A Terrifying Night in the Mountains: A Solo's Nightmare in a Tipi

In the winter of 1997, the comet Hale-Bopp was visible and bright in the night sky as I lived in a tipi in the mountains of Colorado. My partner and I loved the solitude and serenity of this place, accessible only by a rugged 4-wheel drive road in the summer and a treacherous mile walk in the winter. The snow that year was massive, leading to an insulated and cozy yet admittedly precarious living situation.

Context of the Tipi

The tipi was located in a grove of aspen trees, and it served as our paradise. We had a woodstove for warmth, but during the long nights, the cold would still seep in. Our bed was built high against the canvas walls, offering some storage space for winter gear. This storage area, packed with milk crates and boxes, was accessed by pulling one box out to reach the next. My side of the bed was against the canvas wall, and I had to climb over my boyfriend to access the space when I needed to, adding an extra layer of complexity to waking up.

The Snow Effect

One winter, the snow packed against the canvas walls of our tipi became a solid barrier. It was so tight that it was impossible to fit a hand between the canvas and the platform. Entering or leaving the space below the bed became nearly impossible. Despite the cold, we managed to stay comfortable by layering up with down comforters and blankets and staying in the cozy environment of the woodstove until it was warm enough to come out of bed.

A Night of Nightmares

One night, I awoke with an intense and bizarre panic. I was completely unaware of my surroundings and waking up in a state of absolute terror with no recollection of any bad dreams. I was naked, freezing, and shaking uncontrollably. I tried to move but found myself surrounded by rough, cold objects on all sides, feeling as if I was buried under something. My boyfriend's voice, scared and confused, told me that everything was okay and that he was coming to help. He managed to pull me out from under the bed, dragging me through a maze of boxes and crates to get me back to our comfortable spot. The experience left me disoriented and in a state of disbelief.

Logical Dilemma

There was no logical way that, from my position in bed, I could have gotten myself down into this tight space without having to drag a multitude of boxes and having someone push them back in, walling me in. My boyfriend, a skeptic himself, even joked about alien abduction as an explanation. To this day, we both have no idea what happened that night.

The experience remains one of the most terrifying in my life, a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of living in such an austere environment. Whether it was a mechanical failure or a supernatural event, the night will forever be etched in my memory as a testament to the challenges and dangers of mountain living.