Ishan Thakur

Losing power during the shortest days of the year was trying for Bob Carmichael.

Losing power during the shortest days of the year was trying for Bob Carmichael.

He's no stranger to difficult conditions.

He's no stranger to difficult conditions.

He's climbed mountains, explored the ends of the earth, and even made a film about extreme skiing.

He's climbed mountains, explored the ends of the earth, and even made a film about extreme skiing.

Carmichael is almost 80 now, with hearing aids that need to be charged.

Carmichael is almost 80 now, with hearing aids that need to be charged.

For him, the whole experience was isolating.

For him, the whole experience was isolating.

Excel cut the lights because of hurricane-force winds and unseasonably warm, bone-dry conditions.

Excel cut the lights because of hurricane-force winds and unseasonably warm, bone-dry conditions.

It happened nearly four years after similar weather spread the Marshall Fire.

It happened nearly four years after similar weather spread the Marshall Fire.

That fire, it's Colorado's costliest.

That fire, it's Colorado's costliest.

It incinerated more than a thousand homes.

It incinerated more than a thousand homes.

Robert Kenney is the president of Accel Colorado.

Robert Kenney is the president of Accel Colorado.