Month: June 2014

This day followed along several ridges, and met very little snow or swamp all day.

The trail can often be seen far in the distance.

The final hike was along a high narrow crest, topped with snow but with room to walk along the white stuff. Continue reading “High and Dry”

After picking up my food box at the post office at 7:30 I stopped by the local camp gear place to see if they had some items I wanted {no}, packed up, and headed out. At a convenience store on the outskirts of town a guy introduced himself as a former local trail angel, before he lost his house, and he advised on the best place to hitch.
After holding up my “Hiker to Trail” sign for only 10 minutes, Travis stopped his van for me. He is doing some construction work now, but has an opportunity to teach outdoor skills at a tiny liberal arts college, Wyoming Catholic College, where he recently graduated. He got a backpacking instruction certificate at an outdoor skills school where he worked.
Near Wolf Creek Pass summit we saw some cyclists and marveled at the effort of their climb.
After the road angel departed and I was readying my pack, a group of the cyclists reached the top, and each one in turn asked me to take a photo on their smart phones.

Started on the trail at 10:30, alternating dry sections of path with snow and swamp, depending on what side of the mountain the trail was using. In places the path was badly eroded, and one could see water bars and other trail engineering features that where not working properly to get water off the trail. This is no complaint, just interesting to see how some trail building techniques work. Colorado was early in getting their section of CDT established, and kudos to them.
Continue reading “Sawtooth”

The day starts with a crest trail into the Wolf Creek ski area.

On the way down to Wolf Creek Pass and US160, I meet a party of three on their way to Cumbres Pass, and another couple that camped at the ski area and were out for a short ramble. Continue reading “Nero Pagosa”