God places such beautiful people in my life. Lauren is a local from the town of South Fork. When she gave us a ride, she said she’d be available to take us to the trail in the morning. Sure to her word, she picked me and Jen up this morning and drove us to Archuleta Trailhead. It saved us from walking Highway 160 which is a shoulder less roadway. On top of that, she presented us with OWLS patches. We are now honorary members of the Old Wise Loving Souls Club which means we must keep moving throughout life, and we must share the outdoors with everyone we surround ourselves with. I think I can do that Lauren! She hugged us and sent us on our way. She is leaving for her own journey, to walk The Primativa- a Pilgrimage in Spain. Buen Camino Lauren.

The day was gorgeous. The whispery clouds were floating above the mountains, and blanketing the lakes and riverbeds. As we were walking up the road to hook up with the trail, we saw Scott. He’s from the LA Area and we met him yesterday after navigating the crazy train trestle. His grandparents have a cabin in South Fork that he inherited and visits a couple weeks a year. He was headed to the Big Meadows Reservoir to go fishing with his family.

Fearless and I made it to Archuleta Trailhead and followed the edge of the lake. Scott, his wife Hallie and their sweet little boy Coleman were casting their lines into the lake. We talked for a bit, and little Coleman came over and gave me the biggest hug. Just out of the blue, he wrapped his little arms around my legs. Coleman, you have no idea how much I needed that hug! I hope you catch the biggest fish of the day.

After my sweet little hug, we headed up the hill. Our plan today is to hook back up with the CDT Redline. It’s less than ten miles and that seemed quite doable. Jen is still trying to take it slow and easy for the first week back on trail, so no big expectations. The trail was nice, well groomed and manicured. Except for the Rio Grande. It was flowing like no one’s business. Even Lauren commented on it as we were driving to the trailhead this morning.

And sure enough, we had to cross this enormous river. I am deathly afraid of heights, but Jen is terrified of fast moving rivers. She had quite the scare back in the Bob Wilderness and hasn’t been able to past it. So when we came to our river crossing, this was frightening. It was, in fact flowing well over 1000 cubic feet per second but the saving grace was the section we needed to cross was fairly narrow. Maybe twenty feet, more or less.

Jen put her sandals on. They are substantial and this saves her trail runners from getting submerged. I took my socks and inserts out as my trail runners, as my sandals are not my go-to for river crossings. I went first to test the depth. If I could get across, Jen would have no problem. There was only one section that was rolling white water but very shortly lived. Before I knew it, I was on the other side, and so was Jen.

We had another river crossing but much calmer. All was good and we headed up to the pass. I was up ahead and as I reached the top, there was the biggest moose I’ve ever seen. At first I thought it was a horse but there’s no wild horses up here. I must have spooked him because he bolted before I could get any closer!

We stopped for lunch and decided we would keep hiking towards the Redline. Well, we had no idea that our trail would disappear. That ended our dreams of ridge lines and sunsets! Our trail had been so good for the first half of the day, but the trail helpers must have been called away to other areas west. We went over a few fallen trees, and no more trail was found. This leaves us to our own devices and bushwhacking is all we could do.

For the remainder of the day, we covered one mile per hour, climbing over rocks, boulders, fallen trees and walking through soggy meadows. Needless to say we never made it to the redline. Around 5pm, we found a nice knoll, looked for a flat enough spot for a tent and a couple of trees to hang a hammock. And we hunkered down for the evening. As I thought about the day, it’s easy to get discouraged. But we are still walking, we are enjoying our time in this beautiful country and we are getting stronger! There is always tomorrow to connect with the CDT Redline.

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The storm of the century fizzled out! And that is a big hallelujah and praise to God Almighty. There was a bit of rain last night and some off and on showers but nothing like this torrential downpour that was forecasted.

Fearless and I had a short day today. The plan is to hike into South Fork, dry out our gear and carryon. So no big rush this morning. We made coffee and actually drank it before we left. I relaxed in my tent and Jen swung from her hammock. The rain pidder pattered on my tent and I had a small amount of water that seeped in at the bottom of my tent. Poor construction on my part, but nothing a little terry cloth couldn’t absorb.

