Colorado Blizzard 2006: The View from the Bus

The blizzard is over. It has been added to the list of Colorado's worst storms, ranking number seven, and produced over 20 inches of snow throughout Metro Denver and the surrounding areas. The storm lasted approximately 30 hours and shut down area highways, freeways, shopping malls and schools. Thousands of travelers were stranded at Denver International Airport, and commuters spent hours stranded on the roads between work and home.

I spent my time aboard an RTD bus en route from Boulder, Colorado to Denver's Market Street Station. We boarded at Boulder Station at about 11:45 a.m. and I disembarked at Westminster Park-N-Ride at about 7:20 p.m. The hours in between could have been the worst ever, but it didn't turn out that way.

The bus, once loaded, was crowded with commuters who had decided that staying in Boulder any later in the day was a bad idea in light of the rapid acceleration of the storm. We settled into all the seats, and the last passengers remained standing in the aisles. Thus began a journey that usually takes little more than an hour.

Once on the road, there's little choice for a bus driver but to continue the trip. Our driver moved us along at a steadily decreasing speed, until we were inching along at a rate of about 12 yards every 20 minutes or so. Highway 36 was literally a parking lot. When we finally reached Flat Irons Crossing, we could not reach the bus stop and several people elected to get off the bus and walk to the Park-N-Ride or to one of the mall stores. We later learned that most of those stores had closed, and we who remained on the bus worried about our fellow travelers.

The bus driver, hoping to find a better route to Broomfield, took a detour on West Dillon Ave to Highway 287. For a few minutes we were moving along at quite a clip, but it was not to last. We soon found ourselves at a stop once more. Traffic was backed up trying to get on 287 South to Broomfield, and we spent more than an hour just waiting to make the turn. From there on it was a waiting game.

Since we spent more time at a standstill than we did moving, I suppose it was inevitable that we'd get stuck. We were well into hour five, and the poor driver was jumping in and out of the bus, with a couple of helpful passengers, putting chains on the tires and moving us forward inches at a time. I'm sure he was soaked and freezing by the time that job was finally finished.

As I mentioned, this could have been a terrible time, but the passengers on the bus remained upbeat throughout. There was a great deal of cell phone activity, people keeping their loved-ones informed on our progress-or lack thereof. I was fortunate enough to be seated with a young man who let me use his phone to call home and assure my son that I was alive and well.

As time passed and we barely moved, the passengers conversed about many things. Conversations floated around me, many of them one-sided phone accounts of where we were stranded and speculations about what the hold-up might be. One passenger was in contact with the television news. Another announced that the National Guard had been sent to rescue drivers on Highway 36. There had been some grumbling about our driver changing routes, but we were grateful for the change after hearing that.

A male passenger asked to be let off the bus for a bathroom break. There followed a convoy of several male passengers, leading me to remark, "I hate men!" I assured everyone that this wasn't really true, but I was certainly envious of their ability to take a break virtually anywhere. The other females on board echoed my sentiments.

We were informed by the returning men that there was a supermarket ahead, and a few people made plans to leave the bus when we got nearer. It took awhile, but several people chose to get out as soon as we were within a comfortable walking distance, which enabled the standing passengers to be seated at last. Some of those who disembarked had been in touch with people who could come and pick them up.

When at last the bus made it to the small shopping center, it was obvious that most of the stores had closed. I saw no one walking, so I was hopeful that everyone who had left the bus had found a ride or safe shelter.

Routes to Broomfield were closed when we got to the intersection. Police cars had blocked the roads, and everywhere we looked we saw cars, mostly SUVs, abandoned off the sides of the road. We continued, finally moving at a steady pace, down 287, finally arriving at Sheridan Blvd. We then backtracked a bit to Church Ranch Park-N-Ride, then continued to Westminster Park-N-Ride, where I got off.

As I left the bus, I thanked those around me for their good-will throughout the trip, and wished the driver a safe trip. I will always be grateful for those people, because it could have been such a horrible time had anyone decided to gripe and complain throughout.

I am also grateful that we had a driver who was dedicated to getting everyone to their stops, who worked diligently to make sure we didn't remain stuck on the highway and who never once complained.

I slogged through the snow drifts and made my way to the bus shelter-which, truth be told, is not much shelter in a storm. There I met a man who let me use his cell phone to call home.

My son said, "But mom, how will you get home?"

"The bus should be here soon," I replied, knowing that in this weather it would certainly be late.

"No, mom, didn't anyone tell you? RTD shut down!"

"What?" I cried. "No bus? What'll I do?"

My son tried to call a cab for me, but couldn't get through. I still don't know if any were actually running that night or not.

The man in the shelter introduced himself as Jeff, told me friends were coming to get him, and offered to ask them to take me home.

Roughly forty-five minutes later his friend, Christina, arrived and agreed to drive me home. God bless them both.

I walked the last few feet to my home, fell in the snow twice on the way-good grief, I couldn't even walk a few feet and stay erect! But I made it home. I was very cold, especially my feet. I was thirsty, hungry and desperate for a bathroom break. I had people to call-friends and family who had been worried about me.

I was home.

I've since heard several complaints about RTD shutting down that night, but the truth is, they probably had no choice. I saw several busses stuck in the snow, and others were running hours behind schedule. Who else were they going to send? I know I could have been left in a dire situation by the shut down, but as always seems to happen for me, I met angels on earth.

For me the big storm of December 20, 2006, will be a memory of good natured people who traveled a short distance over several hours and remained calm and civil, and two kind strangers who rescued me from a situation that could easily have turned life threatening. To our driver and those RTD passengers on the B from Boulder to Denver-you were great. And to Jeff and Christina-you saved my life, I'm sure of that. Again, God Bless You.

And Merry Christmas to All!