Omayra Acevedo, Lake City. Ever had a dream that began to feel like a fantasy? A dream you knew you were meant for? I have. I still have that dream. And though it is clearer than anything else has ever been in my life, I don’t know how to get there. When exactly the dream will come to fruition isn’t what bothers me. It’s the not knowing how. 

I was in the middle of an art project when my mind started wandering. I began to think about this particular dream. For the first time in a long time, I began to feel discouraged. After a few moments of talking myself out of giving up, I ran to the computer. 

Using photoshop, I created a collage of my dream, printed it out, and tacked it to the part of my wall where I could see it every day. One of the photos in the collage is of a log cabin. This reminded me of when I was in the historic town of Lake City, Colorado, in Hinsdale County.

There are tons of log cabins there. It was one of the most beautiful towns I have seen in our lively state. The thing is, it’s the only town in the county. I think that’s what appealed to me. It felt safe, quiet, and like a piece of heaven on earth. 

The rocky canyons leading to and away from Lake City play host to deep blue skies, wildlife, and act as guides to the sparkling rivers that flow through them. I spotted ice climbers against an extravagant background of pure landscape bliss. I was fascinated as well as captivated.

Hinsdale County is made up of 96% public lands, they have the fewest miles of roads per person, and hundreds upon hundreds of hiking and off-road trails. It is the most remote county in the lower 48. It takes over an hour to get anywhere with a grocery store. Guess where I want to move? 

Why did Lake City remind me of my dream? Besides all of the log cabins, I think it was everything wondrous about the town. The location, the crisp air, the silence, the over 200 historic structures, the dreamscape imagery of the land; there was nothing about it that didn’t make me want to go home, pack my belongings, and find a way to start a new life there. I know it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea to live so remotely, but it sure is mine. 

For more information check out https://lakecity.com/

(Originally published in the March 18, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)