CDT Day 59: Chalk Creek Pass & Hancock Lake

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 Divide at 12,500 ft and passed several small lakes before bottoming out at the Middle Fork Arkansas River.

Then another long climb to the headwaters and over Chalk Creek Pass. I then descended past Hancock Lake which I hiked to with friends late last summer while camping in the area.

Good hailstorm today but most of it bounced off. Found a nice spot on Chalk Creek just as it started sprinkling.