Old friends

After the not-so-good-nights-sleep, I was up at day break and hiking the 10 miles to CO Highway 114. A very good friend from WAY back (we're talking kindergarten) was meeting me there to bring me a big lunch!!!! In talking to Duke, he said he was getting off trail at Gunnison. I like hiking alone but not so much camping alone. Especially after last night! There are just not too many folks out here this late in the season. So I am going to stop at Gunnison and regroup.

Met Karen and her husband Bob (whom I had been dying to meet) and they brought a feast! Complete with chairs! 

It was SO great to catch up. I credit Karen's parents, Bob and Greta with giving me the camping bug. I used to go camping with their family when we were kids and occasionally camp out in their backyard too :). And then, they were so kind as to give me a ride (and it's quite a distance) to my car, back in Leadville. What a treat. Good to see friends so happy!

So, tonight, I am staying in Leadville and then heading back to Kansas to gather my stuff that is still there and hauling it back out here because next week....I WILL HAVE A HOME AGAIN! Yahoo!!

This summer has been ...very surreal. The PCT seems like a lifetime ago. I've hiked around 1200 miles and that is plenty for now.  I'm ready to eat veggies regularly. And wear cotton. And shower daily . (Well...almost) And sleep in a bed. And not just any bed. My bed. I'm ready to have my stuff. In my own place. And get back to work. I'm ready for normal. A new normal though. One without my dad and that's a tough one. This last year, after losing so many good friends, I think my dad was pretty sad. I didn't see him laugh often, and he liked to laugh. Mom said, when I was out hiking, he would get up in the morning and ask if there was a new post in my blog. Something for him to look forward too. That made me happy and sad at the same time. Even though he didn't really agree with what I was doing ('gone south in him' he used to say) some part of him got it. 

So...no more backpacking this year. No more tuna packs, hanging my food in trees or sleeping with a pillow made of dirty hiking clothes stuffed in a sack. 

Next chapter...Fort Collins. 

And one last pic for you Dad...

At least for now ❤️

I'm 

So the day started with this. Not too bad!! Got up and was on the trail early because I wanted to make some good mileage. 

Honestly, it was kind of a rough day. Not physically, although there were a few decent climbs, but just emotionally. It was a beautiful sunrise but then it got cloudy and chilly. A lot of the terrain today was hiking through pine forests that had been decimated by the pine beetle. It's shocking how much damage they've done. It was sort of bleak.

The day brightened a little at lunch when I reached into my food bag and remembered that I'd brought an avocado from Salida. And it was perfect. 

I enjoy hiking alone, but also enjoy meeting seeing other hikers on the trail. There was no one out here today, probably because it is really the end of the season. 

The sun popped out intermittently this afternoon and lo and behold...I came across another hiker. Duke. A guy who had done the AT in 2012 and also the guy who I had given my old water filter to a couple days ago! Small trail :) Anyway, we both had the same goal for camping tonight, Razors Creek(which is actually more like Razors Trickle) So, camped here by the 'creek ' tonight. 

I am in segment 17 right now, a segment notorious for cows and all that comes with them. But since it's fall, I think they have all been moved to lower pastures for the winter, leaving these beautiful high country pastures.

Nights are getting chillier. SO happy that I was camping by Duke! Right as we got into our tents and it got dark, we heard the scream from a big cat. I've heard bobcats and this was no bobcat. We both turned on our headlamps, made a bunch of noise, and blew whistles. I have to admit, it was pretty scary. He was pretty cool about it, but an hour later as I was about to doze off , he said, "If anything happens, just start blowing your whistle and shaking your tent to appear big and loud." So, needless to say...not the best nights sleep!! 

Out of Salida

Big breakfast this morning at the Patio Pancake Place in Salida. I love breakfast food! Tif dropped me off at the trailhead and is on her way back to Kansas. She did awesome and it was fun!

The first ten miles were a slow, gradual climb up to 12,000 feet. Got pretty steep at the end, but totally worth the view!

Lots of mountain bikers on the trail today and there were about ten people up there when I got to the top. I can't imagine riding up or down this trail on a bike. Amazing!

At the top is where the CDT/Collegiate West/Collegiate East, all converge again. 

After this climb, it was all fairly nice. No major ups or downs. Just a combo. 

Lots of downed trees in this segment, but also lots of yellow flowers. 

With the relatively easy terrain, I made good miles despite the late start (and huge breakfast!) Sometimes at the end of the day, you search and search for a flat spot and you finally just have to settle for rocky, slippery spot. (See notes from two days ago 😝)   And sometimes you just get lucky. I got lucky today ! 

Salida!!

