In July, my wife and I were hiking near Dobbins, California when the Chute Fire broke out. We got trapped at the bottom of a steep ravine — bear and mountain lion signs all around us — and called 911 around 5 PM because my wife couldn't make it back out. They said they'd come get us, then said they couldn't. We spent the whole night down there with nothing. The next day we tried to hike out, went the wrong way, and climbed 800 feet up a double black diamond trail — the toughest rating there is — with a thousand-foot drop in under a mile. We were so worn out and had no water that we couldn't go on. We climbed a little farther up some rocks, then couldn't get back down them, and we were stuck up there, panicking. I lit a signal fire to get rescued. It worked — we got out alive. Now I'm facing a criminal case for lighting that fire. They locked me up for this fire. If anyone wants to help, or just wants to talk to me or hear the story, I'm here. I can show court papers — they're charging me for this fire and trying to give me prison time. Any amount will help.

I'm trying to raise $10,000 because that's what my defense is going to cost.

Contact: [email redacted]