We packed up and prior to leaving Fearless mentioned a train trestle we could cross. That sounds a bit scary but let’s see what this is all about. The tracks have been our mode of trail since yesterday. A much better option than walking the highway. So we headed southerly and within a short distance, there it was. An old dilapidated trestle. Oh my! This is much more than I had signed up for.

Train Trestles are used to maneuver trains over rivers, marshes, uneven terrain by way of steel bridges. The issue is this train trestle is not maintained and has many soft and decaying pieces of wood that we are to skirt across. And it’s about 20-30’ above the Rio Grande River which is flowing pretty darn quickly. Hmm, now I get to decide should I go or should I turn around and walk back to Canada?

I, with a lot of trepidation took one foot forward and started walking across this steel bridge. It took nearly two minutes to get from one end to the other and as Jen said, she could hear my heart beating. That’s not a good thing! Somehow, someway, with God’s grace, I made it. Then Fearless, an appropriate name for her, followed afterwards.

That was our morning wake up call. After that, we were on solid ground and followed the train tracks all the way to South Fork. The rain sprinkled off and on, but no downpours and I think I deployed my umbrella for a mile or two. But most the day, we were dancing between the raindrops.

The closer we got to South Fork, the more homes we saw. But what we didn’t expect was a Rail Buggy. There were two of them, and they were attached to the rails as people peddled down the track. What a hoot! Once again, why didn’t we do this?

As we entered town, Lauren from South Fork stopped and asked us if we needed a ride. I had told Fearless that I wouldn’t hitch, but if someone offered a ride, I’d take it. We had less than a mile to the hotel so, sure we’d love a ride! And before we knew it, we were dropped off at our very nice hotel for the night, Wolf Creek Lodge.

Jen and I headed to the room, changed and went straight for the Redwood Hot Tub and Sauna. This is glamping, that’s all there is to it. But we earned it and Fearless definitely did her part. What a great reward for hiking in the rain, across train trestles and road walking. All in a days work! Maybe our little alternate wasn’t so bad after all.

Jen and I talked about how we got here today. Never in our wildest imagination did we plan to take this path. But God did. The importance of being able to accept His will and His ways is trust.

“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We had an extra day and night in Creede which was a good call. After Uncle Joe and Aunt Ellen got us all situated in our lodge, they traveled back to Denver. We, being Sabine, Jen and I made quick time of organizing our stuff, picking up boxes from the post office and catching up. The three of us have been on different paths as of late, with Jen making the most of her time working and developing contacts. She should be a politician!

We all headed to town in the rain, and ran into a Sobo named Blast. She is from Montreal and started in Glacier after us. She is another young and very fast hiker. But she was close to hypothermia when we ran into her on the street. We all ducked into the Post Office and she nearly cried. Her entire body was soaking wet from head to toe. She left early this morning and walked all day without stopping. No food, no warming up, just head down and straight to town. After picking up her box, I brought her back to our room for a warm shower and hot cocoa. I hung up her wet clothes, made her some hot food, and she spent the night with us.

This trail has been brutal at times, especially with the extreme weather. All the locals remind us that it’s not usually like this. But it has rained more the month of September than the entire year. Well aren’t we the lucky ones. For Coloradans, it’s a welcome relief as they have been in a severe drought. and it appears that it’s not stopping any time soon. With the recent hurricane in Mexico, we will get one last punch. The most amount of rain since 2023 is coming in a couple of days.

So now what? We can’t just hide inside until the sun shines or we’ll never finish this trail! So Jen and I decided to get some miles in while we can. After a great breakfast, Jen, Blast and I left for the Blue Line. Instead of fording the rivers that have over extended their banks, we are road walking to South Fork. Needless to say, this is not my favorite way to hike but it is the smartest way to keep from being swept away down some unstable ravine. And so we walked. Sabine decided to stay in town for a couple more days, waiting out the storm and going rock hounding! This is her happy place and true love, geology.

Fearless and I walked down the road and honestly, I am as happy as a pig in the mud! My hiking partner Fearless is back, and life is grand! Fortunately the road walk has a shoulder and all the drivers were giving us a wide birth. As we looked back on the town of Creede, the mountains were covered by snow.

