CT Day 22: Cochetopa Crk & La Garita Wilderness

ByPurple Haze Posted on

Daily Miles: 22.6, Total Miles: 334.8

The coyotes were howling early this morning.

Gunnison National Forest

A fast pace this morning through the Gunnison NF across large meadows and in and out of dry or muddy drainages. Definitely in cattle country now unfortunately highlighted by a dead cow practically in Ant Creek. The smell was absolutely horrible and I sped up – needed water but not that bad.

Cochetopa Creek

I soon dropped into the Cochetopa drainage, flowing well with an active beaver population and lots of grazing cows. I had lunch at the creek crossing, a few logs thrown in there to keep your shoes dry.

I really enjoyed following the creek upstream for the next eight miles into the La Garita Wilderness. Thinking, as I always do on these hikes, that a flyrod would be really nice right now.

Entering La Garita Wilderness along Cochetopa Creek

I finally found a grassy spot above the creek and quickly put up my tent as a light sprinkle started. I really noticed today that the season is shifting to fall. The willows on the riverbanks are changing color as well as some aspens up high.

Masterbraider, Yaya and her dog, Star, whom I met yesterday, came by later in the evening and camped nearby. We had a nice chat – they both hiked the PCT in 2019.