The Upside To Getting Stranded: Alone In the Desert And Locked Out of My Car

It was just after summer in 2011, and I had spent months traveling solo throughout the Southwest USA. For weeks I’d been camping in all the best national parks—Zion, Valley of Fire, Death Valley—hiking and exploring, meeting interesting people, and enjoying the peacefulness of the expansive desert. After more than 7,000 miles on the road, my trip was winding down. I descended back into civilization, checking into a hotel in downtown Las Vegas. (more…)