CDT Day 34: Mesa Montoso & Carson NF

Daily Miles: 23.3, Total Miles: 585.0

I was awakened at 6:15am by what sounded like an air horn and someone ringing a cowbell. There are a lot of kids here attending various camps so I assume it was a wake-up call.

After a big breakfast of corned beef hash, scrambled eggs and strong coffee, I reluctantly left peaceful (except for the air horn) Ghost Ranch.

A beautiful hike this morning up through Upper Box Canyon and onto Mesa Montoso. Then it was shooing cows off the trail all the way to the junction with the official CDT near Harris Bear Spring.

Thunderstorm, rain and some hail in the afternoon made the trail a gooey mess and added a couple of pounds of mud to each shoe.

I entered Carson National Forest and traversed a high mountain ridge of meadows and aspen groves. Saw several elk, deer and my first antelope.

The rain finally stopped about 7pm and the sun came out, too late to dry out but a psychological boost. Pitched the tent in some aspens right off the trail.