Colorado Trail - Day 7

August 18, 2017
Camped at 145.2 (25.2) 10,407'

Last night's dinner gave me the worst gas in the world. Oh man, it was awful. There was some spice in it that must have disagreed with me because I could smell that spice all night long. Oh man, it was nasty.

I didn't feel like getting up this morning but I was on trail at 7:20. Unfortunately I forgot a trekking pole so I really didn't get started until 7:35.

When I was getting the pole, I met a couple hiking the trail from Sequim, WA. I saw them a few other times as we climbed Searle Pass.

The day started with the climb over Searle Pass. Great views during the climb and from the pass. From there the trail stayed high for three miles to Elk Ridge, then dropped to Kokomo Pass and then really dropped down to Camp Hale.

Between Searle Pass and Elk Ridge, there was a large herd of sheep. Below Elk Ridge, there was a large tent and some horses. I wonder if that is the shepherds' camp?

On the descent from Kokomo Pass, I met and talked to three bike packers. I'd heard about them from others so it was nice to meet them. I also met one of them this morning shortly after I started hiking. They camped about a mile past where I did, near a creek and it was very damp. She was shaking out her tent, trying to get it dry. It was nice and dry where I camped.

I stopped at a creek and rinsed my shirt and bandanas off and washed up a bit too. That was refreshing for sure.

There was a group of people down by Camp Hale surveying for unexploded ordnance. I stayed on the trail. I must have zoned out because I didn't see the bunkers or whatever everybody posts pictures of while passing by Camp Hale. Oops.

I made it to camp at 7:30. There was another hiker camping here, David Fanning, author of, "Voices of the Colorado Trail." We talked a little bit but we were both tired and he went to bed while I was eating dinner.

Today was the best day on the trail so far as those big Colorado views are concerned. I'm sure they get better, but the views were pretty spectacular today.

Find the Pika (Near Center)

Marmot

Colorado Trail - Day 6

August 17, 2017
Camped at 120.0 (15.9) 10,135'

The hostel provided breakfast. Today was eggs and hash browns. After breakfast, I took the bus to town and resupplied at the market. I made it to the bus back to the trail just in time. I was on trail at ten.

Segment 7 is tough. It has a 3300' climb over the Ten Mile range. To add to that, the Breck Epic was going on again and this time I think I saw all 600 cyclists. I missed a turn and followed the cyclists towards Breckenridge. I probably walked a mile before I realized my mistake and turned around.

There was a fire earlier this year (the Peak 2 fire) that closed Segment 7 for a while and threatened Breckenridge and the surrounding environs. The fire affected maybe a half mile of the CT.

Cresting the Ten Mile range was my first time over 12k on the CT. That was tough! It was super windy up top so I didn't stay long. The trail follows the ridge for awhile before descending towards the Copper Mountain ski resort.

On the descent I met another CT hiker named Robert. He asked if my hat was an OA hat since it has an arrow on it. It turns out that Robert was a Section Vice Chief for, if I remember right, section W3C. He's from Hawaii.

Down below, Weston and Katie were camped. I stopped and had a snack and Robert arrived too. I kept going for a few more miles and camped at the first opportunity after passing the Copper Mountain ski resort. It was a nice campsite but there was a highway nearby so it was a bit noisy.

Yesterday, at the hostel, Ian gave me a couple of dehydrated dinners he made because he won't need them. I tried the first one tonight. It was way more food than I could eat so I ended up burying the leftovers a ways from my camp. At least it tasted okay and I was able to eat it easily enough.

Peak 2 Fire Damage

Cresting the Ten Mile Range

Copper Mountain

Copper Mountain

Tonight's Camp

Colorado Trail - Day 5

August 16, 2017
Finished at 104.1 (12.8) 9203'

Sometime during the night, I was laying on my back with my hands on my stomach. A squirrel jumped on me and landed on my hands. I threw them up and the squirrel flew up and hit my tarp. I don't know where it landed, but it didn't bother me again.

It rained during the night but stopped before I got up. Things were still damp when I packed up but at least it wasn't raining. I only had 13 miles to get to town today so I didn't rush getting up. I was on the trail about half past seven.

As I got going, I noticed signs for a bike race, the Breck Epic. Fortunately I never saw anyone racing.

The day started with a climb then when descending it got cold so I put my wind jacket on. Once the sun came out I stopped and hung my tarp and ground cloth out to dry.

The trail dropped through a big beetle kill area. A lot of the dead trees had been cut down and put in piles. It wasn't very scenic at all.

Once I was a few miles from Breckenridge, I got service on my phone so I putzed around on the internet. It's different being offline for several days and not hearing any news.

I've been seeing a gal bike packing the CT off and on since Sunday. She camped in the same area as I did last night. She passed me with a few miles to go. She had to deal with the bike racers so I must have been just ahead of them. Her name is Christy.

A bus showed up just after I reached the highway so I got a ride into Breckenridge right away which was great. In town I ate at the Breckenridge Brewery, then stayed at the Bivvi Hostel. It's a nice place and serves breakfast too. There were six of us in the room, three others were hikers, Ian and Taylor, and Weston.

Weston and I took the bus into town. We walked around and ended up eating dinner at the Breckenridge Brewery. I didn't mind eating there again, the food and beer are good.

Camp 4, Beware Flying Squirrels

Beetle Kill Clearing

Colorado Trail - Day 4

August 15, 2017
Camped 91.3 (26.8) 9957'

Doing 22 today wouldn't workout with the terrain, so I decided to try for 27 instead. That would set me up for a 13 mile day into Breckenridge tomorrow.

Everything was pretty damp so packing up was a pain. We got going at 6:30. We finally started to get some big views. Berno pulled away on the climbs. He had his tent out to dry at Kenosha Pass. I hung my tarp to dry too.

We dumped our garbage at the Kenosha Pass campground then continued. Again Berno pulled ahead on the climbs but was resting at Jefferson Creek. After Jefferson Creek is a 1900' climb to 11,874' so we said or goodbyes. Berno's instagram is @the_bearno.

The climb went well. It was fairly gradual and I was able to keep a good pace, just not Berno's. When the trees cleared, I could see him cresting the ridge over a half mile ahead.

Shortly after summiting, the CDT joins the CT. I'll be able to hike over 300 miles of the CDT; I'm pretty stoked about that!

I had dinner at the first water after the summit, then continued to where I'm camped. My stomach's been bothering me and I'm having trouble eating. Hopefully things will be better tomorrow.

Morning Dew

Me and Berno

Hello CDT!