CDT Day 61: Collegiate Peaks Wilderness

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 vertical cornice got my adrenaline pumping. And a wet and dirty butt from retrieving my water bottle that had slid off the cornice to the scree below. I imagined all the SOBO Colorado Trail hikers carefully cutting steps up and over the cornice, and then the CDT NOBO’s destroying them on the thrilling descent.

Rewarded with spectacular views of Lake Ann and then continued down to camp along South Clear Creek. I met my first SOBO CT thru-hikers today.