Creede to Monarch Pass, CO (1079 miles in)

August 10th - August 15th

Day 1: I left out of Creede this morning after eating a large breakfast at the lodge.

I made my way down the main street and up the dirt road. Not long after, a real nice couple stopped along the road and we chatted for a little bit, mostly about my trip. As they drove off I felt real encouraged. The road out of Creede that meets back onto the trail is 10.5 miles. About 3 miles out from the trail some guys stopped and asked if wanted a ride up to the trailhead. I thanked them, but told them I only had a few more miles. On their way back they stopped again and we chatted for a few minutes. While we were talking a deer just causally walked right by us and crossed the rode. I continued on and just 2 miles from the trailhead a very nice family on a dune buggy stopped and asked if I needed anything. I told them I was good and they offered me a snack. I can never refuse food! After talking for a little bit they wished me luck and we were both on our way. I got on the trail and kept running into people. A lot of people are doing the Colorado Trail (from Denver to Durango) this time of year. It’s the most people I’ve seen in a while. It’s a nice change from going 5 days without seeing anyone. Some people are in the groove and don’t want to talk and others are real friendly. I made my way into the afternoon and the clouds were building. I was surprised that it wasn’t raining yet. About a mile out from my campsite the thunder started and it was getting closer. I was hoping that it would hold off till I got my tent up. I finally rolled into camp around 5pm after doing 18.5 miles. Just as I got to my spot the storm was on the horizon. No sooner had I set my tent up and refilled my water along the stream did the rain start. I’m happy to say today I stayed dry for the first time in Colorado and I’m enjoying the sound of the rain pelting the tarp against my tent.

Day 2: The rain from last night continued into this morning. About 6am I woke up and the rain was still going. I didn’t feel like packing up my tent in the rain so I rolled over and went back to sleep till the rain stopped. About 7am the rain subsided just long enough for me to pack everything up and walk about a mile. The rain continued for most of the day. I keep running into more Colorado Trail hikers. I probably ran into about 8 today. The scenery at least for a few days seems to have changed from mountains to meadows. They each have their own beauty. The wildflowers of the meadows go on for as far as you can see. With the more steady elevation I can make some miles pretty fast to. As I was walking I saw a squirrel with a mushroom the size of his body running down the road. It was a funny sight to see. As the evening time rolled around the rain died off and the sun came out. I was happy to feel the warmth of the sun. I made camp along a stream with the water flowing into the west. I usually always notice it flowing to the east. I assume it’s because of the different water basins depending on which side of the Divide you’re on. It’s kind of the first time I’ve noticed it on the CDT. I took off my shoes and enjoyed the feel of the soft grass as I set up my camp. Once I set up my tent I sat down upon the grass and ate my dinner as I watched the sun begin to set over the mountains. It looked like the sky was on fire with all the different colors of orange and yellow silouting the mountains.

Day 3: I fell asleep looking up at the stars at a almost clear night. I awoke around 1am. The moon was shining bright on the hills. I saw under the moonlight a big dark cloud rolling in as the wind begin to pick up. I zipped up my rain tarp as a precautionary measure and no sooner had I did so the rain began to fall. It came down hard but brief. I rolled over and went back to bed. When morning came the sun was shining bright and there wasn’t a cloud in sight. I packed up my stuff and was happy to be walking without any rain. Most of the path today was on forest roads so I took off making great timing. The yellow wild flowers were all around me as I walked through the fields. Off in the distance I saw what I thought to be an antelope. It was to far away to be certain. I saw one last night on the hill by my camp as it snorted at me. It stood there for awhile and then ran off. Around noon I stopped for lunch and already had 10.5 miles down. I sat for a little bit just enjoying the time. Then I continued on. By 2pm I already had close to 15 miles and I heard a hawk screech. As I looked up I saw him soaring above me. The sight just seemed perfect with the mountains in the background and the streams running through the fields. I finally got off the forest roads and back on to a trail that lead up into the mountains. By 4:30pm I was winding down. I did 19.5 miles and decided to just sit and enjoy the rest of the day as I ease into the evening. It didn’t rain today, so that is the second time since I’ve been in Colorado it hasn’t rained. I’m glad to be dry tonight and it’s good to just lay and listen to the sound of the wind come whispering through the pine trees.

Day 4: I woke up this morning and just laid there staring at the top of my tent. It was chilly and I didn’t want to get out of my sleeping bag. After laying there long enough I grabbed a bagel for breakfast from my backpack and began to crawl from my warm bag. I started off this morning and the path was incredibly rocky. I don’t think I’ve experienced so many rocks since southern New Mexico. It seemed every step I took was a risk of rolling my ankle. The day seemed to drag on. I didn’t feel the same energy as yesterday. I trudged on and by one o’ clock I finally hit ten miles. I kept going to make my 18 mile mark for the day. Around 15 miles I was coming up by Sargents Mesa and another hiker called out asking, “how I was doing on water?” I said I had enough to get to the next source and he then told me a trail angel left a whole cooler full of ice water. I was glad to see that! I took one and downed the whole bottle before I filled up my other bottles. We began talking and the guys name was Tom. Tom was probably right around 50 years old. He said he had a son a year older than me. We talked for about 15-20 minutes and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. It was more than just, “Hey, how are you?” “Good.” After awhile we wished each others luck and I set out for my last 3 miles of the day. As I was walking I looked back to see a huge dark cloud coming towards me. The thunder rolled and about a half an hour later it began to pour. I through on my rain gear and kept going. Around one mile from camp the rain stopped and I saw what at first I thought was someone’s dog because there were two tents set up. Then I realized it was a fox. It wasn’t reddish, but more pale. It was just sitting by the stream all wet staring at me. It finally ran off through the camp and up the hill. I finished my last bit of walking and made camp in a clearing beneath some pine trees. I made my dinner and sat on a log watching the sun set as I sipped some hot tea I made.

Day 5: I got on the trail and it seemed to be less rocky than the day before. I guess it’s called the Rocky Mountains for a reason. The trail quickly turned into a thick pine forest. It was beautiful as the sunlight broke through the leaves casting shades of light on the forest floor. I spotted several mule deer as I was walking. They are always more cautious than white tail deer. They like to stand still and see how things play out before they start running away. Around 4 miles into the day I met some really great day hikers who offered me both an apple and some water. We talked for a little while and then I continued on. It seemed like there was a lot of elevation change today, especially some steep uphill climbs. So, several times throughout the day I took a rest against a tree. The amount of Colorado Trail hikers has seemed to die down and the wild life is starting to pick back up. I came out of the forest right at the base of some tall green mountains and began to climb up into them. I met a man named Tom Suddeth who is 72 years old who is hiking the Colorado Trail. As the day progressed I was getting more on the ridge line. The “hills” have turned back into mountains and I couldn’t be happier. I made my camp in a little low lying spot. Right on the saddle between two mountains. I’m 3.5 miles from Monarch Pass and tomorrow morning I’ll hitch to town and enjoy some good food.