Mile 100 passed and looking forward to the next 100!

A couple of fairly long days of hiking and so much gorgeous scenery and now Section 6 is complete. I enjoyed the good company of Tim Sandsmark, who helped with vehicle shuttling, and then hiked the first 6 miles of the trail with me. Thanks so much, Tim. Tim is an excellent photographer, and you can check out his photos of the hike at http://coloradotrailsection6.shutterfly.com/.

I then continued up and over the Continental Divide at Georgia Pass. This was the highest point of the hike thusfar, at 11,800'. There were several snow drifts to maneuver over, but they presented no real problem except for a bit of snow in my shoes (I was too lazy to put on the gaiters). I camped at mile 17.1 and enjoyed a lovely "close-to-full moon" and the melancholy song of a lone hermit thrush. The hike into Breckenridge was full of beautiful mountains, lodgepole pines (many hit by pine beetles), and a very hot sun that had me pretty cooked by the time I reached my car.

You can go to my Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?pid=726784&id=1274464053 for my photos of the 33 mile trek.

This bring my mileage total to 104 miles. I am looking forward to continuing this effort as the summer unfolds. If you are interested in hiking/backpacking a section with me, please email me at mpec@hikeandlearn.org so we can make a plan.

Section 6 in the morning!

After a very busy couple of weeks, my backpack is packed with food, shelter, sleeping bag, extra clothes... and I am slipping away for a couple of days of hiking. Section 6 of the Colorado Trail takes off from Kenosha Pass, slides over Georgia Pass (and the trail's first crossing of the Continental Divide), and works its way down into the Breckenridge/Frisco area. My friend and Lookout Mountain Nature Center Director Tim Sandsmark plans on hiking a few of the miles with me. I believe there will be some sections of snow on this leg, so I have my high gaiters and am ready for a vigorous and enjoyable trek across the high country. By the way, I am so pleased to say that I have now received donations and/or pledges totalling over $34 per mile...thank you all so much for your support of my efforts for Nature Education! More on my return!

Sections 4 & 5!

Just as planned, I began hiking late afternoon on Section 4. I climbed steadily through forests of mixed conifers and many lovely aspen forests in the Lost Creek Wilderness. As daylight began to fade, I needed to get to a better area for an overnight camp, and finally found a good spot after 9 miles -- more than I thought I'd do that first day. A chilly night, woke up to frost and a cloudy sky, but I slept well and warm. After a most tasty and satisfying breakfast of oatmeal with flaxseed meal, walnuts and dried apples, I was soon on my way. Before I knew it, I was well into Section 5, so I figured I'd see if I could make it all the way to Kenosha Pass. I passed the many miles singing (...take me home, country roads...) and enjoying / photographing wildflowers. Although most of the miles were solo, I did visit with a few folks...a fellow who told me he was hiking home to Summit County, and a thru-hiker and her dog from Durango who was thinking she may need snowshoes for the next section over Georgia Pass (which I will not get to until the latter part of June, hopefully after much of the snow melts -- please let me know if you're interested in hiking Section 6 with me). The hiking was relatively easy, and soon I was hearing the traffic on US285. I got to the pass and my car at around 6:30 and was home by 9:30, a day early, tired, but pleased after a great day of 22 miles hiked and a thousand beautiful sights along the Colorado Trail. Here are some photos from along the trail...I was especially pleased to find several clumps of this beautiful orchid; notice the bear claw marks in the aspen tree.

If all goes according to plan...

...I'll be hiking Sections 4 and 5 starting tomorrow (Wednesday, June 2) afternoon. As expected, the biggest challenge to doing this hike is fitting it in. But, I believe what I have planned will work. After a commitment in the morning, I will drive to Kenosha Pass (the end point for Section 5), leave my car, and my dedicated son will meet me there and drive me to the TH for Section 4. I'll hopefully hike a few of the 31 miles of these 2 sections before dark, camp, do a long day on Thursday, then finish out on Friday in time to get back to Pueblo for my father-in-law's art opening / 90th birthday. By the way, so far I am close to $20/mile in pledges and donations. Thanks to all who are supporting this effort for Nature Education. More after I return. Happy trails, Dave