Colorado – wandering chardonnay

Five More Minutes – Scotty McCreery

“Time rolls by the clock don’t stop, wish I had a few more drops
of the good stuff…”

You might have heard me say I started hiking 4 years ago (long distance anyway). Well I’m getting old and forgetful! This popped up on my Facebook memories (FB you don’t totally suck)! Look at me hiking Estes Park, when I was living in Colorado 10 years ago. Rockin actual hiking boots AND a camo backpack. You’ve come a long way chardonnay!

That’s me a real OG (outdoorsy girl)! I’ve been “adventuring” for so long it’s become my normal. Normal or not, the memories coming in waves are special and remind me the clock doesn’t stop for anyone. Take in every moment in life or you’ll blink and it’ll all be over.

Extreme hiking

CDT, Hiking

There’s a sign in Rocky Mountain National Park with the saying “the mountains don’t care”. Yep they don’t. They are there to marvel at and for those, who dare, to climb. I am not a fan of climbing (hiking uphill), heck I didn’t even like biking uphill. So thank the sweet baby Jesus I am out of Colorado, but the mountains don’t care.
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I was told I picked the wrong hobby to not like climbing. I don’t think so. At home I can hike over the mountain or around, hike the city or the desert. Going where I want/choose, at my speed. Out here I’m on the trail (when I’m not lost). Out here is not hobby hiking, it’s extreme hiking.

“Embrace the Brutality,” the unofficial motto of the CDT, isn’t just hype. On the CDT you face risks that are rare on the other long-distance trails and challenging climbs. Thru hiking ain’t for everyone. But ‘hobby hiking’ is!! Get on the trail, or street (Urban hiking); make your own route. Find your own way, even if it’s around the mountain. That is all……now go!

Salida social time

CDT

Well I made it to Salida by getting a great hitch from a girl named Chelsea. I had been watching cars pass for about 40 minutes before she stopped. Chelsea is from Gunnison and was headed into Salida to meet some old friends.

I hadn’t run into Kelsey on trail and couldn’t figure out how I could have passed her. So I was hopping to find her in town. I ended up at the Simple Lodge hostel. Great hostel in a great location, only blocks from the Arkansas River. The hostel was full of hikers on the Colorado Trail, it was fun talking and hanging out with them. Reminded me of being on the PCT.

Salida hostel

I met Blaze (from La Jolla) and Michelle (from Pennsylvania) we all went out to celebrate Tequila Day and watched people body surf in the river. Salida is cute little town, with its own town deer! Yep, actually there is about 3 that just hanging out in town.

When Kelsey didn’t show I resupplied and hopped a shuttle with Blaze and Michelle back to the trail head. They headed south on the CT and I headed north on the CDT.

I passed about 20 CT hikers that day all headed southbound. Just me hiking solo northbound. I have to say I do enjoy hiking solo, there is a different feeling when you are are alone. There is a sense of freedom, independence and self reliance. I also hike differently when solo, my own pace.

I hiked two whole days by myself and enjoyed it. (I do miss having someone else in camp at night though, and I suck at selfies) I hiked out that morning and got surprised by a moose!! I took a picture and watched him standing in water for a bit before heading up the climb to the pass. At the top of the pass guess who comes up behind me? Kelsey! She had taken the alternate route. We exchanged stories of the last days as we hiked into Twin Lakes.

Colorado summit!

Twin Lakes was not so great. Very small and the store did not have a good resupply. After getting kicked out of the restaurant/inn, yeah that happened. We decided to hitch into Leadville, as I had heard it was a hiker friendly fun adventure. We got a ride quickly and planned on getting supplies and getting right back on trail…..but Leadville.

Rebounding and Ragbrai

CDT

After counting to ten multiple times and being on the phone with Verizon for 30 mins I got them to overnight me a new phone! Honestly they did not make it easy. They could not send it to the post office I was sitting right in front of, nope. I was there to get my box with my much needed shoes. Luckily a nice guy at the Coffee on the Fly shop let me use their address.

The phone arrived late afternoon the next day. I worried most of the day that my apps (mostly I was concerned about my trail map app Guthooks). While I sat on the floor of the post office, charging the new phone (and saying prayers) a local lady invited us to spend the night in their “trailer”. Turns out the “trailer” was a motor home with a queen bed, electricity and a shower! The trail does provide.

The next morning after as we headed out I realized that my GPS did not have a locator button. Kelsey was itching to get back on the trail so I told her to go ahead while I headed back into town to fix the problem. I was not going into the wilderness with it not working, nope. It only took about 15 mins to correct once I got on Wi-Fi. But by the time I got on trail Kelsey was long gone.

I hiked most of the day til it started to rain and I got wet/cold. About 18 miles in I gave up and set up camp. It was actually a good day even with the rain because CDT joined up with the CT (Colorado Trail). It was fun to all of a sudden see other hikers. All though they were headed in the opposite direction, but yeah people!!

The next day I was sure I’d catch Kelsey but nope. I admit I was distracted by OMG, trail magic! I was gifted rice krispy treats and coke at the first stop. Woohoo!! With that sugar injection I was off to the races. I was really moving, 10 miles by 10 am! Feeling good with good trail I set out for 10 more by 2pm. That’s when I hit the next trail magic stop. Fresh water, hot dogs and yes more coke. With that I took off determined to pull a 30 mile day. Racing the rain I made it 33 miles. Biggest mile day this whole trail. I really need to start packing out soda pop!!! Or maybe it was those spiffy new shoes and insoles. Or maybe all those encouraging comments from everyone, thanks guys! What a difference a day makes, hang in there.

To all you guys on the Ragbrai stay safe and keep the rubber side down!

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Nothing without Providence

CDT, Hiking

Nothing without Providence -the Colorado state motto…..

Colorado started out beautifully, but into each life some rain must fall. The clouds gathered, then there was hail and rain. Not a warm rain, oh no, a very chilly rain. There is no guessing when it will start between 12 and 4pm, maybe, but pretty much everyday. So you either hike in it, put the tent up and wait it out, or huddle under a pine tree, shivering, wrapped in your rain fly. (That rain fly is surprisingly warm, btw)

There was still some spotty snow to traverse, but mostly I just got wet feet. Still managed to get “lost”(i.e. get way off trail). Someday I’ll learn to consult GPS map first instead of going off all Willy nilly. Ended up exhausting myself climbing up to the wrong pass, then down to the valley and up again to the correct pass. I seriously had to almost crawl to camp. I laid in my tent with back spasms, staring at a rainbow in the distance, maybe I’m too old for this.

Lately I’ve found myself mesmerized by the scenery. The wild flowers, the streams, the elk herds..I just want to sit and take it all in, but I have to hike. A little voice tries to remind me ‘enjoy this, this moment, this day’. I push on, to all the things ahead Montana, other hikers, Canada. Well life has a way of slowing you down.

After a quick stop in town, food, charge batteries we raced a storm to camp. It rained most of the night, I awoke happy to hear it had stopped. Grabbed my phone to check the time….and the screen was black! Well partially black but enough to make me panic.

My phone is my everything, clock, camera, phone, gps/map, computer and connection to the world! Omg! Everything is on there notes, blog posts, numbers, passwords…crap. Nearest Verizon store 40 miles away (btw they will not help you unless you come there). I want to scream, cry, throw a tantrum. Is this how this trail ends? I can’t go out into the woods without GPS and no maps. I can’t afford a new phone! Crap are my pictures backed up? Panic, panic, panic, breathe.

Sidenote: yes I know I should not depend solely on electronics and should have papers maps. I typically do, but the paper maps I ordered, well, agh…long story I’ll explain later.