Our original plan was to keep the miles low being this was Fearless’ first day back on trail. The route was flat and we stopped at Cottonwood Cove. It was the lodge we stayed with Jen’s Uncle Joe snd Aunt Ellen. It’s a cute place with cabins that line the Rio Grande. We had lunch at a picnic table, watched the Big Horned Sheep graze and stopped for a Latte. One of the perks to road walking.

Once we left, the road became much more narrow and we moved over to the decommissioned railroad tracks, following them for the remainder of the day. Walking on railroad ties takes a lot of concentration. The ties are old and sometimes rotten, some are overgrown with grass while others have lava stones between the ties. Not sure why lava stone is thrown all over, being it’s not native to this area. Between the creosote on the railroad ties and the lava rocks, you definitely don’t want to fall or have a misstep! After another five miles or so, we found a flat area with big tall trees. This will be our perfect home for the night.

We walked around for a bit and finally found a little hobbit area that was protected by big fir trees. With the storm of the year on its way, this would be our little sanctuary for the night. Fearless secured her hammock and I pitched my tent for the night. Now all we have to do is wait for the rain, or not. As I went to sleep last night, I was so grateful to have my hiking partner camped right next to me. What a blessing to share this journey, with all its ups and downs, together with another believer. Fearless is a true gift and friend. Thank you Lord.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.” ‭‭1Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬

Here we go again. For many of you who have followed my blog for over ten years, you know that I have hiked the Colorado Trail CT, not once but twice. When I began this journey I had considered jumping the miles that I have already completed. And the time has come with the weathering changing ever-so-quickly, I am making it official. I will continue Sobo from where the CT leaves and the CDT begins anew.

In 2018, I met up with my friends Just Sally, and Bear Bait my PCT hiking companion, and we set off on the CT. We started at Frisco and Just Sally hiked for the first weeks, exiting at Buena Vista. Bear Bait and I continued onward, but just as circumstances arise, Bear Bait severely injured her ankle. I, on the other hand, ended up with Giardia which was something I hope to never ever repeat.

As luck would have it, we found the one and only park volunteer who happened to be cleaning a pit toilet, in the middle of nowhere Colorado. I pleaded with him that we needed a ride off the trail to the nearest hospital, which was a mere two hour drive to Gunnison. After deep thought and contemplation, he agreed that he could, in fact, violate volunteer policy, and give us a hitch to the nearest clinic. While talking on our very long and bumpy ride out of the wilderness, we found out that he drives to this pit toilet for its monthly cleaning! Yep, you read that correctly. God provides time after time, and brought this angel to get us the help, on the one day, that we desperately needed assistance.

Once in Gunnison, Bear Bait was evaluated and released with crutches and orders to stay off her foot for at least six to eight weeks. I was given a healthy dose of antibiotics to combat my intestinal distress and that ended our journey on the CT. With 150 more miles to cover, we decided to rent a car. We toured the areas where we had resupply’s to pick up and then visited Mesa Verde NP. Talk about making lemons into lemonade.

Two years later in 2020, I met up with Triple Z and started the CT from the beginning. I wanted a continuous foot path from Denver to Durango. After thirty-one days of hiking, Triple Z and I completed the Colorado Trail in its entirety. We had bear encounters, moose sightings and saw elk migrating through the meadows we traversed. Almost everyday like clockwork, we would watch and wait for our afternoon thunderstorms and evening rain.

When people ask me if I can name one trail I prefer out of all the others, I always say the Colorado Trail. I love the diversity of it. The topography and landscape is ever changing, the chance encounters of big game and small critters come daily, and the sheer fact that you feel miles away from the rest of the world. But I do warn, watch out for the cows! They are everywhere and this is one place that you always, and I mean always, filter your water!

So here I am back in Frisco, and making the big jump to Creede. I feel a bit sad that I will not walk through this area for the third time. And honestly if the weather was better and I had another month, I would actually hike it once again. It is truly, that beautiful and by far, my personal favorite trail of all time!

But on another note, I am sitting in Denver with Fearless, my dearest friend and hiking partner on the CDT. We are doing laundry, repacking our packs, planning meals and heading to Creede with Aunt Ellen and Uncle Joe. We will pick up Hogged Up and the trio will be back! Mexico or bust, here we come!

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a day! I think I can say that today was my biggest climb and descent ever, in one solitary day. (Well, with the exception of Mt. Rainier). This was only done by the strength of my Lord with much perseverance and determination. And motivated by the fact that my food bag is empty and I’m hungry.

