You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.

J.R.R. Tolkien

Why did I do this? I have no idea. All I know is ever since Dad bought the book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson, I have wanted to hike a long trail. Something pulls me to it. Even after I’m done with being uncomfortable days on end, bored, cold, hot, and wet, all still fresh in my mind, I want to go back out there.

I thought I’d write a summary of the last three years hiking this trail, parts I remember the most, takeaways. This is mostly for me, something I can look back to when I actually do get old and want to remember the hike.

One thing that is fresh in my mind is something Becky said as we were driving to Silverton to begin my last section. We had been driving five or six hours and she said “You walked this?” It hit me, yes I walked this, 486 miles and 89,354ft up. For some, that’s not a lot, for others it is. For me I do feel the accomplishment, not what I hoped, it did take three years, but I still did it. To me though it’s not the accomplishment part that matters, it’s the memories, it was an adventure! So, lets see what I remember without looking at pictures, the blog, or any notes. I’ll add pictures after I’m done.

2020

The first day, Cherie and Becky drive me to Rolling Creek trailhead, the start of section 4, I’ll explain later. I remember goodbye hugs and being full of all kinds of emotion. Not wanting to leave them yet, at the same time, wanting to start the adventure. They had to shoo me away. Off I went! It was all uphill, just a precursor of most of the trail. I walked and walked, wondering what I had gotten myself into. As I was starting to get tired and thinking about camp I remember coming across a young lady checking the weather and stating rain was coming. So I really decided to look for a campsite and settle in. Got the tent up right before it started to rain. It was a short rain but I was happy to avoid getting wet. My first night camping, on trail, it was in the Lost Creek Wilderness in a long flat section. One thing interesting at the campsite was a fire ring with an arrow stuck in the middle of it, just something odd I remember.

I remember the views of South park as I got close to Kenosha pass, finally some views! Before that just trees and forest. The camp after that made me uneasy, an area by a stream that I wasn’t really sure I should camp there. There was also a 4WD road that was being used , I think I was still just trying to figure out this where to camp thing. Just coming up to a spot that looked good for camping was still quite a strange thing for me. Don’t remember much after that other than going down into Breckenridge on switchbacks and meeting Cherie and Becky there for a ride home. They had fresh cloths, antiperspirant, and snacks for me. It was so great to see them.

My brother in-law Dennis wanted to try thru hiking so he decided to join me for a few section. Sections one, two, and three, lower altitude. The first campsite was memorable, we arrived at a place I had camped before in segment one, Dennis, promptly lays down on the ground and using a rock for a pillow takes a little rest. It was an area with bear activity so we had to follow all proper bear procedures. Also it was a dry camp with no water so we were conserving water. An older mountain biker came by and gave us a tip on where to find additional water. People on the trail are great! Next we hike to the South Platte and camp up the hill on the burn scar. Again water needs to be conserved. Great views, and that night, high winds above us. Sounds like a freight train but were we are at, not a whisp of air. Dennis does mention how quiet it is on trail. When there is no wind it is strangely quiet, not a lot of animal noises or anything else for that mater. Strange for humans who live in the modern world. Next day, ten miles with no extra water until we hit the fire station. The water at the fire station was fantastic, we drink our fill. We have cell service and I’m able to call home, Cherie is having some health issues so I ask Justin to come and get us at the next trailhead. Cherie is ok, not great but ok. After a day of rest Dennis and I go out and do a day hike to complete section three without all the camping gear, it’s called slack packing.

Dennis flies home and I’m off to finish the trail. I really don’t remember who dropped me off in Breckenridge but the idea is that I’m going to the end now. Didn’t work out. I just remember bits and pieces of the next sections. Campsites, views, I do remember being quite lonely, there were not many people on trail and I camped alone most nights. At least that’s how I remember it. I do remember the campsite at Copper Mountain, near a creek by the resort. The site was nice but a homeless person had their stash nearby which was concerning. Then there was Twin Lakes. Cherie had secured a room for me at the hotel but I had to get there by 3PM. It was my longest hiking day ever but I made it, exhausted. Hotel was weird, tiny room, bathroom down the hallway. I resupplied in the local store, expensive. One funny thing is that I did not bring a belt and I had lost weight. All the time in the store I had to keep a hand on my pants to keep them from falling down! There was a restaurant there and I did have some real food for the first time in quite awhile. I wanted to stay two nights to get a zero day but that wasn’t possible so, headed out the next morning, still tired. I should have just walked around the lake a short distance and took a nero on trail. I did not, and that was a mistake. I was heading into the Collegiate West, a particularly hard section of the trail and should have rested.

