HIGHLIGHTS
Miles traveled: 23.2
Lift Gain/Loss: 4200/4800
Fauna worth mentioning: THAT
Human encounters: Scott (CT thru-hiker; NOBO hiker): Also summited ~ ten 14ers along the way; awesome!
Low: the descent to Twin Lakes
High: Resolve gastrointestinal cramps
TRAIL DIARY
During the night it rained a couple of times; Falling asleep to the soft sounds of rain in the tent was relaxing. Unfortunately, gas pains and bowel sounds woke me up intermittently. It made me question what I had eaten recently and whether I had chosen a bad water source, despite having been filtering everything.
Raindrops fly over my tent in the morning.
I finally left my tent around 5:30am. I had no appetite, so I packed up and hit the trail at 6:30am. After hiking ~7 miles, I arrived at Rock Creek, which turned out to be a nice little place to filter water and enjoy a hot breakfast of mashed potatoes with tuna. (This was the first time I tried this combination; I liked it, but I think a package of chicken would taste even better.)
Breakfast time! (I used yesterday’s backpacking food package as a container for my potatoes.)
A hot breakfast with mashed potatoes gave me energy and settled my upset stomach. I finished segment 10 and enjoyed the views of Mount Elbert on the descent. For the next hour, I enjoyed time under the trees at Halfmoon Creek. I filtered water, put my feet up, and stretched my sore arches with my Nalgene bottle.
Views of Mount Elbert at the end of segment 10
A nice break under the trees at Halfmoon Creek
Massaging my arches after finishing Segment 10
After my break, I continued on to Segment 11. These 12 miles were mostly through the trees, descending into Twin Lakes. These kilometers were the hardest of the day; I was able to see Twin Lakes but it took longer than expected to get there.
I had been to the Twin Lakes General Store before. I knew I wanted to take the detour into town so I could reward myself with a cold Gatorade and whatever food they were selling.
Passing through a poplar forest – Segment 11
Twin lakes in the distance
Signage designates the Twin Lakes detour
Getting to Twin Lakes General Store – Highlight of the day!
My purchases at the General Store
Free cookie and sticker for CT hikers at the General Store!
I sat outside the Twin Lakes General Store for about an hour, eating snacks and resting my feet. I met Scott, a CT hiker who runs NOBO, who impressively has been on the trail for 18 days and has climbed between 8 and 10 fourteen-foot mountains along the way.
I left Twin Lakes General Store around 6 pm and finished the last 6 miles before dark. Reid and Rocky caught me from the Interlaken Trailhead; We returned to Leadville for a long-awaited zero day.
Leaving Twin Lakes, I walk on foot to join the CT.
Fun signage on the CT
Hazy skies from Colorado and Utah wildfires over Twin Lakes
See you there
Britt
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