Start: 730.1
Stop: 755.2
Today’s Miles: 25.1
Total CDT miles: 614.4
Today was a long one, and a tiny bit sketchy there for a minute.
We started off on a dirt road walk with lots of woods around that opened up into gorgeous valleys and meadows. We saw some wild horses, and then people on horses, and then a lady camping with horses. For once, today felt like the horses outnumbered the cows! And we had tons of streams, so beautiful greenery and so much water. It was pretty refreshing.
We passed a campground that I dumped my trash at, and used a pretty decent privy. Shortly there after was a recreational lake spot, so we snagged some water while other folks were fishing. This is where we met 2 people on horseback. They were out for a ride with their friend who is doing the CDT in sections on horseback too! She was up ahead of them, camping with her 2 horses and her dog. They were on their way back to the horse trailer and were going to move it for her. How cool!
The afternoon included some decent climbs, all open and skirting up grassy mountainsides. There were aspen groves spotted around and when a huge storm rolled in, Pebbles practically leapt off the side of the trail into a patch of them! If it wasn’t actually a little scary, it would have been hilarious.
As always, he was walking ahead of me up this last climb, like 2 miles away from where we planned to camp. Lightening flashed across the sky and several seconds later the thunder rumbled through my chest. I spot Pebbles crouched down against the mountain up ahead. It started to rain, and as I passed him, he looked at me like I’m the craziest person he’s ever met. But when I looked up at the sky, the worst of the storm seemed to be off in the distance a bit.. if I’m going to “sit out” a thunderstorm, I prefer to have more coverage than the nothing covering either of us at the moment.
I don’t claim to make the best choices ever, but the way he looked at me had me laughing out loud as I walked up hill in the rain. I probably am the nut job he thinks I am. Anyway, minutes later-Pebbles comes barreling up past me, muttering under his breath just how “smart” he thinks I am, and how maybe “un-smart” he is for deciding to follow me in a thunderstorm. I continue to cackle, feeling like the lunatic he thinks I am, when he suddenly drops is his pack at the side of the trail then lunges down the side of the mountain a good 50+ feet to an aspen grove. I gape.
There is no way in hell I was about to go down the steep side of a mountain to some trees, especially when I could see another huge patch of trees up ahead on trail-granted I did have to continue uphill to get to them.. with the lightening continuing to crackle across the sky almost continuously. So, Pebbles stayed in the aspen grove, and I kept walking until I got to the trees at the top of the climb.
The thunder only seemed to come faster and faster each time the lightening streaked across the sky. I could actually smell the ozone, just like our friend Ellie told us you could when the lightning is way too close. I huddled under a huge grove of trees for over 30 minutes. I watched and counted the seconds between lightning strikes and thunder rumbles.. when it seemed the worst had passed, I kept moving-running through the open meadows to the next grove of trees.
Eventually, the trail stayed in a forest and kept going downhill. In the next valley, I found a spot for both of our tents, and got some water from the creek running beside it. Twenty minutes passed. Then thirty. I got worried, so I dropped my pack and took my Garmin and my headlamp, and headed back up the trail to look for Pebbles. He’s such a fast hiker, and the storm had rolled on, so he should have been at the spot I found by now.
I hiked back about a mile, yelling his name, when I finally ran into him. He had stayed put in that same aspen grove the entire time! Over an hour! With nothing from his pack, squatted down holding the lightening position. That’s some serious strength.. he didn’t even have on his rain gear-and it was chilly with all the bad weather. We walked back together, talking the whole way-him confirming I’m completely insane to walk UP a mountainside in a lightening storm.
When we got to where I dropped my pack, he agreed it’s a good campsite-so we set up our tents. One of the spots I found had a dead limb lingering over it, so we smooshed both tents next to each other. We’ve just finished our dinner, and the rain is gone. I’m excited for tomorrow-we finally hit the Colorado border!! We’ll have to hitch to Chama and I’ll get to pick up my new shoes. Wahoo!
Oh!! Also-I found out that GG fell from that spot I turned around at when leaving ghost ranch! She dislocated her hip and had to hit her SOS button. She’s in Albuquerque and had surgery! She’ll be non weight bearing for 10 weeks and her hike is over. I’m praying for a smooth recovery. Hike ending injuries are what scare me most. I know I have what it takes to make this thing happen-just as long as I don’t get injured like that. Scary stuff. Anyway. Time to get some sleep, say a prayer for GG if you don’t mind. Sweet dreams, yall.