Done for the year!

I excitedly started this fund-raising hike on Sections 1, 2 and 3 last May, with snowy signs of winter lingering along the trail. Many summer and autumn miles have since been hiked until this past Monday, October 11, when I hiked Section 15 to Marshall Pass. This was the last section of the Colorado Trail that I will hike in 2010. And winter is already quickly arriving to the CT with snow along the higher parts of the section's 14.3 miles. I am most pleased to have hiked 267.6 miles for Nature education this year, well past the CT's halfway point and my goal for 2010. This leaves 218.2 miles for next year - piece of cake!

Here are a few photos from Section 15 (1. first snow along the trail; 2. on the Continental Divide; 3. looking back; 4. the distant San Juan Mountains, where the trail is heading) - the scenery was gorgeous on a cool but gentle day. It's wonderful what can be accomplished, simply by putting one foot in front of the other. I am already looking forward to next year's miles along the Colorado Trail. Thank you so very much to all who have supported this hike for Nature education!

One more time before wintry conditions prevail!

The 14.3 miles of Section 15, from Hwy 50 to Marshall Pass, is on my agenda for this Monday, Oct 11. Helene and I plan on heading over to Salida tomorrow afternoon so I can get an early start the next morning on the last section of the Colorado Trail that I will do this year. It will be a good workout - a 3600' climb spread over the first several miles will take me up along the Continental Divide, which the trail hugs over the next 150 miles. So, the views should be terrific, the temps probably pretty cool, and I believe there may already be a bit of snow up there. Helene is kind enough to to have arranged her schedule so she can drop me off, and then drive around and pick me up at Marshall Pass, early afternoon if my legs are up for a perky pace. I heard a TV meteorologist say that a strong front will be arriving in Colorado on Tuesday, so one last hurrah before I say good-bye to the CT for 2010.