Saturday, 27 July 2013
We eventually left Grand Lake and bought fried chicken on the walk out of town to eat for dinner later that night. It was the best trail dinner ever - no cooking and maximum calories. This section contained the last (maybe) steep sections of trail in Colorado. It was only 2 days of steep stuff, but now I have passed my leg fatigue on to Cactus and Virgo, and we made slow miles on some tough climbs and didn't get our 20 mile target on both days. Dayhiker separated from us in search for water as the rest of us filled up from a small trickle of snowmelt. We met up with him 2 days later in Steamboat springs and found out he had gone over 8 miles over the hills with no water and had to bush bash down a valley to find some.
The terrain mellowed out a bit and we had a flat/downhill road walk to the highway. I often perceived road walks as boring inevitable parts of the CDT, but now I enjoy them. There is so much less strain on your body, miles can be made faster and you can also walk side by side as a group and chat. I definitely appreciate flat/easy trail now a lot more after walking through Colorado.
This state has kicked my ass, but I am a better and more humble hiker for it. I always hoped this trail would compare to the difficulty and beauty of New Zealand and Colorado has exceeded my expectations.
Next stop Encampment, Wyoming.
You are going so well. great to talk on Skype and see you are looking so great. xxxxx Mum
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