CT Day 19: Monarch Ridge & Marshall Pass

Daily Miles: 22.7, Total Miles: 275.9

Trail Angel Debbie picked me and one other hiker up and was on the trail at Hwy 50 by 8am. A crystal, clear morning with a hint of fall in the air.

After gaining considerable elevation, I finally rejoined the CDT/CT where east meets west. I revisited a beautiful camp spot I had on the CDT on the Divide crest.

Panoramic views were a real highlight but this section of trail also receives heavy use by mountain bikes and noisy dirt bikes. The trail is really churned up in places and I had to step off many times to let traffic clear.

I dropped down to Marshall Pass. got water and had lunch. A combination of trail and dirt roads got me back over 11,000 ft elevation. At my next water refill at a small stream, I was joined by a family of eight grouse. They pecked around making little grouse noises and didn’t seem bothered by me as long as I didn’t move.

Clouds started moving in with a light rain late in the afternoon. I found a nice campsite high on a ridge.