CT Day 15: Collegiate Peaks to Cottonwood Creek

Daily Miles: 23.2, Total Miles: 219.2

The brilliant night sky, including the Big Dipper was on full display from my tent last night.

A tough but beautiful day on the trail today. Up and over Waverly Mountain just before sunrise then down to beaver paradise at Pine Creek.

I skirted the flanks of two 14k peaks, Mt Harvard and Mt Columbia, and passed by pretty Harvard Lakes before dropping down to North Cottonwood Creek.

I took a lunch and water break at the creek crossing and started the 2,400 ft steep climb to a saddle on the east ridge of Mt Yale, another 4teener. Drizzle and light rain at the 11,800 ft saddle and part way down the other side to Avalanche TH on the Cottonwood Pass Road.

I crossed Middle Cottonwood Creek and headed downstream then up and along the edge of Rainbow Lake. A small pond just off the trail was occupied by a large bull moose wading around and having dinner. He kept an eye on me but didn’t seem too concerned.

Could have gone to Cottonwood Hot Springs but Mrs. Haze and I took a good soak there earlier in the summer. Instead, I crossed South Cottonwood Creek and camped on the south bank. Another short rain just after I crawled into my tent.