So last night ranks as my #1 slantiest tent site ever! Kind of a workout just trying to sleep without ending up in a pile at the bottom of my tent. We were hiking pretty early because it was a TOWN DAY! We only had 10 miles to do. Got to the road before noon and started trying to hitch the thirteen miles into Salida. It had been a beautiful day but as we were standing there waiting for a ride, it began to pour . Boo! But then a van door opened...a guy there crewing for some bikers, and he let us sit inside the van for the brief downpour. Rain stopped, his riders showed up, and another hiker came by who had a broken water filter. Tif had been using my old filter, so I gave him that one. We walked out to the road and quickly got a ride with a doctor and his wife and we all went on our merry way. So again, things worked out the way they are meant to! And then there was this...

And good food. Lots of it.

Heading out on my own tomorrow. 252 miles down! 

Big day

We decided to get moving early today for a couple of reasons. We wanted to get close to Salida AND we knew we could make it to Mount Princeton Hot Springs resort if we kicked it in.  No huge climbs today so we made it in good time! 

We knew there was a general store there but were thrilled to find a restaurant too! Ate some big food and caught up with some emails lounging on the couches outside. And of course....

One of these is because I know I should, the other is because it's what I want!!

We spent about 2 hours lounging around, eating ice cream and finally dragged ourselves away at about 2:00. We had a few climbs, nothing major so we decided to hike later than normal to get closer to Salida. Tifs ending point and the first chance to do laundry in a week. P.U.  

There was some really spectacular scenery today. The grand scale of these Collegiate Peaks is awesome.

      Mount White

And then we saw this amazing sky!

We hiked late because we were deep in the woods and there were no flat spots for our tents and lots of downed trees. Finally found a 'flat' spot....if you consider a 30 degree angle flat😜. Gonna be a night spent climbing back up to the top of my tent!  

Got in just in time to hang out food and throw up our tents.

Our longer hiking day thus far , even with a two hour break, we did 24 miles. Yeeha!

What a difference

So, I am pretty diligent about hanging my food bag to protect it/me from bears. But when it is pouring and lightning and thunder...forget about it!   So last night, I literally opened my tent fly, and flung my bag as far from my tent as I could. I figured at least I wouldn't have some bear come sniffing around my tent. Woke up about midnight to what sounded like something crinkling candy wrappers. Shined my headlight out through the rain but didn't see anything. Until this morning when I ventured out to get my food and there were a few little holes gnawed through. Some little creature almost had a feast!

It Pretty much rained all night. Then this morning, the wind picked up. I thought maybe that was good news because it might dry my tent off for a bit. No such luck. We finally gave up waiting for a break in the weather and got out in the cold drizzle to pack up camp. Tif did great and got a real taste of the 'not-so- great' days of backpacking. We had several miles of down , so we booked it for several reasons...knock some miles out early, warm up and hopefully walk away from the clouds.  Fixed a warm freeze dried meal for lunch in case it was raining again tonight. Pretty tasty lasagna. We had another big, steep climb right after lunch. But as we were climbing, the sun came out. Yay! Got over the top to an open sunny spot and tired drying our soaking wet tents out a bit.

Hiked by another of the big Collegiate Peaks, Mount Yale. Incredible.

We got in some good miles today and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Camping tonight by a nice creek about 2500 feet lower than last night. Even got here in time to cook a warm meal (my fav- chicken and dumpling) Setting up camp was so much more relaxing tonight!!

Rain, rain go away

Had a nice breakfast at the Twin Lakes Inn. If you're ever in the area, I would highly recommend it. Good food at the restaurant and a quaint little inn. 

Started on the trail and came to this sign

On this segment of the trail, there are two options through the Collegiate Peaks. The West is the newest and has higher elevations. We opted for the traditional route (east) It is late in the season and although the weather is never totally predictable, we just felt like it was the better option.  We had two big climbs today. Not as steep as Elbert, but plenty of elevation gain. And we got to walk through lots of Aspen trees.

The Collegiates are incredible. A photo of Mount Harvard...

As we were about 1/2 mile from the top of our last climb, the sky got dark and the thunder started up. The top is not where you want to be in a thunderstorm!! We scurried over as fast as our lungs would allow and started down the other side. We were low on water too, so we knew we were going to have to stop for water and then quickly find a flat spot for our tents. Came to a stream and as we were filtering our water, the rain started. We were up above 11,000 feet so it was getting chilly fast. Threw our packs back on and hustled down. Came to a flat spot and quickly began to throw up our tents. Funny how hands don't work as well when they are cold and wet!! Got our tents up (although they were a little cock-eyed. Big Agnes would not be proud)

Literally threw everything inside and dove in after.  Needless to say, it was a little damp inside.  Blew up my air mattress and used it as an island to keep all my dry stuff dry. Thank goodness for Dry sacks! Clothes and sleeping bag were fine. Quickly changed and burrowed into my bag to get warm. It's still raining now, but I am warm and dry-ish. 

Thunder started up around 8 which was a little unsettling. As we were dozing off, we heard several groups heading up to the top with their headlamps in the dark. What??? Walking up above tree line at night in a thunderstorm? HYOH definitely applies i guess. Hike Your Own Hike.

I can't say that I love setting up my tent in the pouring rain, but it definitely makes for a memorable day!

This ones for you Dad!