After weathering the storm, we are heading back to the trail. Rocky Mountain NP was hit by a terrible fire close to six years ago.

The 2020 Troublesome Fire was one massive, and destructive wildfire, and known as the second-largest fire historically in the State of Colorado. This fire burned 193,812 acres between its ignition on October 14, 2020, and its containment on November 30. The fire destroyed 555 structures and killed two people, devastating portions of the community of Grand Lake. The majority of the fire’s burned acreage and structural losses accrued on October 21, when the fire burned more than 100,000 acres in a single day.

Once I entered the Rocky Mountain NP, the entire 27 miles of the CDT was nothing but burned and charred. This is terribly unfortunate for the park, its visitors, the hikers passing through, and the animals of this region. Many of the thru-hikers were bypassing this section. The worst parts about walking and camping through burned areas, is the lack of places to pitch your tent, especially far enough away from widow makers. These are dead or burned trees that fall atop campers and yes, make the one left behind a widow.

I spent the night in Grand Lake, the quintessential small town bordering RMNP. It is considered another Gateway to the CDT. This town was celebrating Constitution Week so flags are flying, parades and festivals line the streets, and everything Constitutional is being shared. It’s a town with a declining population of 405 people, but you wouldn’t know it as there are hundreds of tourists arriving to commemorate 250 years! They have plenty of restaurants, shopping, coffee shops and even a Performing Arts Theater.

Jen and I spent the evening watching a production with six women called “Never Can Say Goodbye.” It was a tribute to the music of the 70’s with me and Fearless singing along at the top of our lungs! There were lots of costume changes with solos and plenty of dancing. The choreography was outstanding and the theatre was packed. I think the entire town was present!

I’m sure many of you are asking, so does Kelly actually hike, or does she just travel from town to town? Well, I am doing a bit of both! The only way to appreciate this trail is to get out and hike your heart out, but when you get an opportunity to immerse yourself in a small town, do that too! Of all the three trails that I’ve hiked, the CDT has lended itself to spending more time in towns, meeting locals and immersing yourself into a lifestyle that is so unlike city’s and metropolitan areas. I highly doubt that I will see myself doing this again. Let me rephrase that, I will never do this again! So I almost feel obligated to make the most of this trek, explore the area, knowing that I won’t be passing through on foot again. But with that being said, I just might kidnap my hubby George and take a road trip through this country. I love this part of the US. The people here live a slower and more relaxed pace of life. It has taught me more about taking care of each other, depending on one another in your daily lives, and really knowing what it means to love your neighbor! It is a pretty darn special place to walk through.

“Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”” Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭29‬-‭31‬ ‭NLT‬‬