Meetup: Zero: Day 27 – Saturday 8/8/2020 – ZERO DAY – 1692.5 – clear, partially cloudy, sunny, hot. I woke late, but I didn’t have to hike today so it was OK. My tent site was in some trees about 0.1 miles above the pass. I packed up and was at the Jeep in the Berthoud Pass parking lot at 6:30 am. Justin was already awake. We had breakfast and drove to Second Creek. There we waited for Casey, Kyle, and Tam to arrive. They got there around 9:30 am for a 1 mile hike with an elevation gain of 800’. Little Tam, 5, was a trooper and climbed it with only one scraped knee. At the top even through there was a closed hut, there was a picnic table here so we sat and talked and ate snacks. The wind was gusty and we had to hold things down. After a while we hiked down and said our goodbyes. We might see them again at Tennessee Pass. They’ve rented a hut. After our hike Justin suggested we drive down into Winter Park CO. In town we had BBQ lunch. Then as a treat we stopped at Safeway grocery store and I bought and devoured a pint of Caramel Core ice cream. Having exposed me to enough COVID-19 we left town after getting gas and me downloading some audio books and podcasts. Back at the pass parking lot we sat, talked and watch the other people at the Pass. It looked like some of them were having a wedding there today. The backdrop of the Rocky Mountains is spectacular. Justin cooked breakfast tacos for dinner. Yum! My ZERO DAY was fun. Now I’ve got to go back to the trail tomorrow where I’ll be taking the Silverthorne alternative instead of the more difficult Grays-Torrey Peaks.
On our day off we met and did a short 1 mile hike with Justin’s high school friend Casey, her husband Kyle, son Tam and me. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Meetup: Day 26 – Friday 8/7/2020 – 1692.5 – clear, windy, sunny, cool. I woke at 4:45 am and was on trail at 5:38 am. I descended until a stream. It was on a saddle. Then I began the first climb towards the Mount Flora summit. The trail was very rocky. At one point the rock trail disappeared because, I think, an avalanche had recently happened. Slowly I crossed the disruption and found the trail again on the other side. There were lots of switch backs. Up and up I climbed. I kept my breathing controlled. No 25-counts. It leveled out for a while. Next the second climb began. I was now again above tree line. The trail still had a lot of rocks. It’s amazing how you can easily tell where the trail is going in a rock jumble. The hand of man is so obvious. At one point I did get off trail and using Guthooks I carefully found my way across a jumble of rocks and back to the trail. Up and up I climbed. Over a ridge and I was again on a somewhat flatter trail. One more climb, the hardest one yet, was coming up. I met two section hikers and we chatted briefly. They were doing a 75 mile section. They said you must be Tartan we met your son. I said I was and I was in a hurry to get to him so continued on. I began the last climb and there he was. Oh such a wonderful feeling. The wind was calmer here. We were on the lee-side of the mountain. I sat and had a snack. He brought me a Squirt soda. It tasted so good. After the snack we climbed in earnest and soon we were at the top of Mount Flora. There were other day hikers in groups sitting here and there. The wind was blasting. Many of the day hikers had move down off the peak to get out of the wind. We headed down in the buffeting wind. Mile after mile passed. Several groups were coming up and we moved off trail to let them go by and give them COVID-19 social-distancing space. We could see the tiny cars down on the highway and in the parking lot. Finally we got down to the lot. It was just 12:15 pm. All I wanted to do was to sit, drink another Squirt, and take my shoes off. Justin made a great lunch with fresh cooked chicken, chicken-flavored rice and a PackIt Gourmet spicy corn chowder. Yum! Then we turned to planning the next leg. I’ve decided to do the Silverthorne alternative. Less height, less miles and less difficulty. The only problem is we can’t find the elevation diagram. We’ll need to adjust our meetup points too. Tomorrow is my first ZERO DAY. Casey, Kyle and Tam are coming for a small hike. It should be fun.
