Imagine spending a beautiful Colorado morning enjoying one of Douglas County’s many trail systems. You’re hiking with friends, mountain biking through the foothills, or riding horseback beneath a clear blue sky. The trail is familiar, the scenery is incredible, and you’re enjoying everything the Douglas County outdoors has to offer.
Then, without warning, something changes.
A hiking partner suddenly collapses. A mountain biker crashes and suffers a serious injury. A horseback rider is thrown from a horse. Someone experiences chest pain, has difficulty breathing, or is bitten by a prairie rattlesnake.
You reach for your phone—but you’re miles from the nearest paved road.
What would you do?
The difference between an emergency on a city street and one in the backcountry can be significant. Emergency responders may not be able to drive directly to the patient, and terrain, distance, weather, trail conditions, and limited communications can all affect how quickly advanced medical care can reach someone.
I experienced this reality firsthand when my assistant coach was involved in an accident on a mountain bike singletrack trail. In an instant, what had been an ordinary day on the trail became a life-threatening emergency. My connection to emergency medicine gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges first responders face when responding to incidents in remote and difficult terrain.
That experience also made me realize that my background as a mountain biker, hiker, and first responder could serve a greater purpose beyond my own adventures. It inspired me to establish the Klobetanz Family Foundation, with a focus on supporting wildland fire departments and first responders who work in these challenging environments.
By combining my experience with mountain bikes, backcountry terrain, and trail access with my understanding of emergency response, I hope to help bridge the gap between the outdoor community and emergency services. Through the foundation, we aim to provide resources, expertise, and practical support that can help responders reach patients more safely and effectively when an emergency occurs far from a paved road.
Because when something goes wrong in the backcountry, every minute matters—and sometimes the right equipment, knowledge, or access can make all the difference.
