Author: Courtney

Start: Silverthorne Alternate 3.5 

Stop: Silverthorne Alternate 23.5

Today’s Miles: 20

Total CDT miles: 976.3 

Everything was damp when we woke up, and cold-but I was able to sleep well! I did not want to start hiking this morning, but the views were worth it. Close to the top of the first real climb of the day, I could see Pebbles ahead in the distance. I watched him stop completely at a huge patch of snow, start to cross it, then back up.. he was going to wait for me!

I tried to pick up my pace, but at that altitude, it wasn’t much faster than I was already going. It is what it is when you feel like you can’t breathe. When I finally got to him, he showed me the spot he was going to attempt, but said it was much steeper than he anticipated.. so he waited and was considering figuring out a way to hike up and around the snow, since right after the steep part was probably a snow cornice. 

I got up to it and decided to give it a try. Half way across the snow felt totally fine, then I looked up and realized if I slipped, I’d be sliding for a long way. I kind of panicked. My legs started shaking and I realized I was too stressed to back step, so I had to push forward. Pebbles waited for me to clear what we thought could be the cornice, and then he went around the snow. I reached solid ground and had to rest awhile, you know, catch my bearings.. and my breath, damn high altitude! I really dislike hiking across snow like this.

Pebbles and I kept hiking across gorgeous terrain, beautiful snow capped mountains with unbelievable views. There were marmots and snowmelt creeks and it seriously felt like walking through a dream. If a fairy started to fly around my head I wouldn’t have even questioned it, the lack of oxygen definitely could have had something to do with it, too. Seriously, Colorado is out of this world stunning. I just wish I could breathe better here!

Pebbles got away from me, naturally, so eventually when the trail started going downhill, and mosquitos started to bite-he text me to tell me he was on the road walking to Wendy’s in the town of Silverthorne! I started to pick up my pace-downhill helped, and eventually got to the road and started the 3 miles to Wendy’s, too. And to think he wanted to camp before town? Crazy. Wendy’s and a motel bed is just what I wanted!

I was eating my burger and fries just after 6pm, and being flirted with by the cutest 3 year old running around the restaurant. Pebbles ordered a frosty (he’d already eaten by the time I got there), and waited for me to finish up before we walked to the motel close by. We checked in, showered, started our laundry. Now I’m in heaven in this queen sized bed! For it to be a cheaper motel, the pillows are fantastic. But I guess when you don’t use a pillow for days on end, any pillow would be great. Ha. See, I can be ultra light with some things! 

Anyway. That’s all for today. We get to zero here tomorrow and then we’ll take a bus to Denver the following day, then fly to Atlanta for a few days! I’m so pumped. I can’t believe I’m so happy about 6 zeros so early on trail, but honestly, I am. As pretty as the last few days have been, I feel like I’m just doing this hike to say I triple crowned.. not actually because I WANT to really be here. It’s hard to admit that actually. But, it is what it is. I’ll finish it regardless. I just hope I fall in love with thru hiking again soon, because this almost feels like daily torture. I mean-I’m thrilled for flipping Wendy’s—and I actually despise that chain. Ha.. oh, lord. 

Goodnight yall! 

Start: 1209.8

Stop: Silverthorne Alternate 3.5

Today’s Miles: 18

Total CDT miles: 956.3

It got pretty cold overnight, and because of that-I slept pretty great. I mean, I still wake every few hours, to toss and turn, but I think it was some solid sleep. Plus the creek rushing beside us was quite perfect for some white noise. 

I got up before Pebbles, which never happens. While I was coming back from peeing, planning to warm up in my quilt before packing, a crazy squirrel went full Rambo and woke Pebbles up. He was chittering real loud and running around him. It was pretty amusing.

We left together around 7am, and I didn’t see him again until almost 3pm. I mean, I saw him walking ahead of me for maybe the first 30 minutes, but for some reason, I’m really struggling with any kind of elevation.. these uphills have me heaving so hard I’m shocked I’m alive. I sound like I’m seconds from keeling over. It’s pathetic.

As frustrating as my slowness is, the views today might have been my favorite on trail so far. It was magical. We climbed up and out of the tree line to stunning passes with marmots running around in the rocks and meadows, snow melting and the fresh water streaming down the mountainsides. I felt like I was in a fairytale. Well, a fairytale with a shit ton of day hikers and mountain bikers.. ha!

Every 5-10 minutes there was someone coming along, sometimes 5-10 someones on bikes causing me to jump of trail to avoid a collision. I will say, every single person was friendly. I got to pet some real cute doggos, including one that then left her mom and followed me downhill for a good 5 minutes before I realized it and had to help get her back to her mom! She was a sweet, old black lab, and she knew I was going the easier route and it was hysterical!