The route I was following is the Silverthorne Alternate. It follows Bobtail Creek and then climbs up and over several peaks and ridges. The path is part trail, part route finding and much scratching my head as to what way I should go.

Like many days, I appear to be the only soul out here. I didn’t see another hiker all day, but I did see a foot print, which I followed. This gave me assurance that I was, in fact, on some course and hopefully, it was going where I intended.

My first climb was through a cirque, that was marked with rock cairns. I had a few route finding roadblocks but after some time, I found my way up to my first peak. I’ll just call it Peak 1. When I made it to the marker, a wooden stick in the ground, I was relieved for only a moment. Where is the trail? It was nothing short of loose sand and marbles that I was to navigate. Oh, my joy ended as soon as it came!

Downhill is my nemesis. I don’t like looking down, hiking downhill, or running in a downward projection. Nope, not one little bit. It was stupid steep and a very narrow ledge that resembled an animal trail. Needless to say, I went very, very slowly until I could regain my composure and breathe again.

Peak 2 was a bit better being there was a trail and no route finding. It switched back and forth for quite awhile and ended up on Alpine Tundra which I enjoy. It’s one of my favorite places to walk.

Then there was Peak 3. It seemed fine and dandy until I noticed the huge rock outcropping. This is never going to end well. The route was typical, steep and slippery. But when I had to climb around the rocky terrain, I was a bit over my pay grade. I really don’t like this part of hiking! No pictures were snapped while hiking, as I was glued to the trail, if you can even call it that.

Peak 4, 5 and 6 were unexpected but much friendlier. The entire day I was above tree line, on mountain tops that were higher than any other peaks I had hiked in recent memory. It was clearly a day, not for an amateur, but a thru-hiker who has God to lead her! I was way out of my comfort zone. Yet, I felt at peace with my choice to be here, hiking in God’s splendor and majesty. Backcountry travel has its rewards, but it should be done with a partner! I’ll be picking up Fearless when I get off this mountain.

Once I reached Ptarmigan Trail, Breckenridge, Dillion and Frisco were visible. You have no idea what a relief it was to see civilization rather than endless mountain ranges! I called George and cried with relief to hear his voice. There is something about talking to the one person in this world who understands my heart, who supports this endeavor and who somehow, always answers the phone when I call. Especially when I’m on top of who knows where! I love you more than you’ll ever know, sweetheart!

The route down was littered with fallen trees, like a tangled up jungle gym. But that was a welcome sight. It was obvious that I wasn’t the first one hiking through, as there were workarounds throughout the forest. Chipmunks were chirping, birds were singing and I was on my way to a warm bed and a hot bath! Once I exited the trail, I followed a dirt trail that took me through a neighborhood. I put my sticks away and within a few minutes, a nice couple stopped and gave me a ride to the Super 8 Hotel. Thank you 🙏

Today was, indeed, a culmination of many months of preparation and a bit of grit. I depended on the Lord to guide my every step, give me confidence and wisdom to find the best path and felt his constant ever presence. What an incredible gift that I have , in Christ Jesus!

“Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given,”. ‭‭ 1Chronicles‬ ‭16‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

There is something wonderful about a good nights sleep. It was so quiet last night. Not an owl hooting, nor an elk buggling. Or maybe there was but I was so sound asleep, that I never heard a thing.

Day two of hiking solo and month three of being on trail! I hadn’t even considered it until I started writing tonight. I could have done all sorts of celebrating on the tops of peaks today. But I was joyful to get over them without any mishaps.

Today I spent the vast amount of time above 11000’, more-so than any previous day. My camp was pretty close to that, but once I made my right turn to Vasquez Peak, it was nothing but sucking air and breathing hard. Oh how I love being above tree line, just me and the Pikas.

Every time I hit a boulder field, I could hear them chirping. Some chirp warning the others that a giant is coming. Others just like to chirp perched on the highest rock, singing a song. A few even poised for me, like they were going to be made famous! They are the cutest of the smallest creatures that I run across. And they like elevation. Nothing below 11,000’ will do. I guess we have that in common.

