CDT Day 51: Spring Creek Pass & Lake City

Daily Miles: 4.4, Total Miles: 842.2

Cold and a rare, mostly clear night with very heavy condensation. Even had to shake ice off my tent, then step back and enjoy the colorful sunrise on the mesa highlighting the 14k footers in the background.

Mostly downhill to Spring Creek Pass. I surprised another herd of elk on the way down. A cow elk tried to lead her calves through a fence to get away. The cow easily jumped over but the little ones were having a heck of a time getting through and joining mother. The cow was very vocal, calling them to come back and keep trying – hopefully a happy ending.

Sparse traffic at Spring Creek Pass, but still disappointed it took three hours to hitch to Lake City. A nice couple from Lubbock TX picked me up after blowing by me the first time and circling back. The wife said they never pick up hitchhikers but made her husband come back because it looked like I had been hiking a long distance. Turned out her parents had hiked the AT twice!

I checked into an old cabin complex in the Lake City town square. My cabin is very old but clean – complete with an obviously tilting, squeaking floor. Cheeseburger, wash clothes and afternoon nap in that order. Woke up to a heavy rain – so nice to be in a dry, warm bed!