The incredible tale of how an 85-year-old woman and her cat survived five days stranded in the Colorado mountains after taking a wrong turn on the way home.
One wrong turn spelled disaster for Ruby Stein. The 85-year-old woman ended up spending four nights and five days stranded in her car in the Eagle County wilderness, snow falling on and off the entire time. On March 21, Ruby was on her way home from visiting her grandchildren in an attempt to beat the winter storm that was threatening to make an appearance. For 20 miles, she fought to get her 2007 Nissan Sentra up a steep mountain pass south of Gypsum after becoming lost in search of I-70. With no one in sight, she eventually found herself at a dead end with a dead car battery. Before her car battery died, she blowed her car horn and flashed her lights in an attempt to rouse someone's attention. And with no cell phone reception, Stein had no way of calling for help. So, she did what any rational person would do in a situation like this: try to survive the night. Through sheer determination and no small amount of resourcefulness, she was able to keep herself and her cat alive. She rationed off what little food she had – part of a sweet roll and a butterscotch Rice Krispies Treat. She allowed herself two bites of each every day. Her cat, Nikki, had plenty of dry cat food and Stein even thought at one point that she would have to partake in the cat food. "When my Rice Krispies treat was getting close, I thought, 'It might be good.' I was looking out the window for foliage or something else to eat."
Luckily, her granddaughter gave her a bag of clothes – intended for donation in Stein's hometown of Akron – which she used to stuff the cracks in the doors and windows of her car in order to keep the heat inside. She also created a blanket with any extra clothes and some safety pins.
She did not leave her car because of the snow. Instead, she read a book and was alone with her thoughts. "I was keeping myself very, very calm. I knew I either had to or it was over with," said Stein. "I have too many great grandkids and grandkids. I didn't want it to be over with."
The first day came and went with no signs of hope. A helicopter flew overhead the following day, but Stein went unnoticed. Then the next two days came and went without any progress.
However, on the fifth day, there was hope on the horizon.
Dan Higbee and Katie Preston had plans to go skiing, but to due to Beaver Creek being overcrowded they decided to go hiking instead. They found three trailheads, one of which was up Gypsum Creek Road. They got into Higbee's pickup and headed on their way.
"It was muddy and slushy... In four-wheel drive it was pretty nasty," said Preston. Unable to locate the trail, they opted to drive toward Lede Reservoir and hike there. That's when they came upon what looked to be an abandoned Nissan Sentra.
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photo courtesy of Dan Higbee[/caption]
They called out and asked if anyone was there, making sure they were okay. "A faint voice answered," said Higbee. "She was in the back of the car. She said, 'No, everything is not okay.'"
Stein was disoriented and in shock, but otherwise unscathed. She had no signs of frostbite or hypothermia. The couple gave her food and water, and had to continuously remind her to "keep drinking fluids and eating between words" because she was talking nonstop. Higbee and Preston drove Stein straight to her granddaughter's house, calling authorities and Stein's family on the way.
The family is still in disbelief over the ordeal.
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Ruby Stein and her granddaughter, Alee Preuss (photo courtesy of The Denver Post)[/caption]
"She means the world to absolutely every single one of us," said Alee Preuss, Stein's granddaughter. "We love her to pieces."
All of us here at Our Community Now are thankful that Ruby Stein and her cat Nikki are both safe and sound. Be careful driving out there, Colorado! You can never predict what crazy weather our state has in store for us.
Featured photo courtesy of The Denver Post.
