Now THAT was a hike!

All last year, across the first 267 miles of the CT, hardly a drop of rain fell on me. Not once did I pull out my rain gear. Well, that does not seem to be how 2011's miles are shaking out. Not so far, anyway. Hail, a late morning thunderstorm, off-and-on afternoon rain, early morning fog...wet is now a word to add to my CT experience.

I am happy to say that, beyond the added tasks associated with all the moisture (e.g. drying out the tent, being sure key gear stayed dry), it didn't really cramp my style all that much. The biggest challenge came from the fatigue associated with 4 consecutive 20-mile days. Combined with lots of elevation gains, these miles really wiped me out. I'll admit it, when the last day's 12 and a half miles were nearly complete as I approached Spring Creek Pass where Helene was meeting me, I was ready to be off the trail.

Not that the 90.6 miles were all wet and tired...I saw so much beauty (mountain vistas, gorgeous sunsets, lovely wildflowers), I successfully met the challenge of all those miles, my body kept on keeping on, and I raised more revenue for MPEC's education programs, so young folks can continue experiencing the natural world through our programs. Not a bad way so spend five days in July.

I am now 358 miles into the 485-mile adventure. This leaves 127 miles of some of the most beautiful mountain scenery Colorado has to offer left to hike. Of course, the on-going challenge is how to fit the rest of these miles into all the other things I need and want to do this summer. But, a plan to finish the CT in two more separate treks is taking shape...more as that firms up. Here are a few photos from along the trail. Also, you can check out a recent Pueblo Chieftain article on my Colorado Trail Hike by clicking here.

Ranger Dave Starts 91 mile leg of Colorado Trail Today

Helene here:

I just left Dave at the Marshall Pass trailhead at 6am as daybreak fell around us and a pack of coyotes howled nearby. What a beautiful morning for Dave to begin this weeklong trek It's a 13 mile journey down a old railroad dirt road to the trail head and we spent the night there in our tent. It rained most the night and was in the 40's this morning. We could see snowfields nearby but wildflowers were blooming brilliant this morning and it's a beautiful day.

Helene ( the woman who wishes she was hiking with him but no way...today alone is a 22 mile day and that's too quick a pace for me)

OK, here I go again!

Reports have it that the high-country snows are rapidly melting, so Plan B has been formulated. Helene and I will be heading out of Beulah this Saturday to spend our 35th anniversary (which is July 10...wow, it's been three and a half decades since our bi-centennial wedding in Queens) in Salida. We will spend Sunday evening camping at Marshall Pass. I will set out on Section 16 Monday morning, and Helene will head home. I plan on hiking Sections 16 through 21, a 91 mile trek, over five days and will meet Helene on Friday afternoon at Spring Creek Pass on CO Hwy 149. That is the plan...let's see how this goes.

But it's not melting enough just yet!

Recent digging into what conditions are like out there reveal that snow depths above around 11,500' is still quite significant. Since a good amount of the miles of the next few sections are 12,000+, I've decided to postpone my getting back on the trail until mid-July...when my schedule, and hopefully the Colorado Trail, opens up. So, I'm not back out there yet!

The snow is melting, so I'll be hiking!

I've spent the last week casually getting things together for heading back out there on the Colorado Trail, as the info I've found at various websites indicate that the high country snows are melting enough to resume the 485 mile trek. Last year's miles taught me that keeping my pack light is a key to enjoying the experience. So, since I'll be out for six days on this stretch, I am planning my food needs carefully to keep the weight down. Here is my pack, rested and ready as I begin to get my gear loaded up. I'll be driving out of Beulah this Thursday afternoon, the 23rd, for an evening start at Marshall Pass...please follow my progress at the map on this blog. I anticipate getting off the trail later on Wednesday the 29th.

A couple more weeks and I'll be back on the trail!

It's been October since I hiked down into Marshall Pass and completed 2010's Colorado Trail miles. My feet are itching to get back out there, and it looks like the itch will soon be relieved. My plan is to get dropped off at Marshall Pass (which is southwest of Salida) after a dinner in Salida on Thursday, June 23 and get in a few miles. Then, over the next six days, hike to Spring Creek Pass, 91 miles from my dropoff. A couple of issues I anticipate are few reliable water sources over the first 50 miles or so, and then potentially deep snow towards the latter part. As for water, this will require being very careful about where and how far the next creek or spring is. I am hoping the above average winter of snow will help with this issue. Speaking of snowfall...the Colorado high country overall has received 249% of average snowfall this past winter. I've been trying to find out snowpack conditions along this section of trail, as I do not want to deal with long stretches of six feet deep, wet snow. I still have two+ weeks before I am out there, and it is warming up as summer weather takes hold. So I believe I will be ok, but I will continue to find out what I can as my plan is to average around 15 miles each day...deep sloppy wet snow will make that very difficult, and maybe not possible. More on all of this soon...