The Unpolished Princess

Start: 1312.4

Stop: 1329.8

Today’s Miles: 17.4

Total CDT miles: 1022.2

Pebbles is officially 16.6 miles ahead of me as of right now! He did keep hiking last night to get to the warming hut, so I started the day off 5 miles behind him. He took the road down and around some of the high elevation today, which put him ahead on trail. He still had to do over 20 miles today, and the way I’ve been-I didn’t think I’d have made it back to trail today if I took the road. I have tons of food, so I stuck to the redline… plus, I know if I passed a motel while feeling as cruddy as I do-I probably would have booked a room. 

The first 5 miles weren’t bad, the initial climb was taxing but not as bad as I was expecting it to be-and it was gorgeous! It did still take me forever though. I definitely wouldn’t have made it to the warming hut before dark last night.

Once I got towards the top of the climb, I started running into day hikers. So many, in fact, I checked my watch to see if it was a Saturday. Nope. Only Tuesday! Gotta love Colorado! I waved and smiled and said hi to everyone, some were chatty, some were on a mission. Especially when I was on my way down and they were heading up! I don’t blame them at all for that.

At the bottom, where the road intersects, I could either go 14 miles down the highway into the town of Winter Park, then figure out from there how to go back up to trail on random roads and attempting to use that app Gaia that I don’t understand, or I could continue on the trail and immediately climb to the top of Mount Flora. My crazy self decided to climb. It was actually one of my better ascents. Maybe it was because of all of the day hikers out there to bear witness, but I made it to the top much faster than I thought I would. 

At the top, you could either start down towards rock switchbacks or head over the mountain traverses to several other peaks. Thankfully, this was not a hard choice at all, because I could literally see the snow piled on all the mountains to my left, and very little snow down the mountain I was standing on top of. Down I went. The rock switchbacks were very well done, to where almost every step was a smooth one, but my feet were aching with the constant downhill for miles. 

Towards the bottom of the descent, there were patches of snow. I traversed one-well, half way before I kicked my own steps in going up hill and cut half of it off to rock scramble the rest of the way around. Everything else I could mostly avoid. I stopped for lunch and realized too late that the only water I had available already had electrolytes in it, so I wouldn’t be able to cook some ramen for a hot lunch. Instead, I sat for about 15 minutes and ate a Kind bar, gagging a little, then kept pushing. 

At the bottom of the valley, I was able to get water, and then start heading back up a tiny bit-going around another mountainside, before descending steeply for another few hours. At 4pm, at the actual valley floor, my feet were fried and I was hungry again, so I sat in the shade of some pine trees and ate a hot meal. I also took some ibuprofen. 

I still had 6.4 miles to go to where I wanted to camp, just on the other side of another huge climb. It was 4.5 miles to the top of that climb, and a little over 2 back down.. I only made it 3 miles up. I got to a stream and decided that this was good enough. Once again, I was concerned about attempting to continue up and getting stuck with fading sun. 

I can see that there is some snow ahead, and the top of the climb is several hundred feet over 13,000. I know I can’t sleep that high, and with my slow pace on these ascents, plus getting a text from Pebbles and knowing there’s no way I’m catching up to him today or tomorrow.. if ever.. I didn’t see the point in suffering up that last 1.5 miles just to be forced to continue coming down to find somewhere to camp in the dark. Plus wouldn’t get to see any of the views. 

It is what it is, and honestly, this spot is pure pristine beauty, so, I’m ok with calling it short, 2 days in a row. Tomorrow, I sincerely hope I make it a bit farther. There’s the significant climb first thing in the morning, and then a steep descent-followed by some ridge walking and meadows. Hopefully I’ll get to at least where Pebbles is tonight, but preferably 4-5 miles past that. From there, there’s some small elevation gain and loss all the way to Grand Lake, the next town I get to stop in.

If I can get 20 miles tomorrow, the following day I could potentially get into Grand Lake by pushing 23 miles, since I’ll be past the big gains and losses. Fingers crossed! That’s my plan anyway. Pebbles thinks he’ll get to Grand Lake on Thursday, too.. but it would be early morning for him I’m sure, compared to my rolling in late-if at all. Otherwise, I’ll get there Friday morning. 

Ok, it sure is cold up here on this exposed mountainside. Time to try my best to warm up and get some sleep. I might even leave earlier in the morning, if I can make myself get up! (I left at 6:20 this morning.) I think the sun will pop up quick way up here, I won’t be in any shadows, so that’s good.. get that climb out of the way! Sweet dreams yall! 

Start: Silverthorne Alternate 34.4

Stop: 1312.4

Today’s Miles: 17.6

Total CDT miles: 1004.8

Welp. I couldn’t make it to where we had planned to camp for the night. I had to call it quits 5 miles short. It’s quite infuriating to feel this defeated, and I technically had some sunlight left before I called it, but I didn’t think I’d make it 5 miles before dark, and I didn’t want to be up on an exposed ridge or exposed but pretty alpine meadows.. and since all I could tell was it would be another 1,000 foot climb, on top of the 3,000 I’ve already climbed today-and no sure answer on anywhere safe to camp between here and that 5 miles-I decided not to risk it. Sorry for the longest run on sentence known to man-I really do just ramble to yall. 

Other than the feelings of being a complete and utter failure-today was stunning. The first mile was uphill and over, under, and around blowdowns-which dramatically slowed me down. After that though, it was just beautiful. Views for miles, alpine meadows and mossy ground and flowing water-snow around but not in my way-several creek crossings leaving me with wet feet once I was down in a valley.. I was slow, but I was happy.

