Daily Log: Day 53

Hiking Together: Meetup: Day 53 – Thursday 9/3/2020 – 2132.3 – clear, sunny, hot. Justin and I woke at my normal 5 am, packed up in our limited campsite among the pines, and were on trail with headlamps at 5:50 am. I kept my puffy and gloves on. We immediately began to climb. By the end of the climb I had to take my puffy off. I was too hot. The rest of the day the climbs and trail were more forgiving. The weather was pleasant or maybe a bit warm. We stopped to talk to an archer hunter with a compound bow looking for elk. During one descent as I focused on the trail immediately in front of me I ran into a log hanging partially over the trail. OMG! When I collided I saw stars. My hat brim shielded me from seeing it. Justin looked and saw I had a dime sized scrap on my head. Justin applied Neosporin to it. Although shaken by the very sudden impact luckily I wasn’t hurt. Further down the trail we met and talked to several day hikers. Even though the weather and trail was good I was tired. For the final descent to Wolfe Creek Pass Trailhead I again let Justin lead. What was especially exciting to both of us was we were going to town for a zero day. In town we bought two pizzas then went to the hotel. As Justin unpacked his stuff I went in and took a hot shower. It was marvelous. Then Justin did our laundry, a stinky mass of hiking clothes, in the hotel machines. Just having this little oasis from the trail and his help with chores was such a relief. I made telephone calls to Katie and Kathy and Justin called Stephanie. All is well with the world – or at least the small corner that we’re in.

We had one more day’s hike to Wolfe Pass and we’d take a ZERO DAY in Pagosa Springs! (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Smiles in the early morning sunshine. We’re hiking together and we have things to look forward to doing. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
So let’s get going. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Leaving Weminuche Wilderness. The long 80+ mile Stony Pass to Wolfe Pass section is almost done. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Back at Wolfe Pass relaxing with a Squirt soda. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)