I made it down into the Copper Mountain Resort and was shell shocked at all the people! It was a packed little resort “town” and people were flat out everywhere! I kept walking until I finally reached the coffee shop Pebbles was sitting in, which was connected to a gas station. Sadly, I had to go buy tampons at the gas station and make a bathroom pit stop (maybe this is why I’m struggling so hard?). By the time I got to Pebbles, the coffee shop closed. I went back to the gas station and got a hot dog, soda, and chips. 

The coffee shop guy let us sit inside while he cleaned up for the day. Then he gave us a free croissant, which was super sweet. We hung out a while, I ate my food, Pebbles ate the croissant. Eventually, we started walking again. Now, we’re on the Silverthorne Alternate.

We hiked in 2 miles, and it’s cold. I’m in my new hoodie and my down puffy. Pebbles chatted on the phone with his friends for a bit, I think they really boosted his morale. I booked a motel for tomorrow and the next night. We’re getting to Silverthorne way faster than planned, and we can’t hike past there because we’ve already arranged for our packs to be held by a trail angel, and he’s going to drive us to our bus in Frisco on July 1st so we can get to Denver for our flight out on July 2nd. All this extra time and we don’t know what to do with it! But when we get back, it’ll be all business as we try to get the miles in to finish on time. 

So much to think about. But either way, I’m getting to that motel tomorrow. I don’t think in my current predicament that I want to be sleeping on trail to save a little money. Lord knows I’d want a motel even if I wasn’t cramping and feeling like crap!  Pebbles isn’t too thrilled, I think he’s crazy. That’s ok though. Especially since he mentioned it’s supposed to rain the next few days too. 

Time for bed! Goodnight! 

Start: Leadville 

Stop: 1209.8 

Today’s Miles: 17.6

Total CDT miles: 938.3

I slept like crap, constantly feeling like I couldn’t catch my breath and like I was suffocating. It’s probably the elevation mixed with a little panic, but man I don’t like it. I had to keep telling myself to take slow, deep breaths, talking to myself like I talk to some of my patients struggling to catch their breath. Leadville is the highest elevation city in the US at over 10,000 feet-but still, I’ve been way higher than this before. It’s frustrating for sure.

I woke up a little after 7am, wishing I could drift back to sleep, since I seem to get my best sleep in the few hours before being required to wake up. Pebbles was up, too, and we quietly grabbed our gear and stripped our bunks. I used the bathroom and packed up my stuff, had some coffee and some toast. I weighed myself before eating, too. I’m down roughly 16 pounds since starting. That’s pretty exciting!

We started walking towards the grocery store to resupply by 8am. I didn’t get a whole lot, I still have a ton of food from the last stretch that I didn’t eat thanks to the awesome trail magic we got near Twin Lakes. I did get a pre made sandwich and a drink, and sat outside to eat it while Pebbles finished his shopping. He organized his food while I finished my sandwich, and then we started walking out of Leadville. 

The road walk was scenic, and the clouds helped shield us from the worst of the sun.. which thank God because my face is already peeling from getting burnt the last few days. There were some gorgeous snow studded mountains in the distance and grassy hills with a river running through them up close. To be a highway, it sure was pretty. 

We stopped and ate lunch on the side of the road with some slight shade and the river nearby. I was technically still full from my sandwich, but we weren’t doing many miles today, so sitting and stretching and just not walking felt great. I’m also struggling with a little bit of cramping, so the easier day was a blessing. We probably sat there for well over an hour, if not closer to two. I didn’t mind a bit.

We continued the road walk until it reconnected with the trail, well-a dirt road and then the trail. It was pretty in a wooded kind of way, nothing exceptionally jaw dropping, but pleasant all the same. Minus the guys on motorized dirt bikes whipping around playing loud music at one point. We finally got to where we planned to camp and there was already someone set up there. Then, as we passed them, there was someone else walking ahead of us. Just around the corner from the first spot, we saw more and that’s where we are now. 

It’s wooded with shade and a pretty creek running down below. We’re kind of slanted, but who cares? These days we aren’t very picky. It’s early, barely 6pm and the sun won’t set for another two hours. There’s no point in going farther though, because of the trip home on July 1st.. if we go to fast, we’ll end up passing the spot we plan to get off trail at-which we already have set up: a trail angel to hold our packs and take us into Frisco, our bus tickets from Frisco to Denver, our hotel in Denver the night before our flight home to Atlanta- so I can run the Peachtree Roadrace on July 4th! It really won’t do us any good to push miles and hike past that pick up spot.

So. We’re sitting around, hanging out, a little bored. Who would have thought it was possible? Maybe I’ll go ahead and make my dinner, maybe it’ll help ease my cramps some. Until tomorrow, friends.