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
