it's been seven days now since i was last there. at first it was all so simple, we just wanted to have some fun. since i can't really tell the whole story yet, i've decided to leave this webpage. i know that no one will be reading this until the snow melts anyway - and by that time i'll be gone. to you who know and love me, i'm gonna do my best to explain what happened. i want everyone to know that this was not what we had planned. i swear, if there was any way i knew this is how it would end up, i wouldn't have gone.   it all started in february, that's when we decided to go. it was a spur-of-the-moment thing, we didn't even pack for the trip. all of us piled in my truck and headed out. denver is so cold in the winter, sleeping in a truck is like sleeping in a freezer - and worse when you're out on the ground. we found the spot after a 2 hour hike, it wasn't hard from the drawings online - they were dead on. at first the whole trip was a bust, but then one of us (i'm sorry james) found the mark. from there we were easily able to go the rest of the way, even tho we forgot to bring the flashlights.   i always thought that when you were about to die, you would have some kind of glorious flashback on your life. all i heard was screaming, i'm so sorry to you all - i ran. when you do find this site; when the snow melts - i'll see you there. i am leaving this site so that this wont happen again. it's too late for them, and nearly time for me - but i think you have a chance to stop it. it's not like it's all powerful or anything, you have to seek it out and let it in.   february 12th, 2003
james called me on my cell at work today. it was like he was reading my mind. we agreed that the only way to find out if that page was true was to try and find the place ourselves. i asked the rest of the regular crew if they wanted to come along for the ride and the scenery, i would pay for all the gas.   february 15th, 2003
we arrived in denver with next to no money, but high spirits. according to the page, we could make the hike in less than a day. we decided to wait until we had a good night's sleep and something to eat. the car was a mess, and the showers we'd had a couple days ago were starting to lose their effectiveness.   february 16th, 2003
james and i were in the lead, the map was amazingly accurate. we could've found the way in the dark, it was almost like we were being drawn in. at about six we decided to break for "dinner," if water and crackers qualifies as dinner. the mood was light, since we were almost to the location and we still had enough daylight. when we came out of the trees it was like we stepped into a whole new landscape. someone had been there recently, there were freshly covered over holes dug in rings out from the center. we checked the map as the sun started to go down. we were setting up camp for the night when shaine saw the mark. it was almost exactly like on the map, but it looked like someone had tried to scratch it out - or erase it.

we started down the path even tho it was dark, there was nothing better to do - and the night gave the whole thing an atmopshere that was half fun half fear. james was first to see the rocks, everything seemed to go wrong after that. i think he tried to call out, jess heard him and tried to tug me back down the trail - but i wasn't even listening. i was too busy taking pictures. the flash made everything light up. they all died, they all died in front of my eyes.   february 17th, 2003
i was so lost. i ran and i didn't know where i was. i had the map, but it was useless. my cellphone was dead. i had the jerky from jess' pack and the rest of the crackers, but nothing to drink. it was freezing cold and for the first day i didn't even move from where i'd collapsed the night before. i just stayed still and kept my eyes closed. all i could think about was the cold, and how i was probably going to die. i wondered if any of the other three were still alive too, maybe lost and scared like me. but it was impossible.   february 19th, 2003
i found the truck, it was nearly up the the doorhandles in snow. i pushed as much away with my hands as i could. the thing started right up, like it was a summer day or something. i drove all day and night. i didn't sleep, i didn't eat, i just drove. the radio sounded far off, and i could smell my own stench with the windows up. i just remember moving my tongue over the blisters on my lip, over and over - staring ahead at the road.   march 10th, 2003
i'm home. or someone is. when i got back i wanted to pretend i'd never left. but it will all be over as soon as the snow melts. right now i have to do this. now i'm back and i think i made a mistake. i can't remember where we were. the map wont work anymore and i'm too damn scared to go again. when the snow melts it'll all be over and i can go back to normal. i'm so alone now, and people are looking for us. the only thing i can do is continue to update this page and tell me story. when it's over - you'll all understand. at least, i hope you will.   god forgive me. i'll write more as i can.