This story is in loving memory of David Stone (June 14, 1977 – October 14, 2008). He was like a brother to me and was a true inspiration to his friends and his family-
David Stone stood on the trail looking across the expanse of Rocky Mountain National Park. The Aspen trees were turning gold; groups of them lined the mountainsides. From where he stood they looked like veins of gold in green rock. The sky was streaked with red and orange, showing signs that the day was coming to a close. David, his sister Jennifer, his dad Bobby and I had hiked the day away, traveling nearly seven miles in all. As he sipped from his camelbak, David smiled as he turned to his family and said, “This is amazing, I think it’s the best hike I’ve ever been on.” For that moment it did not matter that David was struggling to beat cancer. For that moment all that was important was being with his family and being witness to such an amazing day.
Four months prior to that moment David, or Shaggy, as he was more commonly known, was diagnosed with a very aggressive type of cancer. Through perseverance and courage he underwent treatment to rid his body of this disease. During that treatment he lost his “shaggy” dreads that had given him his trademark name years before. He also lost being outside for the entire summer, a strong blow to a man who once slept on the Colorado Trail, in the mountains, under a tarp. Through it all he stayed positive. You would never believe he was as sick as he was by the way he spoke.
“I feel great,” he would say. “Just got to get this cancer thing under control and I’ll be styling.”
By the end of the summer he thought he was going to have it beat and he could go on with his normal routine. Three weeks prior to the hike in Rocky Mountain National Park Shaggy underwent brain surgery to remove a racket ball sized tumor. Unfortunately the cancer was not beaten, it had just been hiding. Now with a heavy treatment schedule ahead of him and an uncertain future, Shaggy decided to push the envelope and do whatever he can as fast as he can.
“I’m stronger than most people,” he said while laying in the ICU, “If anyone can beat this thing it’s me.”
Most cancer patients, especially after brain surgery, would be taking things easy and be preparing themselves for the long and uncertain road ahead. Not Shaggy, once he was able to get out of the hospital he was gone like the wind.
“I can’t wait until I can hike and have a beer,” Shaggy mentioned before he was discharged.
It did not take long for Shaggy to do just what he said he wanted to do. The day after he was discharged he was having a beer during the Broncos game and hiking with his father and sister. Within three weeks he was ready for some serious hiking and perhaps some adventure. It was this that prompted the trip to the mountains outside Estes Park.
This trip would prove to be the best hike of our lives. The day started as beautiful as they come, blue sky as far as the eyes can see and a nice breeze to keep you cool as you walk. Upon reaching “Bear Lake” in the park, Shaggy was faced with the decision of what hike to tackle.
“I want to see as many lakes as I can,” Shaggy said. He then pointed to the map, “let’s do this loop here, it is only six miles or so…” Many people that are not sick with cancer feel that six miles, at high altitude, is a long and difficult distance to travel. Not for Shaggy though. He probably had it in his mind since before we got there that he wanted to see as much as he could. He should be taking it easy, but he is one stubborn man. With that the journey began.
The first half mile revealed nothing about how amazing this hike was going to turn out. Only the thick forest was visible and the sounds of nature were drowned out by the sounds of tourists. After that first half mile, the trees opened into a clearing with a picturesque lake covered in lily pads. As the trail climbed above the lake, the first glimpses of the area became clear. Golden aspens littered the landscape and towering peaks dominated the backdrop. This became the most memorable part of the journey, the changing aspens. Throughout the hike to the present day the first thing about the hike Shaggy always mentions is the trees and the view.
As the hike continued and we climbed further into the mountains the view only became more breathtaking. As the trail wound around the hills different parts of the landscape became visible. It looked almost too amazing to be real; it looked more like a canvas painted with watercolors. The greens melted together, so many different color tones and the yellows streaked through like they were brushstrokes.
“The view is stellar…,” Shaggy would remark as we traversed the trail.
At the top of the trail Shaggy, Jennifer, Bobby and I were greeted by a pristine lake. Initially from the trail’s end one could not see the lake, only a small murky pond. The real lake was visible only upon climbing across the magnificent boulders. There were few people aside from our group there; one could hear the wind sweep across the lake. The lake was enormous; the blue water stretched nearly half the length of a football field. We all wished we had another day to just enjoy the lake itself, it was truly breathtaking. Unfortunately the sun had started to decline toward the horizon and it was time to head back.
On the walk back down from the lake, Shaggy was in the best spirits possible. We talked about skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and all the things that he loves to do. The hardest part about it was that we all knew deep down that it would be a miracle if he was able to do everything he wanted again. Though if you listen to Shaggy you would think he would be 100% by next week.
“I’ll be on the bike Monday,” he said, “Got to get in shape for ski season!”
Truly skiing is all he wants to do and that is all his family wants him to be able to do. It is his love, it is his passion. To him it does not matter if the doctor is going to clear him or if it will kill him. As long as he is standing come ski season he will be on that mountain.
“I don’t care what they say, I’m skiing this year,” he remarked when asked what if the doctors say he cannot go.
This hike is a hike that his family and I will always remember. For that journey nothing else mattered but the adventure. We forgot to be sad about Shaggy’s health. We forgot to be mad about the disease. We just spent an amazing time in good company and will have a lasting memory of that day. In life we take so much for granted, the simple things can just pass us by without notice. That hike at “Bear Lake” would have been a great hike regardless, but it would not have been as amazing as it was if Shaggy was not there.
