Month: July 2014

When I asked the hotel clerk where was the best place to hitch for Monarch Pass, some guys in the lobby overheard and offered me a ride. They come out to Colorado every year from Georgia to hike a week or so, and just completed a 14k peak. Tony, the driver, thru-hiked the AT in early eighties.
When we got to the pass I had to go into the store up there to help the economy.
On the trail by 9AM, quite good for coming out of town.

This sign at the Monarch ski area, “Great Divide– More Difficult”, denotes a ski trail that follows along the divide. But perhaps, on another level, it is a commentary on the CDT. (But some parts of southern Colorado might be “black diamond” early in the season.)

The path ascends out of the trees onto a high ridge. Oh good, I love this style of high trail that goes way up a ridge, then follows level along a mountainside for miles, offering panoramic views along the way.
Continue reading “Chasing Blue”

More winding down the collection of tree-enclosed rocky trails known as Summit Trail, then down to the pass. Following directions in my databook guide, the cabin appears.

Just a few feet from the parking area, most people do not know it exists. Dark, only three bunks, no amenities such as a propane lantern, but free, first-come, first-served. Looks fun for snow-mobile season.
A group of five trail-runners, staying in a pack, started up the path. One, an older gentleman, paused to let me know this was a popular trail for mountain bikes, then ran on to join the group.
When the first bike arrived the path was enclosed by trees and winding, so you could not really see far ahead and had to step out of the way quickly to let her pass.

All riders were invariably polite and called out greetings and thanks for me stepping aside. I could usually see them before they saw me, since they had to concentrate on rocks and turns.
Continue reading “Return to Colorado”

Today was on a “Summit Trail” of connected high points, that involved much quick up-and-down, energy draining and morale busting. Usually enclosed by tree cover, strangely little beetle ravaged, no views of distant mountains are likely. Here is a representative view.

And here is a representative trail surface. Continue reading “Rock”