CT Day 9: Over Searle & Kokomo Passes

Daily Miles: 19.5, Total Miles: 138.9

Checked out of the motel and caught the first bus back to Copper Mountain. The only thing open that early was Starbucks, tempting, but I kept going.

With overcast skies, I hiked up through several ski runs and under a few chairlifts and gondolas. I eventually reaching a more pristine Guller Creek.

The sun came out for the rest of the climb to 12,000 ft Searle Pass., beautiful views in all directions.

Above treeline, the trail then followed Elk Ridge around to Kokomo Pass, also at 12,000 ft elevation. The marmots were out in full force.

With the clouds starting to thicken, I headed down the other side and picked up Cataract Creek. I followed it to a nice lunch spot. Interrupted by raindrops, I got further down to Cataract Creek crossing, filtered water and waited out the heavy rain. After about an hour, with light sprinkles, I resumed the descent to Camp Hale, the site of a U. S. Army training facility during World War II. The trail then cut across the East Fork Eagle drainage and turned up the South Fork Eagle drainage paralleling Hwy 24.

Getting pretty wet, chilly and late by the time I got to Fiddler Creek so called it a day. A couple were just crawling into their tent when I arrived.