to rig it with a spare set of skis. 

Yes, on top of a roast, wine, stinky cheese and all kinds of other culinary goodies, he was even hauling a spare set skis.  Having read the “Memorable Backcountry Ski Trip with Mike” story on this site, I now know why.

Still in disbelief, the group went about getting Mike and his gear in the door while I put the finishing touches on his hot chocolate.

I handed the steaming cup over to Mike and introduced myself.  He picked his head up and gave me his genuine look of appreciation and enthusiasm as he said thank you and introduced himself right back.  It sounds as plain as the black text you are reading, but there was something about how he said those first few words to me that struck a cord that has been humming ever since.

There was a tone in his voice and a look on his face that I will never forget.  It was his genuine combo, and you never got one without the other.  It was a look and tone of absolute interest and sincerity.

That is how I met Mike Colpo, and that is how he earned instant hero status in my book.

We shared a lot on that trip, and in the years that have followed, but what I never got over, not even now as I am writing this, is that I knew from the time I met Mike that he was going to be one of those few people that we meet who truly leave a lasting, positive impact.  And that he is.  To put it simply, I have looked up to Mike since that first introduction.

I think that because of the circumstances in which we met, I have this image of Mike as a gentle giant.  Getting to that cabin the way he did was physically and mentally impressive, but learning more about his inquisitive, true and honest perspective, as well as his love for stories, writing and everything thought provoking has been the real treat.

And, if you’ve ever skied with the guy, “Beast” might just be the only word you can use to describe him.

So that is how I will forever remember our friend Mike, as the gentle giant who could show, and share, a deep feeling with only a gesture and a few words.