CT Week 2: I just blow my budget in a mely?

On the 8th, I started my morning late, knowing that I had already eliminated some additional miles in search of a camp. I only had 2 days of food thanks to the short distance to the next Leadville stop. Little knew how difficult the climb would be by the Copper mountain.

Once I got to the top, dodging some snow patches on the road and panting by air, I was tired. I met some DIY packers who had used the free bus system to avoid wearing a heavy package for the day. The first friend I found simply had a bottle of water in my hand and a bagel in his pocket for a day of more than 20 miles!

There was construction directly on the path when I finally went down the mountain and a detour was in its place with excellent signage. Unfortunately, this detour had no shadow and I arrived at the dehydrated and uncomfortable ski lifting area. I tried halfway to buy a drink to be able to sit in the air conditioning and load my phone, but when the ladies of the store told me it was $ 7 for a bottle of Pepsi, I resisted and used the interior space anyway. Finally I left when he started cooling and I found a camp some miles later.

The next day, it was quite epic and what I had imagined when I was dressed on this walk. I quickly found myself above Treeline and in some of the most picturesque landscapes accompanied by marmotes! These little ones were everywhere, running with the tail spinning like helicopter blades. One even went out to a photo shoot just when Searle Pass grew.

I spent too long taking photos and I had to accelerate walking to Kokomo Pass and beyond when a storm arrived. I arrived at an elevation low enough so that when the lightning began, I was not too worried about that. The rest of the day was full of crosses miles and camped a few miles from Tennessee Pass, ready to help Leadville.

A successful Leadville hero

After getting a hitch with another 7 hikers in a converted truck, I arrived at Leadville ready to spend money! I had reserved a part of my Colorado Trail Budget of $ 750 to buy a Microrred hood sweatshirt and had a Melanzana appointment in the books. I heard that they only let you try their clothes if you have shower, so I went to the shelter in the clouds and paid $ 7 for a shower.

The store was not yet open, so I went to breakfast in the Silver flame, obtaining a burrito and a side pancake. My dear friends Sock Monkey and Guillermo whom I met on the PCT had come to me.

When breakfast ended, the Melanzana store had opened and arrived ready to buy the maximum of 2 items allowed by appointment; One for me and one for my partner. I decided on a yellow and yellow classic microred hoodie for me and a solid orange for my partner. The store was very busy letting hikers buy an article each without an appointment!

The rest of the afternoon was sending my new Mellys house, laundry and refueling. I had not eaten much of my food for some reason, so I really didn’t need much from the grocery store. Eventually I walked successfully after a car tried to take me in the wrong address (while his wife was upset by phone, uncomfortable). Hitchhiking has never been as fast for me as it has been in the CT.

Twin Lakes and the beginning of Collegiate West

The walk to the next place of Twin Lakes was beautiful. I enjoyed another light food transport knowing that the next one would be much heavier. I arrived on Twin Lakes to find a group of hikers hanging outside the general store. I needed to replenish for 5 days of this small store, so I was definitely a little nervous. To my surprise and delight, someone who had sent a box had fallen to his hiking partner, so basically they gave me a complete refueling for free! The mixture of homemade oats, the couscous with bacon and the macaroni with Annie cheese were the lot stars. If it’s free, I don’t complain! I complemented with some more free articles of the hiker box and then I went to swim in the twin lakes. What an incredible view! Then I bought a pizza of cheese in the food truck and a root beer (my treat in the budget) and extended the voice on an alternative that cuts a mileage around the twin lakes. Purists, close your eyes.

Due to the difficult nature of the land, I was planning to do less miles in the west collegiate than I had been walking. To avoid having a food transport of more than 5 days, I decided to make horsetop west of the twin lakes to the path of Willis Gulch, then take the cutting path of Willis Gulch to Hope Pass. This included a lot of elevation gain in a short time, but it was worth it for me, to cut these 10.2 miles (6MI of the Colorado and 4.2MI path of the west referee). While I went up Hope Pass, I was happier with my decision because that pass is difficult. Although I saw a man and his dog running at a fast pace and looked with astonishment.

The West College was all that I thought it would be. Epic landscape on the line of trees with granite mountains that are coming in all directions, and difficult terrain. The cornice around Lake Anne Pass was something that had worried me for a while, with reports from the southern lovers that I met on the path feeding the fire. When I finally arrived at 7 am, I stepped on the cinema around the snow cornice until I got stuck, mainly due to my own fear. Fortunately, Snapchat had gone first and could take my backpack so that I could maneuver a few more steps to insurance without falling to my death.

Later in the day, I felt that I was constantly walking uphill towards thunder and took many breaks to take refuge in the trees. It seemed that the path was trying to take off twice in one day. I arrived for sure Cottonwood Pass and stayed the night there, discussing if it was still a pleasant experience.

Money spent

MELANAZANA HODIE: $ 93.23
Melanzana USPS (my half): $ 9.58
Leadville shower: $ 7
Leadville Laverry: $ 4.50
Leadville Resupply: $ 13
Leadville Town Treat: $ 0

Twin Lakes Reupply: $ 0
Twin Lakes Treats: $ 17.33

Total current spent: $ 404.10
Remaining: $ 345.90

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