Chris Tash | Introduction

Had I known my interesting fact would be publicly known, on the internet of all things, I might have settled on something that seemed a little less…criminal. Now, I’m not guilty of anything other then being in the wrong place at the wrong time doing the wrong thing. I’m sure you’ve all had these fun experiences.

Anyway, one morning a few friends and I started trekking off into the foothills near our town. About an hour into it we noticed a helicopter fly overhead. I didn’t take it as much, maybe someone looking for a lost cow or geological work, but nothing more. We continued on, over a ridge and into a small valley with a pasture down at the bottom. Dead center is an old tree with twisted and gargled branches which was the only source of shade until you met the next rise of hills. Climbing down into the valley I noticed, again, the same helicopter off in the distance. We reach this tree and my friends felt like taking a break. They drop their packs and quickly settle in under the cool shade and chat about the branches. I was feeling pretty good though and pulled my pack up tighter while saying, “I’ll meet you at the base of the next hills.” This was my first mistake.

Water had made miniature canyons in the little pasture. They’re only about two feet deep but have ridged edges and I was having fun jumping over them; the gaps were a few feet apart and some areas were even larger. Guess you could call these actions mistake two. To clear some of the larger ones I had to get a bit of momentum going. And now for the sake of getting to three, let’s consider my running the final mistake. Jump. Run. Jump. Run.. Before I knew it I was nearing the other side. As I stopped to look back at my friends who were still relaxing under the tree I saw the same helicopter sailing in closer. Traveling fast it closed the distance quickly and turned some thirty feet over my head. About forty yards away the helicopter slowly landed on the uneven terrain and a few suited officers stepped out of it and made their way to me.

Panic first erupted though me when I noticed how close the helicopter was traveling. I felt it even more when flying machine touched ground for the first time. Then I could feel a drop of sweat run down my back as I listened to the engine slowly start to wind down. There was red writing splashed across the side that I could now clearly read; CHP, or California Highway Patrol. At the age of 14, too young to even acquire a permit; I was pulled over by a police helicopter. Scared? Nope, the word ‘scared’ doesn’t give the feeling any justice. My heart was beating so fast that I wondered if it was beating at all.

The rest isn’t all the interesting. Turned out there was suspicion that someone was growing illegal plants about a mile from where we were hiking. After seeing me ‘flee’ from the tree the officers felt I needed to be questioned. It was tremendously horrifying at the time but now I just like using it as a fun fact. Can't imagine the types of faces you get when you mention being pulled over by a CHP helicopter. I just smile.