Another 23 miles brings me close to the CT's halfway point!

Section 13, 22.8 miles from North Cottonwood Creek to the Mt. Princeton Hot Spring area, was pleasantly hiked yesterday. I had some company on this section...friend and MPEC supporter Jacqui Brooks came all the way from her home in Spain (Jacqui is from Wales in the U.K.) to hike the first 9 miles, the section's biggest climb right out of the initial trailhead (where Helene dropped us off). Jacqui is doing lots of other things while here on holiday, but this may have been one of the highlights of her trip. My lovely wife Helene, friend and MPEC supporter Barbara Jackson and her friend Jerry (plus his two little dogs) hiked a few miles from the Avalanche TH to the Cottonwood Lake Road, where I enjoyed a light and tasty lunch before taking on the remaining 14 miles solo (I sang Carol King's Home Again, JT's There Something in the Way She Moves, and the Everly Bros.' All I have to Do is Dream along these quick miles). Barbara and Jerry whipped up a delicious and most welcome post-hike dinner in their camper at Cottonwood Hot Springs (thank you!), where Helene and I (and Jacqui) tented Friday and Saturday evening...the hot water before and after the hike was divine. This brings me to 232 miles, just a few miles short of the CT's halfway point (my goal for 2010)...which I hope to hike soon. What a great weekend in Colorado's high country!

Songs that brought me beyond the 200 mile mark of the CT!

Folks often ask me what I think about while walking so many miles, by myself, in these relatively wild places. I've found that I have mainly been very much in the moment while hiking, thinking about where I am along the trail (frequently checking the map), how much water do I have and where is the next water source, and the trees, flowers, tracks and what else I am seeing. I am pleased to say that I have for the most part not brought work or other issues with me to clutter my mind. I also find myself singing a lot while I walk, both to myself, and often out loud. These are some of the songs that accompanied me along this last stretch, Sections 10, 11 and 12: These Days (Jackson Browne); Kathy's Song (Paul Simon); I Will (Paul
McCartney): Take Me Home Country Roads (John Denver); Homeward Bound (Paul Simon).

Colorado Trail Sections 10, 11 and 12 starting tomorrow!

After nearly 3 weeks since I've been on the trail, I've been itching to get back out there. So, tomorrow afternoon, my good friend, and one of MPEC's founding Board Members, Elaine Lopez Pacheco, has generously offered to drive me to the trailhead west of Leadville. I hope to get a few miles in before the night, then 3 good days of hiking, with the goal of making it a few miles into Section 13 west of Buena Vista (Cottonwood Pass area) by Sunday afternoon. This should put me past the 200 mile mark. I am so pleased to say that we are at nearly $48 per mile in pledges, which is just about halfway to my $100 per mile goal. So, every mile brings that much more support towards getting kids out into Nature. Thank you so much to all who have pledged! I'm rested, I'm ready, here I go...