At the bottom of the valley, the trail merged onto a dirt road. It zig zagged its way straight to the top of a pass and then reconnected with the red line of the CDT, completing the Silverthorne Alternate. As I was walking up that road, it briefly sprinkled, so brief, I’m not counting it as a “day it’s rained on trail.” But the storm clouds stuffed full of the rain looked pretty scary. No thunder or lightening, and no more rain, just overcast and creepy enough to make me wonder if I should be attempting to go up and over the mountain peaks and follow this ridge line. Pebbles had already done it, so, what was I to do but to keep pushing forward? I think if he had found it too sketchy, he’d have turned around or waited.. and he did neither-so, must be fine.

I’m glad I kept going, because the ridge was magical, breathtaking in every meaning of the word. Mountain ranges for miles and miles all around, grassy areas mixed with sharp rock and snow. And so many marmots! I love those little guys! I almost pet one-and then pictured it gnawing my finger off and kept my hands to myself. This is the second one that when I’ve out loud said, “I wish I could pet you!” It’s turned around and walked up to me. Hmmm. If I lose a finger, it’s because I went for it when the next one lets me get close. 

I followed the trail along the ridge and at times it was very steep. I never had to cross snow on the steep parts though, which was a miracle in of itself. The 2-3 times I had to walk across it, I felt safe and could easily step where Pebble’s had. So, all that anxiety about cornices and scrambles was for nothing. However, anxiety gone, I just couldn’t move much faster than I already was! 

I went down into another valley, with the trail meandering and traversing around the mountainsides instead of switchbacking up or down. I love when the trail does it this way, it feels easier, even if the outcome is the same. Close to 7pm I crossed a stream and decided to camp before the next big climb. There was already a guy set up where I was aiming, but he was nice and was quickly willing to make room for me. 

I told him to hold off and I was going to look around a minute and see if there were any other, flatter areas nearby. I spotted one just a little ways up and yelled back to him that I found a spot. I unpacked and messaged Pebbles on the Garmin. He’s apparently a mile ahead of me and not at the hut we had intended either, unless he pushed there after our message. Hopefully I catch back up with him tomorrow, but if not, that’s ok. I don’t want to keep holding him back. 

We’ll see what happens tomorrow. For now, it’s time to warm up and get some shut eye. I wonder if I’ll get up quicker in the morning knowing I’m “behind” or if I’ll say screw it and sleep in since I won’t wake up to hearing Pebbles packing and telling me bye! Haha, hopefully, it’ll be the first option. Hmmmm. Goodnight yall.  

Start: Silverthorne Alternate: 23.5

Stop: Silverthorne Alternate: 34.4

Today’s Miles: 10.9

Total CDT miles: 987.2

Today was a long one! But the gorgeous views made up for my lack of motivation. I was up at 4:30, changing, folding laundry and washing the last of the dishes so everything will be clean when I come home at the end of this thing. I made my bed, double checked everything, and Pebbles and I were out the door at 5am with mom rolling down the street to us. 

We were through security and in the Delta Lounge by 5:45, breakfast in hand. Not too bad! I already miss everyone at home, especially family. I really did not want to have to come finish this thing, which is so not like me at all. Oh well, gotta find a way to change my perspective because I’m finishing this hike, dammit. 

Anyway, we boarded our flight by 6:45, and eating second breakfast sometime after take off. First class definitely has its perks! I watched a movie and nodded off some.. not the best nap in the world, but beggars can’t be choosers. We landed in Denver at 8:30am, made our way to their rail/train and took it to Union Station. From there, we took a 2.5 hour bus ride to Frisco, and then a 25 minute bus ride to Silverthorne. 

We walked to the Wendy’s and our trail angel, Switch, had a friend bring us our packs since he was at work. Belongings in tow, I got a meal from Wendy’s and sat to eat it before rearranging all my stuff. I realized my Gatorade bottle was missing, probably toppled out and into one of the trail angel’s cars, so after I repacked, I got a new Gatorade from the 7eleven next door. Then, we were off.

A mile or 2 were roads, before going off at a trailhead. It was roughly 7 miles of uphill hiking to get to the pass. When I tell you altitude changes are real-holy crap. After being in atlanta for 4 days, hiking up close to 12 thousand feet is a lung buster! Plus, I was in my new shoes! What better way to break those babies in than to completely suffer!? Ha. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, shoes wise, it definitely won’t be better elevation wise. 

Anyway. The trail was phenomenal. Aspen forests opened up to alpine meadows with patches of snow, all avoidable.. my favorite kind! The trail itself was nonexistent at times, but it was easy enough to figure out where to go. The mountains surrounding the one I was on were all jagged and snow capped, rocky and absolutely gorgeous. It’s a good thing. Because those views were the only thing that kept me going. 

After the pass, it was a little over 3 miles downhill to get to a large stream, and we’re camping just on the other side of it. I took my shoes off to cross because there was no way to get around wet feet. It’s just too big and deep. That water was COLD! Thankfully, after crossing and waddling 0.2 in my crocs, Pebbles yelled for me. He was already completely set up! Speedy, I know no one is shocked about that! Does anything affect him? I should have done these hikes when I was younger-maybe wouldn’t suffering as much? 

I set to work setting up my camp, and then ate my dinner. We’re cowboying and it’s getting chilly now that the sun is dipping. I think we may have some snow to contend with tomorrow, and we’ll be above 12 thousand feet for awhile, too. I pray I get my crap together. I’m so ready for Wyoming and the elevation drop! 

Alright, time to warm up my hands! Goodnight yall!