Everything is a blur in the first two sections of the Collegiate west. The third, very memorable. I had made it into the third an decided to camp a few miles in at a lake/swamp just off trail. I well documented what happened that evening. I was tired and scared for my health. I remember in the morning climbing to the top of the next ridge and calling for a pickup. After the call I started back down the ridge and remember sitting on a rock, watching the red sun rise though the smoke I do not quit things, but I knew it was the right thing to do, very disappointing. One funny thing is that my friend Tim noticed I was going backwards on the GPS track and texted me. “what’s wrong, your going backwards”. Becky rescued me, again with snacks :).

2021

Time for another year, the pull to the trail continues and I start again with the goal of finishing. I’m in a little better shape and I have an entire new food plan. In fact, on a trip to the area with friends Tim and Carrie, I drop of some large resupply boxes with homemade snacks and meals. This time Cherie and Becky drop me off at Cottonwood Pass. The same spot that Becky rescued me at the year before. Both Becky and Cherie hike a mile or so with me to the top of a hill, before I head off on my own. I feel pretty confident and we have our goodbye hugs.

The Colligate West is beautiful, mountain vista after mountain vista. Rough hiking, rocks and passes, but it’s well worth it. I end up camping near a creek with a few other folks, one with the trail name of Gandalf. This will be a theme on the trip now, more people. In fact I camp with people more often than I camp alone. Don’t remember too much of the West other than it was beautiful. Had a great breakfast one morning sitting on a ridge in the sun looking at a view. I lady passes me saying that it was a great spot for breakfast. I’d see her again another day. I had a resupply box at Monarch pass gift shop and remember just before getting there changing from my hiking shirt to my much less smelly sleep shirt. I also remember how nice they were and, there was some great, real, food. After the gift shop, the trail climbed a ways until it was out of the Collegiate West and back on the main trail. It felt like a pretty good accomplishment, making it to the end of the West. I want to go out there again, someday. There is a loop combining the Colligate East and West. Probably do that sooner than later.

Somewhere in the next sections I meet Two Mile and Snicks. It had been raining for awhile and I was just looking for a place to camp and call it a day. There was camping area down by a creek with four tents and not a soul to be seen. Everyone was napping in their tents. A break in the rain allowed ne to setup quickly and get inside before it started again. This is where I found my tent leaks in heavy rain. Spent a lot of time mopping up puddles as they formed. During the breaks in rain we would all pop out and chat, do chores. I meet the other campers and we have a good time trying to get a fire going and trying to stay dry. Snicks and Two Mile were hilarious, Snicks obsessed with getting a fire going and Two Mile just happy. I’d be hiking and spending time with Two Mile and Snicks for awhile. In the morning I pack up and get out of there early as I usually do, the tent is soaked.

At some point I end up hiking trough a nasty storm, I thought it wouldn’t be much so I didn’t put on my rain paints, just my jacket. It was a downpour and a long downpour at that. Complete with thunder, lightening, and hail. I was near tree line the whole time and ended up just standing by a tree waiting, absolutely drenched. I did pass one person huddled under an emergency blanket. Asked if they were ok. It was the lady that passed me days ago while having breakfast. She was just waiting out the storm, pretty dry also thanks to that blanket. I carry one of those now. That day I finally got over a pass and into a forested area. Went off trail a ways into the woods, setup camp, and hung clothing all over the place to dry. What a sight it would have been if anyone discovered me.

