HIGHLIGHTS
Miles traveled: 19.5
Lift Gain/Loss: 4300/3400
Learned element: Colorado yellow-bellied marmots typically mate in a harem (one dominant male with several females). They hibernate for ~8 months; Females come into heat 1-2 weeks after leaving the burrow.
Fauna worth mentioning: SO MANY MARMOTS
Human encounters: Many CDT hikers; Met 2 amazing solo hikers (trail names: Wild; Algae)
Low: be very cold in the rain
High: views from Searle and Kokomo passes; sharing camp with Wild and Algae
TRAIL DIARY
The day began when Reid dropped me off at the beginning of segment 8: Copper Mountain. It had rained most of the night and unfortunately continued into the morning. At first the changing forest views were lovely and I really enjoyed walking under the same lifts I use during the ski season. It was fun to see Copper Mountain Village in its snow-free state.
Hike the CT through Copper Mountain; Center Village and the American Eagle elevator are in the background.
Colorado or PNW?
However, by noon my clothes were soaked. I was in a pretty low place mentally, just because of how cold I was. For hours, I obsessed over the question, «What if it rains all day and I have to camp with wet gear?» I knew I had a dry sleeping bag and sleep clothes, but the thought of my hiking clothes never drying really terrified me. Because my mind was spinning with these questions, I didn’t really enjoy miles 3-8 of this segment.
Fortunately, Janet’s cabin (a Summit County cabin) was 0.1 mile from the trail. I found refuge in their covered patio. I took off my soaked shoes and socks and hung them on the porch, hoping they would dry a little. I put on my sandals, dry socks, a dry fleece, and my dry puffer jacket. I was still very cold, so I boiled water and made an early lunch of miso soup, cheese, and trail mix. Holding and drinking the hot miso soup helped me warm up a few degrees warmer.
Janet’s Cabin with its patios.
Make miso soup, in an attempt to warm and dry it.
Wringing out my socks, in an attempt to dry them.
After an hour and a half in the cabin yard, the rain stopped and I felt comfortable getting back on the trail. I knew the next few miles were above tree line, reaching the top of Searle and Kokomo passes. I didn’t want to be on those high ridges when there was a chance of rain, wind and thunderstorms.
After re-entering the trail, I met two other solo hikers (trail names: Algae and Wild). I don’t have the name of the trail yet; Names are usually given by other hikers, and I have largely hiked alone so far. He would camp with them that night.
As I came down from Searle Pass, the sky was turning blue again. I was able to dry my raincoat by hanging it on my backpack. My socks and shoes stayed wet most of the day. There was no point in putting on dry socks when my shoes were still wet. No active rain; with the stunning mountain views offered by Searle Pass, Elk Ridge and Kokomo Pass; my shoes and socks dried slowly; My spirits were high again.
A patch of blue sky (above left) emerges as I climb Searle Pass.
Remembering where he had been: the Colorado Trail with Searle Pass in the distance.
Views of Elk Ridge (so thankful I didn’t try this when it was actively raining! It would have been dangerous but I would have missed these views too!)
A happy Brit: clear skies and time to dry off!
Kokomo Pass: The last mountain pass of the day.
Other unexpected sightings today included sheep bleating in a field, groundhogs mating or fighting (I don’t know), and the bunkers at Camp Hale.
Groundhogs displaying dominant behavior; After researching, I believe this is mating behavior.
Sheep grazing next to the path.
After walking 16 miles, my feet were starting to get tired. However, I was not able to camp between miles 16.6 and 19.6, as these miles pass through Camp Hale. Camp Hale was a US Army training center during World War II for what became the 10th Mountain Division. Unexploded ordnance exists off the trail, so hikers should not stray from the CT during these miles.
Camp Hale Bunkers – Built to safely store explosives and ammunition for US Army training exercises.
I camped shortly after the 3 mile “no camping” zone. I was happy to see my new friends Wild and Algae walking behind me as I set up camp. They joined me at camp.
See you there
Britt
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