Daily Log: Day 45

Meetup: Day 45 – Wednesday 8/26/2020 – 2006.9 – clear, sunny, cool, no rain, heard thunder in afternoon. I woke at 5 am. I skipped morning poo. It is not raining, but I still put on rain pants and jacket. I was on trail around 5:50 am. I have four climbs today. I’m also racing the weather if it decides to rain in the afternoon. My first climb was long and the grade medium. I met a husband and wife couple who needed water from Justin a few days ago. I passed them and kept going. We played leap frog for a while. Then I got ahead permanently. The second climb was shorter but steeper. It went straight up the front of the hill. I really don’t like those. I stopped at the Creede Cut Off for a snack and to take off rain pants. The third climb was the longest and also steepest. It had few if any switchbacks. It had a long long descent too. I stopped at East Mineral stream for lunch. Then I did the last climb. Although shorter it went straight up the hill. I was getting tired. I descended to Middle Mineral campsite. No one else was there yet. I got there about 1 pm. It took me seven hours to do twelve miles with four big climbs. Ugh! I setup my tent and laid down for a short rest. The water here is three cascading beaver dams. Wow! Those animals are amazing. I’m looking forward to seeing Justin tomorrow. Only 10 miles to get to him. So far no rain has happened today. Then at 5:30 pm I got hail and then rain with thunder. Here’s hoping that it’ll stop and be clear again tomorrow. We shall see. We shall see. I seem to be saying that phrase a lot recently.

Justin scouting out our next meet-up point at Spring Creek Pass where I’ll meet him tomorrow. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)

Daily Log: Day 44

Day 44 – Tuesday 8/25/2020 – 1995.0 – clear, sunny, hot, monsoon clouds, monsoon rain, rain and hail, thunder. I woke at 5 am. I packed up. I was on trail at 5:45 am. I was zooming along. The first one was a medium climb. I loaded up with water at mile 14. I got done at mile 17.8 and my campsite about 1:45 pm – early! I walked 0.3 mile up trail to get even more water so I could have candy and guzzle a bottle. At 3 pm I had a monsoon rain with hail, but then it turned into regular rain, that is, low threatening clouds all over. The temperature dropped. I’m in my tent protected, but tomorrow might be a new adventure if the rain is still here. Tomorrow is four climbs in 12 miles to Middle Mineral. Noodle and Buffalo are at the campsite too. Justin just sent me a note that rain might go through Saturday. It’s only Tuesday. Yikes!

Daily Log: Day 43

Meetup: Day 43 – Monday 8/24/2020 – 1977.1 – clear, sunny, hot, monsoon cloudy, no rain. I woke at 5 am. I packed up. I found the trail was a road walk. I went by parking/trailhead. I got water to fill two 0.7 L bottles. The trail slowly climbed up to pass. I went by two women hikers – Honey Buns and Cheech. The first climb was steep but a short one. Then there was a long down hill. I stopped for snacks and guzzled one bottle of water with lemonade. So much better than yesterday’s lack of water. Then I did more road walking. It was hot in the sun. I got to Justin about noon. Yippee! I had lots of 7-Ups. I drank three of them. Sugar, sugar, and more sugar! When I got there Apollo was there enjoying a soda. Later two other women stopped by. It’s surprising that everyone wants a soda or beer if it is after 5 pm. We had about five to eight hikers stop by the Jeep. Justin is now well known for his kindness. For dinner he made me pork tacos – carnitas tacos. Yum!

Just arrived and enjoying Justin and the other hiker’s company. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)

Daily Log: Day 42

Day 42 – Sunday 8/23/2020 – 1962.7 – clear, sunny, hot, monsoon clouds. I woke at 5 am. While packing up I thought I had lost a tent stake. I spent 5-10 minutes probing the soil and searching only to realize that I had already gotten that stake out. Sheesh! Where is my brain at? I was on trail at 5:55 am. Late because of the wasted searching. Today the trail has lots of ups and downs. I estimate there were 5-6 of them. Water was scarce and I was shooting for a stream 10 mile away. Both Rewind and I got there together. But there was no water. We had passed a slow moving cow-poop laden stream about 0.5 back. So I went back and got an ugly 0.7 L bottle of water. When I got back Rewind gave me a chlorine tablet for my ugly water bottle and one for my dirty bottle. He didn’t have to do that. He’s a quite a nice guy! The next water was beyond my 16 mile goal. Regardless I set out for it as did Rewind. It was 2:30 pm when I got there to the water. Rewind was already there. I drank my last 0.7 L good water, filled another bottle and my dirty bottle. I walked with Rewind and did a mile more looking for a flat campsite that wasn’t in a meadow. I found something on a small spur road but Rewind wanted to continued on. All told I did about 19 miles. I have about 14 miles to get to Justin tomorrow. Not exactly what I had expected, but things worked out and I’m fine with that.