The next thing I remember is making it to the road that I was going to meet Cherie on. We’re going to spend a few days in the Gunnison area. Gave Two Mile and Snicks a ride into town. After we delivered those two to their respective hotels Cherie looks at me and says “now don’t freak out”. She told me everything that was going on at home and I freaked out, a little. She assured me there was nothing I could do, and should keep hiking. We checked into our hotel. Awful place, old and expensive. We were simply not impressed with Gunnison, it was high season so loud, crowded, and expensive. We did spend a day driving around and hitting the Black Canyon of the Gunnison national Park. Always wanted to go there and it was well worth it. All to soon Cherie was dropping me off and heading back home.

After waving goodbye to Cherie I headed out on the trail again. A number of miles layer I spotted a camouflaged box about 20 yards off trail. I went over to it and sure enough, that’s what it was, middle of nowhere. I did not touch it but was curious. A short time later there was a trail angel, Apple. Also relaxing with Apple was Ibex, a correspondent for The Trek, and Lotus a very old hiker that could really move. Turns out the box that I spotted was Apples early warning system that hikers were coming. Highlights of the next sections are missing from my memory other than wide open areas, pastures for cows, at high elevation. having a hard time finding camping and water and at one point camping at a beaver pond with a lot of other hikers. A very memorable spot. The next day was Lake City. Lake City was a bit of a mess but I ended up lodging with Two Mile and spending time with him as we did all our chores, had a few beers at the local brewery and rented an ATV. At the end of the Lake City stay we (12 of us I think) were packed into an old Suburban and given a ride back to the trail.

That night back on trail was a very memorable camp, a bunch of hikers camped among 100s of sheep. They were amazing, and loud. Don’t remember much other than the scenery after that, heading into the San Juan’s. I did camp next to the headwaters of the Rio Grande just after Stony pass, Two Mile and another hiker was there also. The next day I saw what may be the best view on the trail. The Elk Creek Drainage. It was simply one of the most beautiful spots I had every been. They say the San Juans are the most beautiful sections of the trail, I’m not sure about that and may have to go back to hike some parts to decide. The Collegiate West stands out as a contender to the the San Juans. Camped in the Drainage and then hiked out to Silverton the next day. I was going to camp at Molas Pass and take a zero there but it was cold and raining and Cherie was able to find me a hotel in Silverton. That was great! Spent a good day and a half in Silverton, I really like the town when the train is not there, nice people.

The rest of the the trail for 2021 is well documented, this time Cherie rescued me. I can’t say enough about her, she drove one of the most dangerous roads in the country to come and get me. I guess she likes me. 🙂

2022

Back to Silverton, this time Becky gives me a ride, she wants to check out Mesa Verde so after I start walking she explores a bit. I get back on trail and all I can think of is how heavy the pack is. Seven days of food in there. First two nights I was on my own, hardly a sole and I was reminded how I don’t like being alone all the time. I was afraid I was going to be alone the whole week, did not make me happy. On the third night I ended up camping with a ton of people and the rest of the trip was better. I’m not going to say it was done all to soon, I was glad to be done. I think I was in get er done mode. There were plenty of good moments during the week but always in the background was I need to finish this thing! And so I did.

Final Thoughts, Etc.

First and foremost I could not have done this without the love, encouragement, and support of my family and friends. Especially Cherie, Becky, and Justin. There is really nothing I can say, I have no words, when I needed them, they were there. Thank You.

I hope this was a bit of adventure for all of you, that was what this blog was about, sharing what I saw, what I was doing.

What did I learn. A lot, more than I realize I’m sure. I learned I could do this thing, that I can push my self even farther than I already have and I have still not found my limits. I confirmed that people are great! I always thought that most of us are good and want to help out when needed. People care. The trail just confirms this many times over. I saw it again and again on trail, and in towns.

Will I do something like this again? No idea, there is that constant draw. Even as I write this I want to start planning a trip on the Arizona trail. But, I still remember the parts I didn’t like, mainly being alone. Not sure what I’ll do. I’ll still keep backpacking short trips for sure, number one on the list is rim to rim at the Grand Canyon. There are also plenty of local and U.S. trips Id like to do. I’ll sprinkle all that in with the wandering Cherie and I both want to do.

“There’s more to be seen than can ever be seen. More to do then can ever be done.”

Sir Elton John