Total Weekly Mileage: 240
“Rain Supreme”
This week started with a reroute through Copper Mountain Village, where a couple thousand people had showed up to see Third Eye Blind. I just ate a honey bun and kept walking. I saw them open for U2 when I was 10, and I wasn’t a big fan then—and I’m still not a fan now.
It started to rain again, and I had a big uphill through the ski area. I kept halfway up. I was excited to get to Leadville and pick up my Melly hoodie—and one for my niece. A Melly for Mel! The timing couldn’t have been better because it’s starting to get cold, and an additional layer is definitely needed.
Leadville was a quick in-and-out: eat, charge, resupply, and back on trail. I saw Squalo hitching into town when I arrived back at the trail. We talked for a minute, and he got a ride. The trail out was easy—no big climbs, actually kind of flat.
Each day has had some rain in the afternoon, which is fine for a couple days, but after a while it’s starting to get annoying. Around Twin Lakes a couple days later, there was a 4-mile, 2,000-foot climb up to Hope Pass and more big mountains.
I’ve been pushing hard to make it to Monarch Pass and the Butterfly Hostel to get my resupply box and my 10th pair of shoes. The plan was not to stay, but after taking a shower, it started to rain and I fell asleep on the couch—waking up later than I wanted to and deciding to just stay there for the night. This would end up being a big mistake.
Shane, the owner, made me a triple cheeseburger, and it was just me and two other people staying there. The hiker bubble I passed, and most of the southbound CDT hikers will be going to Trail Days in Leadville on September 12th. I think that’s kind of late—these mountains are formidable, and late-season hiking is dangerous through here.
I started early on that Friday with a goal to do 42 miles and make it to the road by 7:30. Hitching into Lake City is notoriously hard, and any attempts too late are futile. Out of the farmland and completely exposed, the weather turned. I met a couple young dudes hiking the Colorado Trail—both named Seth—and we hiked most of the day together, which really helped. When the weather sucks and you have other hikers to talk and distract with, it makes a difference.
Not many names on some of these mountain passes. Just “High Point” or “Panoramic View.” It was 2 p.m., and I wasn’t out of the woods yet.