The clouds were overhead, not sure if they wanted to unload or me, or just tease me from above. Knowing that the chance of rain was eminent, I decided to hike a bit faster and with more purpose. What I didn’t know was that part of my climb today involved a rock scramble. Oh joy! Well if the teeny tiny pika can do it, so can I. It was precarious, to say the least, but it was heading me in the right direction. Once atop of the rock, then I could feel my heart pounding!

The next climb was over Vasquez Peak which lucky for me, was a nice groomed trail that only skirted the peak. No ledges, no scrambles, no loose rocks, just a climb to 12,600’ and down. On my way off the cliff, I saw a couple hiking ahead of me. With the weather as it is, I was quite surprised. We were the only ones out here. But once I met them, I knew they were as bat-crazy as me!

Hugh and Magda are locals from Denver. Hugh is 80yo and Magda is 79yo. They drive to the mountains every week, and take no notice if the weather is inclement. “If we worried about the rain, we would never be in the mountains!” As I was talking with them, I found out that Magdalene is from Barcelona, and she is a true alpinist. Not just any mountaineer but one of the first females to climb over 8000 meters. In February 1989, Magda and another gal summited Cho Oyu, in the Himalayas between Tibet and Nepal. I truly me a legend! What a day I had.

After bidding farewell to Hugh and Magda, I decided to take the Silverthorne Alternate. Honestly, I had all intentions of going this route, and with the clouds looming overhead, it was solidified. There was a huge drop in altitude, which really frustrates me because I know, what goes down, goes right back up!

The roadwalk was close to three miles, all switchbacks and bloody steep! Once I reached the meadow, the trail returned and I started southbound once again. I knew it had to climb being I lost 2500’ in elevation. Yet it was gentle for the remainder of my day. I ran into two day hikers who were out for a ten mile stroll. These locals are hearty! They mentioned a nice campsite a couple of miles down trail. Yep, it’s pretty close to perfect. Up on a knoll, protected by giant firs and fairly flat. I think I’ll just stay put and get ready for my grueling climb out of here tomorrow. But tonight will be a long restful evening, knowing that our mighty and wonderful God has provided all that I need in this beautiful place which He created.

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” ‭‭ 2 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a late start. We didn’t get into camp till half past seven, so I took a little extra time getting ready. Hogged Up and I mutually agreed on going our own way. It’ll give her and John quality hiking time together and honestly, I’m ready to venture out solo for a few days. I like taking the higher routes, and Hogged Up would rather take the lower paths. It all works out and we both get to hike our own hike!

Today had tons of elevation with peaks, ridges and mountains to overcome, literally. I headed towards Berthoud Pass and into Vasquez Peaks Wilderness. The route was covered in fir and spruce trees for the first few miles. Then it opened up to Alpine Meadows with lots of rocks, some scree and my not-so favorite, bouldering.

I was watching the clouds and knew I had little time to get up and over the summit. Sundial and Spirit caught up with me as I started the switchbacks that seemed to go on forever. I climbed to over 12,000’ only to realize there were a few more peaks to bag. After an hour or so, I arrived at Stanley Mountain 12,499’ . It just couldn’t squeeze out that last foot.

Once I was headed down, it started snowing. This is my first bonafide snow flurry. I’ve had ice and hail, rain and slush but no snow! I was covered from head to thighs with layers of warmness. It felt so nice having snow instead of rain. Light, fluffy white cotton falling down on me. It lasted a minute or two and then, as fast as it started, it stopped. Must be God warning me of what’s ahead.

Vasquez Peaks Wilderness lives up to its namesake. There are peaks and mountains in every direction. They are so colorful with the different mineral deposits and multi-colors from the trees changing seasons. This will rank as one of my top ten favorite days in Colorado!

The downhill was a bit much. The tips of my toes were feeling it as it was a pretty intense vertical grade. To the south was Lower Urad Reservoir which was dammed up like Hoover! Then this huge mining operation was southwest from the trail, directly below me. It looked so out of place in the midst of this vast and rugged wilderness.

After a few more miles, I found a home for the evening. It was up on a bluff protected by trees, with a wee little creek below. Home sweet home. I have everything I could need or desire. I pitched my tent and like clockwork, a little sprinkle showered my tent. Nothing too crazy but just a warning of more to come.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ NLT‬‬

Frost was everywhere. On my tent, on the ground, and in the meadow. It was hard getting out of my Durston because it was so cold outside. But we had some miles to do, and time was wasting. Hogged Up was busy readjusting the planned miles and found a better way. A short cut?