Hiking up Mount Flora. I always wonder how a rock-strewn slope is formed geologically. Justin waiting for me on the leeward side of Mount Flora. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)After talking to a couple of hikers I continue on my way towards Justin. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)I’m so focused on climbing and breathing that I don’t realize that Justin has been watching me for a while. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)Hugs, and a selfie along with a Squirt soda to celebrate. It was very windy there and Justin’s hair shows it. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)At the summit of Mount Flora leaning into the wind and stabilizing myself with my poles. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Day 25 – Thursday 8/6/2020 – 1683.1 – cloudy, some sun, afternoon monsoon sprinkles and hail, clearing at dinner. I went to bed at 7 pm so I woke at 3 am. I thought about starting in the dark but I didn’t. I got up at 4:15 am (a little early), packed up and was on trail about 5 am. I started to climb immediately and the MIO Energy helped. I tried to do regular cadence breathing, that is, no counting. It took me 2 hours to get to top. I was above tree line. Then it was cairn or pole to another one for miles. There was a sloped drop off on the right and a sheer cliff on the left. The trail was about 10-20 feet from the sheer edge. I had great views. However, there was no where to camp. It was too exposed. The wind was gusting and blowing constantly. So I began ascend James Peak, a thirteener. At first the trail rose gently. On the side the trail drop off was quite steep. It went down down down. Then the trail got steeper and steeper. I had to start counting 25s. It took me 1 1/2 hours of slowly climbing to get to the top. There I chugged some water and had a Payday candy bar. Nearby were threatening monsoon clouds. I could see for miles and miles. Then I began to descend. The steep descent hurt the bottom of my feet. I stopped to fill all my water bottles, because the tent site is dry. While there it lightly hailed and rained on me. After getting water I had to go slow. It was about 4 pm when I got to my tent site. The ground was rocky and surprisingly it took 45 minutes to finally anchor my tent. I have cell service and I sent Justin a message that today’s hike was very hard and I’m exhausted. My feet tingle. I did 17 miles in 11 hours. Wow oh wow!
At the top above tree line after 2 hours of climbing.Panoramic picture from cairn on the left to cairn on the right.
Hiking Together: Meetup: Day 24 – Wednesday 8/5/2020 – 1666.9 – clear, warm, monsoon clouds afternoon. Justin will be hiking with me today. I woke first at 4:45 am, packed up and started hiking at 5:35 am until Monarch Lake Trailhead where I stopped to wait for him. He woke at 5:30 am, drove the Jeep to the Monarch Lake Trailhead where he parked the Jeep and joined me. We started on the flat and then in two miles we started climbing 2000’ for the next 3 miles. After the climb we had many smaller ups and downs. We stopped for snacks twice, and for a 30-40 minute lunch with only 2.5 miles to go. After lunch we met a hiking family who told about climbing Grays Peak and how steep and perilous it was. They recommended the Silverthorne alternative. We arrived at our campsite about 3:15 pm and put up our tents. We discussed the two alternatives. I’m leaning towards the Silverthorne alternative. I’ve got to make a decision soon. It is right after Berthoud Pass. It really is nice to have Justin here to discuss my options with me.
Me sitting on a log at our campsite with my tent in the back and Justin’s tent in the front. Tomorrow I’ll continue southbound whereas Justin will return northbound to the Jeep at the Monarch Lake Trailhead. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)We are right next to the trail and a stream. For the rest of the afternoon groups of day hikers pass by. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Meetup: Day 23 – Tuesday 8/4/2020 – 1652.3 – partially cloudy, sunny, hot, cloudy. I woke at 5:10 am, Justin drove me to the trail, and I was on trail at 6:10 am. A little later than my normal daily start time. I was slack pack hiking along fine by the lake shore. Then after 2 miles the trail splits. While I’m hiking I’m listening to an audible book. I come to a fork in the trail. One fork is blocked with cut tree trunks so I go the other way. The trail is clear and easy. After a while I check and I AM OFF TRAIL! What?! It’s been 0.7 mile since the junction. Back I go to the fork. The actual trail was the blocked fork. Argh! And it has lots of blowdowns – no wonder it is blocked. I just lost 1.5 miles or wasted about 35-40 minutes. Grrrr! And then later I think it merged into the same trail. Maybe I could have continued on the first trail. Oh well. It was a mess. After a while later I meet two 300-mile section hikers – Queso and Chips. I chat with them a few minutes and moved on. I get to the last 5 miles which is a 600’ climb. At the top I stop and tell Justin via InReach these delays have set me back about an hour [“Ok i am running an hour late” Aug 4, 2020 12:27 PM]. He’s said that he’s having problems getting a campsite. I’ve finished my audible book and started another. It’s hot and I haven’t had my second morning snack. The campsite is in sight but stop and eat a Clif bar and drink my lemonade. At 12:15 pm I arrive to find Justin waiting at his Jeep. He and I wait to see if any site opens. He meets a couple who have reserved a site but are moving to another one. So we pay and take over their old site. Justin needed to find out about overnight parking, because he is planning to hike with me tomorrow and afterwards he can return to the parked Jeep the next day. He doesn’t need a campsite just a parking spot. While he is away I set up my tent. Just as I’m finishing a family pulls up and says they have a reservation for this exact site. Oh my what should I do? I tried to explain that Justin set all this up, but he’s not here. We walk over to the campground manager, where Justin is, to resolve the conflict. Luckily she found us another spot. So down goes my tent, we move, and I put my tent back up. Finally we are settled. Justin helps me plan the next four days with climbs above 13K. Dinner was great: Trout with Rice. Yum! We chat and enjoy each other’s company.