Daily Log: Day 41

Meetup: Day 41 – Saturday 8/22/2020 – 1943.6 – clear, sunny, hot, monsoon cloudy, monsoon sprinkles with hail, partially cloudy. I woke at 5 am. I was on trail about 5:50 am. I drank some MIO thinking it would give me energy. I only have 10 miles to meet up with Justin. I thought it would be easier, but still it was a struggle. The trail started with a climb. The descent was rocky and steep. The second climb and descent was so-so. But I was getting tired. I filtered water before the last climb to Justin. Although it wasn’t that steep the 4 mile climb wore me down. When I was a mile from him I could see his Jeep in the distance and I kept pushing until I got to him around 11:15 am. I dropped my pack and just needed to sit. I was done for the day. Why was only 10 miles so tiring? It was cool and the sun was behind clouds. Several other hikers came by. Justin made me a polish sausage wrap for lunch. Yum! Even a group of eight motorcyclists stopped to repair a flat tire. Justin lent them the air pump. When the sun did come out as they were working I decided it was time for my shower. On the other side of the Jeep, as the very cold water hit my head and ran down my semi-naked body, I couldn’t help but scream. This made the motorcyclists around front giggle and laugh. I scrubbed, yelled, rinsed, yelled and I was finally washed. I put on new clean clothes. The motorcyclists left somewhat successful with their repairs. Then I did laundry and hung it up on the Jeep to dry. The clouds came and went. More hikers and mountain bikers stopped by for a free soda. Justin is a great trail angel and engaged everyone in conversation. For a while the sun was shining. Then we got hailed on along with some thunder. For dinner we had blue tortilla chips, bean dip and RIB EYE STEAKS! Double yippee! As entertainment we would sit and watch with binoculars as hikers crested the trail a mile away. Once they got close enough we’d yelled hi, do you want a soda. It was so nice to be with him, meet other hikers, have great food, get cleaned up, be entertained and take a mini-break.

Rocky outcropping and California wild fire smoke continues to obscure the view.
Tired and exhausted Tartan taking a little snooze. Afterwards it’ll be shower and laundry time. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)

Daily Log: Day 40

Meetup: Day 40 – Friday 8/21/2020 – 1933.6 – clear, sunny, hot, some clouds. I woke at 5:00 am. I left Justin sleeping in his pop-up tent on the forest road. I made it over to Monarch Pass without incident. The trail was relatively easy today. No monster climbs or descents. Sure there were some but nothing significant. Because it’s Friday there was group upon group of mountain bikers. A typical pack is 2 to 6 riders. I always have to step off trail, which is a pain. It was so busy that I must have seen 20-30 of them. At lunch I met Chief and Luke, both Colorado Trail hikers. I didn’t get water at the last source so had to go another 4.4 miles to get some water. But then there were no campsites at the water. Chief went back to find a site. Instead went forward to find one. With my pack loaded with water I continued down the trail. In a short time I saw a hill crest with trees on it. I climbed up looking for a somewhat flat campsite and found one. Dunno where Luke went to camp. I never saw him again. Now I only have 10 miles to Justin. If the weather is sunny tomorrow I’ll take a shower and do laundry at the Jeep.

Justin arrived the day before I got there and parked right next to the trail. I can’t miss him! (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)

Daily Log: Day 39

Meetup: Day 39 – Thursday 8/20/2020 – 1916.6 – clear, sunny, monsoon clouds, rained twice, clearing after dinner. I woke at 5:00 am. My sleeping bag is damp, and my tent is damp. I should have known. Sleeping next to a lake has that effect. I was on trail about 5:50 am. Immediately I had to climb out of bowl of mountains. I began to listen to an audio book. On the other side were more lakes, rocks and descent for miles. At the bottom was the next climb and it was broken into four sections. Some were not so steep, but others were awful. I climbed slowly. I reached the top and descended. At times you could see where the trail cut a path onto the next mountain. As time went by the monsoon clouds began to form. Around noon to 1 pm I put up my umbrella as it began to sprinkle. Over time it rained harder. My right side was get soaked with cold rain. Soon the rain stopped. A little while later it rained again. This time with some small hail. I was almost to Justin. One more hill stood in my way that was part of a ski area. Although it was only a few hundred feet to climb I was so tired from that other climbs. I descended, took a left, went down the forest road and I found to him. I immediately put my pack in his Jeep, got on my vest and rain jacket and got inside his Jeep to get warm. In a few minutes the rain stopped, the sun came out and I could relax. We chatted. I set up my tent. I did my resupply chores. He made a tasty meatball concoction for dinner. My next section is 27 miles and I’m going to take it easier if I can. My sore left ankle causes me to gimp around camp. It is just fine if I’m sitting still, but I’m worried it’ll get worse. We are near the road and can see and hear the trucks and cars ascending and descending from Monarch Pass.

Panoramic picture of the grandeur of these mountains.
I’ve been enjoying the Pecan Shortbread for dessert that Kathy sent me in the recently-arrived very-delayed “Care” package. Oh and the package contained a new pair of glasses too. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)
Justin needed a break from the constant stream of hikers who pass by the Jeep when he’s parked on the trail. So this time he found a dispersed campsite away from the trail for some peace and quiet. (Photograph Courtesy of J. Watt)

Daily Log: Day 38

Day 38 – Wednesday 8/19/2020 – 1902.7 – clear, sunny, hot, monsoon clouds but no rain. I woke later at 5:00 am to get less darkness. I packed up and was on trail at 5:50 am. Today was four climbs. One immediately followed by another then a long descent and a long ascent. The last was to get to Hancock Lake. The elevation diagram made it look easy. It wasn’t. It was a rocky road walk and had many steep ups. I was tired and wanting it all to stop, but I kept pushing until I got to the lake. I’m above tree line. So I set up my tent in some low bushes to break any wind. We shall see if that works. I had been not drinking enough water and my throat was so dry when I got there. After setting up the tent I walked down to the lake and filled up all my water containers. I even guzzled a bottle right then and there to try to get more hydration. The mountains surround me. They form a cul-de-sac. Tomorrow I see Justin. Yippee! I barely saw him two days ago. I’ve only got 14 miles because he is camping on a forest road at mile 1916.6.

Early morning panoramic picture.
I am up high and looking across to the other side of the valley.
Along the valley I go looking for Hancock Lake and water.