Once on the trail, Hogged Up and John led the way. We had planned to meet up at the first water source. The trail was good, but the road was better. It didn’t shave any miles but cut down on some unnecessary elevation. We already had a ton of climbing ahead, so any help we could get, I was onboard. And for a super bonus, there was a trash can along the way so we emptied our garbage, and our unneeded weight.

Once we merged back onto the CDT, we headed towards the creek. There was some great views this morning and one being Devils Thumb. It was well named, quite menacing and towering above everything else. Hogged Up and John stopped for lunch and I was a bit behind them. They are faster so my lunch break gets cut short. You would think this should spur me to walk faster!

We headed up towards Devils Thumb and climbed 2700’ in about three miles. The first two miles was through a burned area until we were above tree line. Then the terrain turned to Sub-Alpine and then my favorite, Alpine. There was soft mosses, grasses, willows and tundra. The views were expansive. Our original itinerary was to camp at tree line, but everyone was feeling good, so we pushed onward.

At 12000’ , I realized this was gonna be a long day! Hogged Up and John were long gone, and I was traversing some exposed and windswept mountain tops. It was incredible with views to Keystone, Dillon, Breckenridge and all places between. The only thing on the peaks besides me and Norman were pikas and tiny white butterflies.

This was one of the first ridge lines that I wasn’t either walking in the rain, shrouded in clouds or being chased by thunderheads! It was such a perfect afternoon and I had it all to myself!

I met up with the crew at Rollins Pass. I climbed over the cattle fencing and Hogged Up grabbed my pack. Just as I was getting settled for a break, they were up and ready to go. Here lies the problem. I am slower and they are faster. These two are the same ages as my two grown children, which makes them much younger than I. So I am not in any way, shape or form going to keep up with them. So I stayed put and asked if I could indulge in a ten minute break? Five minutes later, they had their packs on and ready to go. Well, at least I had five minutes.

We headed down the road and found our water supply, and made camp a bit later than usual. But we did the miles, the weather was amazing and I’m snug in my tent, and going to sleep well tonight. As I look back on today, I need to reflect on my weaknesses. My pace is not John and Sabine’s pace. I can’t and probably shouldn’t try to keep up with them. Especially if I want to continue this sojourn without being sidelined. But with all that being said, God is with me and He has a plan. He is building me and I just need to allow myself to accept where I am and who He is, in me.

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What a gorgeous night I had last night. There is a half moon which means it’s like a full moon in the burbs. It’s so bright and seems like someone is shining a spot light on my tent! The stars were out and I just had to take a peek.

Having John here is a nice reprieve. We can dial our miles down a bit and concentrate more on having a mixed bag of elevation with little miles or long miles with little elevation. 3000’ didn’t seem too bad as it was spread out from early morning to early afternoon.

The sun shined today so that’s almost two days in a row. I’m counting yesterday, even though we had sporadic sprinkles, because we had more sunshine than rain. And that’s a big win on this wet trail.

We broke away from the Colorado River and meandered towards Lake Granby. It also is quite low, but still had enough water for fishermen to fish and troll. Once we started climbing, Hogged Up pointed out the snowy peaks to the north. They did not have snow on them prior to this week, so this is getting real!

I guess you get to pick your poison. Do you hike Nobo and have snow already accumulated and posthole for miles? Or do you head Sobo knowing you will get snowed on while you’re hiking? I’ll choose Sobo as I would much rather have a bit of snow falling as I hike, rather than stepping into feet of hard crusty snow as I hike. But that’s me. There’s more than double that choose Nobo over Sobo journeys.

We headed down to Granby Lake Country Store. It’s a camp store so they should have something good to eat. The gal behind the counter didn’t seem too interested in our wants and desires. Do you have any hot water for tea or coffee? No. Do you have sandwiches? We heard that those were an option. No, we don’t have sandwiches. Nobody was buying them so we discontinued them. What about anything hot to eat? If you’re not a guest, no! Hmm, well that was a bust! Luckily we didn’t walk too far out of our way. Have a nice day.

