Our Journey from Breckenridge to Colorado: August 2014

Hi all! This is a retroactive blog from Peter and my trip along the Colorado Trail. I've included bits from the journal I wrote in each night, but if you prefer, just check out the pictures. The trail is broken into segments (28 total), and I've included where we were camping each night just in case you want to go there someday (which I hope you do!!). Here is week one...

Night #1: Camping in Segment 7, Miner's Creek (hiked 5 miles)

Already feeling the old familiar joy of leaving the great wide world behind us for a little while--just our little trio and nature now. 

A quote for the books (a man in a booth at Deli Cioso's yesterday): "That french toast this morning didn't even do me in!" as he takes another bite of his burrito.

The trail took us through mostly logged-out forest today...

A conversation:

"Peter, whatcha thinkin' about?"
"Nothin', you?"
"Just math."
"?"
"Trying to figure out, if A+B=C, what would B+C=?"
After a good ten minutes working it out in our heads, we came to the conclusion that B+C=B+C. Ha!

Night #2: Camping in Segment 8, a meadow just before Searle Pass (hiked 14.4 miles)

The trail went up and over the tundra for the first time since Denver today, which kind of feels like cheating since it was our first full day of hiking, but oh well. 

 We saw thousands of wildflowers but my favorite were the Columbines growing on the tundra...a whole living bouquet!

                              Yay Monkus!

                                                                     Marmots are funny

                                    Copper Mountain Resort...this part of the day was SO HOT!!

Night #3: Camping in Segment 8 four miles before Tennessee Pass (hiked 15 miles today)

 This is an example of what the trail markers looked like

 Kokomo Pass!

 Paintbrush (my new favorite flower)

 Military training bunkers

Night #4: Camping in Segment 9, Holy Cross Wilderness (hiked 15 miles)

 The infamous trail magic box that provided Peter with the infamous potato soup...more on that later

 We've been so lucky with the weather so far...dodged another rain storm today

 We are really getting our camp tasks down to an art now...I set up the tent while Peter pumps water, dinner together and bear hang before bed. Mornings are cold but one of my favorite times. 5 A.M. I lower the food bag and make oatmeal and coffee while Peter takes down the tent, sun rises while we finish packing, hit the trail early...

 Pumping water

 Green pond, warm water, laundry with Dr. Bronner's. Storm rolling in but never quite.

Night #5 Leadville Hostel (hiked 3 miles)

 Slight change of plans...Last night Peter got really sick (threw up!) due to a potato soup gift from Caveman (I'll let him fill in the details). A blend of altitude sickness, dehydration, and just plain exhaustion (clearly I was feeling some of the exhaustion as well). We hiked the three miles to the nearest trail head and (thank goodness for cell phones!) called the Leadville Hostel. Not only did they take dogs, not only did they drive to the trailhead to pick us up, but they had the best bed in the world! We showered, napped, did laundry, re hydrated...mostly just rested. We loved Leadville. Very much like Missoula except at 10,000 feet.

 The church's door: "DANGER: AVALANCHE"

Backyard view of Colorado's highest peak: Mt. Elbert

 Pizza makes you Powerful!!

 Night #6: Camping in Segment 12 next to Clear Creek (hiked 10 miles)

 Twin Lakes: Our first resupply (picked up food we had mailed to ourselves)

 Felt more like snake country than bear country today

 Carried in a Dale's Pale Ale from Twin Lakes and iced it in the river!

Best campsite yet! A thought that I know I've had before and will surely have again:when you are lucky in your life the only thing to do is try to do a little good.

Night #7: one week! Camping in Segment 12 near Three Elk Creek (hiked 15 miles)

 Good morning super moon!

 Our toughest hike to date: steep up, then steep down, then steep up, then steep down...you get the picture.

Today I realized I was thinking too much about the pictures I was taking, so I decided to take a break from the camera. Kind of a relief to just use my eyes for a day!

Exhausted and happy in the tent, listening to a rain storm roll in (or out already?)...