Category: Trip Journal

Yurt

The night was loud with wind tearing at my high exposed campsite. My socks hanging outside the tent should have dried in that wind– instead they froze.
The day was spent on well-built Colorado Trail, meandering up and down rounded-top mountains, very green with grass, with few trees or shrubs. So quiet and with little wind, unlike last night.
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Mid-day I met three thru-hikers who got to Colorado too early, skipped to Wyoming, then are southbound on this section of Colorado. Going south they have been able to meet 50 or so thru-hikers. We commented on our similar gear, with the same packs, one with the same hat as mine and same shoes and gaiters. I was somewhat fuzzy-headed today after a tough night, so forgot to ask them about the trail ahead, but did manage to ask their opinions on dealing with wet trails and wet shoes.
Later the trail climbs up to Carson Saddle, a popular site for four-wheel vehicles, and my first bit of road for several days.
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Several ATVs came by, with coolers strapped on to their machines. Nobody offered treats, so my yogi powers were weak this day. Continue reading “Yurt”

Start Colorado Trail

My trekking pole handle got chewed up in the middle of the night,

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The first thought was that it was damage by heat from cooking dinner last night, so I was mad at myself for carelessness, but a mile down the road I understood the damage had to be from chewing by a small furry animal, most likely chipmunk. One pole is used as tent pole, and the other left just outside the shelter to avoid poking anything inside and remaining handy to poke anything outside. Oh well.
At Bear Creek at the outskirts of the wilderness area I had been inside for days, my feet got soaked during the crossing. Looking back from the heights reveals a better place to cross.

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This is a reminder to myself to check at least 100 feet upstream and downstream on difficult crossings to find an easier place.
Continue reading “Start Colorado Trail”