Up ahead was Monarch Lake so we planned to have lunch there. We sat and I indulged in my packed tuna, tortillas, cucumber and dried fruit with nuts. It was, oh so delicious and it gave me the calories so I could climb the last big hill. Monarch Lake is an Alpine Lake and has a four-mile loop trail that encircles the lake. We saw close to 30 day hikers and probably just as many dogs.

Once we finished our lunch, we started our climb up Mill Creek and back into Indian Peaks Wilderness. We ran into the same two guys I saw yesterday, Brad and Chris. They are hiking 50 miles over four days but have two trucks. So they park at one end and hike to the other end and pick up their vehicle, then do it again the next day. That’s brilliant! They seem so fresh and not winded at all. When the elevation is up, they park at the top and hike down! And vice versa. Well, I guess we’ll see them again tomorrow as we continue to climb Sobo.

We made it to a meadow which is near the Cabin. The squirrels are chirping, the chipmunks are hungry and I’m ready to crawl in my tent and warm up! Pretty easy day and don’t think we’ll get too crazy with extended miles until John gets acclimated. It’s all good!

So Hogged Up was all excited today when John showed her what he thought was slime mold. Hogged Up doesn’t get too excited about much so I had to see what all the fuss was about. When I looked at it, honestly I thought it was a piece of candy that someone spit out, but evidently it’s a slimy substance that is an organism.

Hogged Up explained that some country’s have studied the way these living creatures map out a route to obtain food. They will put them in a controlled area, put food in distinct areas that represent different cities on a map. Take Japan for instance. They will place food in Tokyo, Nara, Kyoto, and Mt Fuji. The slime will pick a line that uses the least amount of energy to obtain all the food. Supposedly, based on their route of choice, city planners have used this method to determine the best way to build new roads, highways and train tracks. Hard to believe that slime has an input on building our infrastructure. Hmm, maybe that’s what’s wrong with our road system!

“O LORD, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. Here is the ocean, vast and wide, teeming with life of every kind, both large and small.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭104‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Rocky Mountain NP has a lovely town at its border. Grand Lake is right at the foot of the park and is one of three towns in which the CDT passes through town. I had a great opportunity to explore the town, eat much and fill up on some much needed calories, then relax. As Fearless was leaving this morning, a parade started outside my door. There were horses, fire and police vehicles, City Mayors and would be gubernatorial candidates, along with the High School Marching Band and many others.

Hogged Up was enroute from Granby, the neighboring town. Her husband John flew in from Maine and plans to hike with us for the next week. After packing up, I met the two of them at Blue Water Bakery in town. We had coffee and I indulged in a Raspberry Peach Scone that was incredibly delicious.

The trail took us out of town, across the bridge and onto a peninsula that wrapped around Grand and Shadow Mountain Lake. This route was just reopened, as there were nesting Ospreys that precluded hikers from entering this section. But the baby’s have hatched and we were free to continue south.

As we hit the fork in the road, we saw close to 15 or so Scouts sitting by the trail. When the three of us arrived, all eyes turned and before we knew it, Sabine, John and I were the new lesson plan! They had more questions about what we were doing, how long we had been out, where we were going and anything 12-14 years olds could fathom. It was so much fun sharing with them our story and hopefully, inspiring these girls to do the same.

The clouds started to buildup and we had a sprinkle or two, but nothing like we’ve had for the past few weeks. Our trail passed by the lakes, then through a low meadow with sagebrush and pines. Before long we had a brief climb and were hiking next to the Colorado River. The same river that rushes down the Grand Canyon. Here we are at the foot, where it’s much smaller and not nearly as powerful.

Colorado is in the midst of a severe drought and many of the rivers, streams, reservoirs and lakes are nothing compared to what they should be. Yet, they are still flowing and thankfully for us, we will never be without water. After a few more miles, we arrived at the southern terminus of RMNP. We camped on the bluff overlooking the Colorado River and commented on this being one of our nicest campsites in quite sometime.

The sun came out and warmed us up as we sat and watched a few boaters going up and down the river. Geese were getting ready to take flight to warmer destinations and we were building our homes for the evening. Hogged Up was as “happy as a clam” being the love of her life John, is here with her. And it became clear that the Lord rejoices with us, and showed His delight for his children.

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.””
‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