CDT Day 69: Ptarmigan & Jones Passes

Daily Miles: 19.5, Total Miles: 1,121.8

After a quick hotel breakfast, I walked out of Silverthorne and immediately began to climb, reaching Ptarmigan Pass and then down to South Fork Williams Creek. Best wildflower display so far in the lower elevations, brilliant columbines and wild roses to name a few.

Right back up again along Knife’s Edge trail then dropping to Bobtail Creek.

Slow going most of the day due to poor trail conditions and lack of tread. Walking on the sides of your feet is exhausting and tough on the feet and ankles.

I had a nice chat with two weekend hikers camped along Bobtail Creek. Generous offers of beer, gourmet snacks, dinner and “varieties of legal cannabis”. I settled for fresh tomatoes on Trisket crackers.

One final push up a switchback road to the top of 12,500 ft Jones Pass and rejoined the official CDT. Camped right on the road which was blocked by a large snowbank – a convenient windbreak. Beautiful views just about made up for the fact I was pretty well spent – lots of elevation gain today. I drifted off to the sound of generators and a ventilation fan running at the Henderson molybdenum mine far down the valley below.

I met two CDT hikers today, John and Shortcut.