August - 2019

Monarch Pass to Gunnison; 50 miles with Bean!

Monarch Pass to Gunnison; 50 miles with Bean!

Getting back on trail after a 4 day society plunge. During our 4 days off trail, I realized that ANOTHER friend that I met on the Appalachian Trail, Bean, (who was a few weeks ahead of us on the Colorado Trail) would be getting back ON trail at Monarch Pass - the very place we needed to get back on also. Bean had been hiking the CT (started July 7th), but sprained her ankle in a parking lot (ugh!) so had to get off trail for two weeks to recover/heal. What pure coincidence th

260 miles, 11.5 days. That's a Wrap Collegiate West.

260 miles, 11.5 days. That's a Wrap Collegiate West.

CT Day 11: 24.6 miles hiked. Camping just past stream @ 7.3mi in CW segment 3 to Middle Fork South Arkansas River (CW 05 trailhead) (elev: 10,440 ft). I finally had a decent night’s sleep! I seriously think it’s the Pure Power that Robbie gave me. I didn’t wake up in serious pain, just tossed and turned slightly adjusting my layers with the temperature. It’s been dipping down into the upper 30s at night and I’m usually quite cold at first, but then get a little warm so I shed

Family at Cottonwood Pass

Family at Cottonwood Pass

CT Day 10: 19.2 miles. Stream just past Illinois Creek to camping just past stream, 7.3mi in CW segment 3 (elev: 11,891 ft). I had the worst night sleep yet on trail. I think elevating my legs under my pack caused my hip flexors to tighten and I was aching so much in my hips all night. I finally sat up and moved my pack and cinched up my mummy sleeping bag and liner and got a little sleep between 4:00 am and 6:00 am. I finally woke up and started getting my stuff together aro

First Day in the Big Mountains, Double Pass Attempt

First Day in the Big Mountains, Double Pass Attempt

CT Day 9: 21.6 miles. Twin Lakes (Willis Gulch Trailhead) to camping at stream just past Illinois Creek (elev: 11,103 ft). We had about 8,000 ft of elevation gain. We got a very early start this morning because we knew we wanted to get over two big passes today: Hope Pass & Lake Ann Pass. I woke up at 4:45 am and started getting ready. I noticed right away that the tent was filled with condensation when I went out to pee. This was the first time to have it totally wet due to

The last bit of “easy” before the Collegiate West

The last bit of “easy” before the Collegiate West

CT Day 7: 19 miles. Leadville to Hagerman Rd - mi 158.4 (elev: 10,375 ft) We got a leisurely late start this morning and were on trail at 9:45 am. We took advantage of the hostel by taking a morning shower which was just divine. Getting my muscles warm in the shower felt so good. While sleeping in a warm bed was super nice, my legs were still quite achy at night. My hips have been really bugging me and have been super tender to the touch, but this was the first day they didn’

Breaking Down on the 6th Day

Breaking Down on the 6th Day

CT Day 6: 22 miles. Tenmile Creek to Leadville - mi 139.4 (intersection w hwy 24). Last night was rough going. I’ve been having difficulty sleeping and my achy legs have been waking me up in the middle of the night. Last night I was trying to move around in my mummy sleeping bag to stretch out the crappy feeling and just couldn’t get comfortable. Finally at about 2:00 am I just rolled over in my half stupor and got in child’s pose and just waited. Everything gets better in c

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