A subtle CDT trail marker on a walkway in the town of Grand Lakes CO taken by Justin after dropping me off for my slack pack hike around the lake to Arapaho Bay Moraine Campground. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)Great trout with rice dinner by master chef Justin. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)Our final campsite at Arapaho Bay Moraine Campground. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Meetup: Day 22 – Monday 8/3/2020 – 1639.8 – clear, cloudy, no rainy, gusty winds. I woke at 4:45 am and Justin drove me back to Bowen Gulch at 5:45 am to slack pack to and through Grand Lake CO. It’s about 10 miles. I needed a break from all the climbing which was wearing me out. I got to the Grand Lake Trailhead via the RMNP Alternative. While hiking I saw a moose cow and its calf. Then he picked me up and we went back at the Winding River campground to relaxed. Justin made a tasty and very filling sandwich: toasted bread, bacon, egg and cheese. Yum! I did some chores – laundry and free hot showers. The shower was wonderful – a highlight. It’s helping me feel less stressed. Oh and tonight is ribeye steak, and corn chips with bean dip. He is such a great cook. I am very spoiled.
We didn’t have time to do much planning. Justin and I live one day at a time. So when he tried to get a wilderness pass to hike in RMNP we were unsuccessful. Instead there is a bypass AKA an alternative which I slack packed today. As I rounded a corner I came upon a moose and her moosling (cow and calf). Quickly I snapped this picture and moved on. All the moose that I’ve encountered so far are not frightened of people so they do not run away. Instead these massive animals just stand there and stare back at you.
Moose cow and calf in Rocky Mountain National Park
Meetup: Day 21 – Sunday 8/2/2920 – 1612.5 – clear, sunny, hot, cloudy. I woke late at 5:12 am and was on trail at 5:55 am. Today I had three climbs. The first was on a forest road and I missed a turn. I was at the “top” and eating a snack when a mountain biker comes up. We chat and he rides off. I look at my location and realize I’m not on the trail. I had missed the turn off about 0.2 miles back and down. The trail had split from the forest road and I was so focused on climbing that I went right by it. Down I went, got to the actual trail, and up I climbed again. The second climb was hard too. I had to do 25-counts. Then on the last climb I was nearly there, only 0.5 miles, when I heard a voice. It was Justin and saw him walking towards me. He had climbed 3000’ over 7 miles to get to Bowen Pass. He brought Cokes! We ate lunch and proceeded to hike back to his Jeep! It took 3 1/2 hours back and we got there at 4:00 pm. He drove us to the Winding River Resort where we are staying tonight. I need a break so tomorrow I’m slack packing 10 miles to Grand Lake CO on an alternative route because we can’t get a permit to hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. At the end he’s going to pick me up and we will stay overnight again at this same campground. The day after that I plan on slack packing again beyond Grand Lakes CO. This is all to give me a break which I desperately need. These climbs have been wearing me out! We had pancakes for dinner and now I’m stuffed!
A happy selfie after our surprise meeting just before Bowen Pass in the trees behind us. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)On the way down from Bowen Pass Justin and I encountered our first moose. We waved our hands over our heads and yelled at it, but the moose just stood there – unflappable. So after a few minutes of impasse we went off trail through brush and over blown down trees until we passed it and then continued on our way. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)Waiting in the Jeep with a big smile on my face as Justin signs us into the Winding River campground. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)A few days ago Justin asked if there was anything I wanted for dinner so I suggested pancakes and sausage. He came through! (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)Our campsite at Winding River. Me in my ground-based tent and Justin in his roof-top one. I am preparing Justin’s day-pack for the next day’s slack pack on an alternate trail around Rocky Mountain National Park. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Day 20 – Saturday 8/1/2020 – 1595.6 – clear, cool, clouds in afternoon, no rain, but threatening. I woke at 4:45 am and was on trail at 5:35 am. I started wearing my down vest, but quickly took it off. I was too hot. The climbs were very tough. They were about 2500’ straight up. I did lots of counting to 25 steps with pauses to catch breath. I went from pole/cairn to pole/cairn straight up the side of mountain through grass, scrub brush and rocks. It was very very hard, slow and exhausting. However, I saw wonderful views though. I summited Parkview mountain around 10:45 am. Then it was very long descent on a knife edge and switchbacks. I started to get hot with the sun beating down. It took forever to get to my next water, but there was no place to put up my tent. I hiked on but rain clouds looked threatening so tossed down my tent on a slope. Ugh! And then it never rained but I’m here and settled. After resting a bit I walked back to get more water. I sweated a lot today. Now I’m sitting in my tent chillin’.
Panoramic picture with Parkview mountain in the distance. If you zoom in you’ll see the building on the summit.
