Every Frozen Dead Guy Has His Day
A frozen corpse relocates to a new crypt in Colorado, and suddenly, temperatures plunge. It's not a coincidence, people! WRITTEN & ILLUSTRATED by PETER MOORE
YESTERDAY I RECORDED AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ALASKA UNCOVERED PODCAST. The host, Jennie Flaming, had served as a source for an article I wrote for BACKPACKER about the Alaska ferry system, and what an excellent trailhead-hopping service it was. When I dialed in to the pod, the cohost Jay volunteered that, just the day before, he had received a forward from a friend, which by complete coincidence, included my most recent article for the Colorado Sun.
I can see why his friend was motivated to pass it along, actually.
The Frozen Dead Guy—a long-deceased Norwegian who until recently was packed in dry ice and stored in a Tuff Shed by the concerned citizens of Nederland, Colorado—had moved house to Estes Park, Colorado, in the lobby of the Stanley Hotel. If that name rings a death knell, it should. That’s where Stephen King and family spent a spooky night, which led him to write The Shining, which then led Jack Nicholson to memorably shout “Heeeeeer’s Johnny!” in the movie version of same, and ultimately led me to post a fantasia about my wife and me staying in a similarly remote house in midwinter, also in Estes Park.
So when the Frozen Dead Guy took up residence at the Stanley, I had to write/draw/joke about it, especially as temperatures plunged in this part of the country. I mean, it was his fault, right? Plus, how fun to draw a Frozen Dead Guy!
I unpack the crypt, below.
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CLEARLY, THE COLORADO MOUNTAIN TOWN OF Nederland was too small for the Frozen Dead Guy. He needed a grander stage, and now the patron saint of polar plunges has it: A cryogenic crypt in the lobby of the Stanley Hotel, in Estes Park. Move over, Jack Torrance: There’s a new crystalline zombie walking “The Shining” maze!
The FDG relocated on Jan. 9, and temperatures cratered three days later. Coincidence? We think not. When Grandpa Bredo Morstøl exited the Tuff Shed in Nederland, his frosty spirit was loosed upon the world!
It hit negative 15 in Estes Park last Monday morning, which, for the rest of us, was a good reason to pull the duvet over our heads. For the FDG, it was an invitation to step out of his liquid-nitrogen bath and see the town.
Hours later he was spotted on the Alpenglow lift at Eldora Ski Resort.
The FDG also hit the après-ski scene at the Indian Peaks Lodge at Eldora. Evidently, he takes his whiskey neat.
When he’s feeling playful, he too enjoys making a snow angel — with a signature twist all his own.
But as drivers on Berthoud Pass learned all too well, the FDG can be reckless in avalanche conditions. Which is understandable: What’s the worst that could happen to him? He’d be buried in snow? Bring it!
Aside from encouraging tourists to drop $20 on “the world’s first cryogenics museum,” perhaps the FDG can be useful. In fact, he may be just what we need at this moment in climate history.
Want to meet Grandpa Bredo and join the coffin races? Head for Estes Park March 15-17 (Saint Patrick’s Day weekend) for Frozen Dead Guy Days. The revelry is back from the …um…dead, after being COVID-canceled in 2020 and 2022.
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He must be traveling cross country, it's dang cold in NH, too! Go FDG, go! 😊
Moose! Estes Park! Places and things I recognize now that I’ve to those parts. -15??? I’m reading 64 inside my house and I’m not happy.......