Daily Miles: 24.4, Total Miles: 1,045.3 Hard to leave a nice, dry cabin when it’s raining off and on all night and it still looks dreary. To me, today was a long green tunnel with lots of trees but very little views. I did catch a fleeting glimpse of Mt Elbert before it was again shrouded in clouds. I hiked through the Mt Massive Wilderness and entered the Holy Cross Wilderness, roaring creeks and huge boulders. I was very thankful…
Daily Miles: 16.1, Total Miles: 1,019.9 There were intermittent showers all evening and throughout the morning. Downhill all the way to the Hope Pass turnoff and then a 2,300 ft climb over 2.5 miles. Clouds and mist were blowing over the pass so no views to be had. Finally got into Twin Lakes. I had previously booked what was probably the last room in town. The owner called it a crib room. Once I established I wasn’t sleeping in a…
Daily Miles: 21.3, Total Miles: 1,003.8 Every time I was near to waking up, I would think a gopher or worse, a marmot trying to dig his way out from the hole beneath my tent (and my butt). I hiked three miles to Cottonwood Pass, then a long descent into the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Followed beaver-infested Texas Creek for several miles. The trail finally turned with a steep ascent to Lake Ann Pass at 1,600 ft. Going over the near…
Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 982.5 Last night was one of the better sleeps I’ve had on the trail. I still woke up early but deeper sleep and very restful. Headed up the Alpine Tunnel trail, an old railroad grade used in the late 1800’s/early 1900’s to service gold mining communities. The grade made for good walking and beautiful views of the Chalk Creek Valley below. After leaving the Alpine Tunnel, I hit a high point at 12,000 ft and…
Daily Miles: 18.3, Total Miles: 961.0 Edric, along with his wife, owner of Circle R Motel, gave me a ride back to Monarch Pass for $30 – reasonable considering I was solo. At Monarch Pass heading north, the trail immediately started climbing, crossing through the Monarch Ski Area, and ridge walked the Divide for a few miles. I saw the Waterdog Lakes far below – I took my boys flyfishing there nearly 20 years ago. I dropped down over the…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 942.7 I highly recommend the Frankie breakfast burrito at the Patio Pancake Place in Salida. Only got the half-size and it was a full plate. I picked up my resupply box and shipped my ice axe and other snow gear home – hope I don’t regret it. Also picked up some lightweight running shorts at a goodwill store. My laundry day can get quite embarrassing wearing only a towel and down jacket. Yesterday, my towel…
Daily Miles: 2.7, Total Miles: 942.7 Beautiful view from the tent for sunset and sunrise but the wind kicked up in the evening and battered the tent all night. All that flapping had me digging for my earplugs. As the night wore on, the wind also had a cold bite to it. A quick hike down to Monarch Pass and two hitches later, I was in Salida for a big breakfast. Also had a late lunch and IPA at Moonlight…
Daily Miles: 19.0, Total Miles: 940.0 I hiked back up on the Divide straddling the Gunnison and Rio Grande NFs. I ate lunch at an old cabin at Marshall Pass. There is road access here so lots of campers, hikers and bikers. I even encountered six ultra-loud and fast dirt bikes on the trail north of Marshall Pass which I hadn’t seen before on the CDT. Joint use(?) that snuck up me real fast. I reached a high point and…
Daily Miles: 22.0, Total Miles: 921.0 The morning started with a quick climb to the Divide before dropping down to Upper Razor Creek. While refilling water bottles and eating a snack, I met a nice couple from Slovenia. Boomerang and Sunshine had flipped to Twin Lakes and were now southbound to Wolf Creek. I passed by Baldy Lake and into the Cochetopa Hills which opened up at Sargents Mesa. Followed Tank 7 Creek for a few miles and set up…
Daily Miles: 19.7, Total Miles: 899.0 A pleasant, mostly straightforward day through the Gunnison National Forest at about 10,000 ft elevation. This is definitely cattle country so all water treated. Light thundershowers today cooled things down. I got almost 20 miles in by mid-afternoon, and, with a long waterless spell ahead of me, I decided to give the feet and body a rest at Lujan Creek. Trying hard to pace myself but think my level of aches/pains/stamina do a pretty…
