Colorado Trail: Day 17 – The hike

HIGHLIGHTS

Miles traveled: 22.3
Lift Gain/Loss: 5000/5100
Learned element: 22.3 miles and 5ooo’ of ascent and descent in one day is too much for my legs.
Fauna worth mentioning: Fox (night walk)
Human encounters: Slow Burn (hiking CDT Nobo)
Low: The last 5 miles. We miscalculated this day and finally arrived at Monarch Pass, in the dark, at 9:30 p.m.
High: Reach Monarch Pass safely; Walking the continental divide

Trail Diary

This day was exhausting. We covered more mileage and ascent/descent than we should have. We ended up walking the last hour in the dark, which was eerie, because most of the hike was through dense forest. Our two partners were stationed at Monarch Pass when we arrived and took us to our respective homes for a much-needed zero day.

Since I was too tired to write a full journal entry this day, enjoy a journal entry with photos!

CT/CDT signaling

View of Chalk Creek Pass, which we would later reach the top of.

Morning swim in Lake Hancock.

View of Hancock and Upper Hancock Lake from Chalk Creek Pass.

Magical Trail on the Middle Fork of the South Arkansas River (Thanks Butterfly House!)

Trail Magic

Enjoying a cold drink by the river.

Mountain goats on a ridge.

Mountain goats from where we were.

Trail Magic Banana got me through a difficult section of this hike.

Continental Divide Hike Above Hunt and Other Unnamed Lakes

The continental divide

Our last rest near the Monarch Ski area before the final 5-6 mile push towards Monarch Pass.

Now, a much-needed zero day.

See you there
Britt

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