Tag: hiking

CDT Day 74: July 18, 2025

Start: 1504.7

Stop: 1528.8

Today’s Miles: 24.1

Total CDT miles: 1200.6

Today was a long one-with lots of rolling hills, but nothing near as beautiful as yesterday. We never really got above tree line and the majority of it was on old dirt and gravel roads that aren’t well maintained in areas. Don’t get me wrong, there were some beautiful views, but nothing breathtaking. The only motivation for today was the farther I walk, the closer I get to the Wyoming border! We’ll hit that in the morning now, less than 5 miles away! (I’m liking all of these “we’s” by the way) 

I was the first out of camp this morning at 7am, but within a couple hours, everyone had passed me. First Firefly, who I chatted with for a bit while walking. He went to a privy and dumpster on trail,(and took some of my trash for me, super nice dude), I decided to take a dirt road at the junction, since it was easier elevation gain wise. Joke’s on me, because that road abruptly stopped and I had to bushwhack back to trail over lots of blowdowns and a large stream crossing that I couldn’t rock hop across. At one point, the blowdowns were 3-4 high! Ha, oh well.. name of the game sometimes I guess. 

During that bushwhack, Pika had passed ahead of me. Then, back on trail, Redline and Wolf did too, with Firefly showing back up when I least expected him. It was hot and sunny and the rolling hills kept coming. It was never miserable, but I never truly felt great either. Sometime in the morning I had enough service to talk to Pebbles on the phone. He was about to hitch out of the town I won’t even make it to until the day after tomorrow. 

He seems to think I’m going to catch up to him, but that’s impossible if he keeps doing big miles. I’m hoping he slows down some and this whole group can catch up to him, because Pika is wanting to see him, too. They were both injured on the PCT at Crater Lake together, I know a reunion would be fun for both of them. And, honestly, having multiple people to leapfrog with during the day and camp with at night truly does make this experience more fun, the laughter the shared misery, all of it.. someone to remind you of the good in all of it.. it makes a huge difference. Not only on the overall experience, but on morale in general, too. 

Anyway. This is a short one.. we hit the border in the morning, hopefully all together ish-I kinda worry that I might need to leave before them to make sure I’m not too far behind everyone. And then it’s 20 miles to the road we hitch at from the border. I’m excited! Sweet dreams yall!

CDT Day 73: July 17, 2025

Start: 1482.5

Stop: 1504.7

Today’s Miles: 22.2

Total CDT miles: 1176.5

Today was so beautiful! Rolling hills, gorgeous mountain tops, lots of great views. I was pretty content all day. 

Last night was filled with rain, off and on and never for very long. I waited for the rain to come to get out of my tent to pee, thanks to the mosquitos.. they were awful. I probably fell asleep sometime around 9pm, and didn’t start packing until 6:40. I slept great, thanks to the white noise of the pattering of rain now and then. 

I was hiking by 7:07am, and it was easy going all morning. The temperature was cool, the skies were blue, the trail was wide and easy to follow. It was woods to meadow, woods to meadow most of the morning before some easy climbing above tree line that was stunning lake after stunning lake. I was truly in awe of Mother Nature, all day long.

At noon I stopped to eat lunch and dry out my tent. Redline passed me during that break, and then no one else until Wolf caught me mid afternoon. We talked and walked for about 45 minutes, over snow and up mountains, until the last climb where she took off and I couldn’t keep up. On the way down from that climb, FireFly caught me. We chatted off and on over the next few miles of the descent. I love how easy it is to talk with everyone in this trail family. I get so excited when I see one of them gaining on me. I feel like a cousin to their trail fam, but they all just keep welcoming me in.  

I was supposed to go a bit farther today, but decided to stop with everyone else. Pika appeared not long after FireFly and I did, and I decided eating dinner with friends and hanging out a bit before bed was better than hiking ahead 3 more miles to potentially not have a spot to camp. Wolf had caught up to 2 of the hikers that passed my tent yesterday evening.. so at 6pm, I’m sure they’re not all that far ahead, meaning spots ahead could be limited.

We set up our stuff, I’m cowboy camping, and we all made dinner and talked. What a refreshing way to end a day! They’re going to do a 24 hour challenge in Wyoming, and listening to them plan and talk has me maybe considering it, too.

It’ll depend on how well I’m able to resupply in the next town. It would be a 24 hour hike into the town of Rawlins.. so, if all goes well, I’d get to zero there. Hmmm. Much to consider. 

Anyway, I’m wrapped up, hiding from the mosquitos. We’ll see how well I sleep tonight. I probably should have just set my tent up, but it’s too much effort. Ugh. I may regret not doing it. The bugs are definitely out. Ok, that’s it. Sweet dreams yall. 

CDT Day 72: July 16, 2025

Start: 1468.1

Stop: 1482.5

Today’s Miles: 14.4

Total CDT miles: 1154.3

I wish I was still snuggled up in that king sized bed at the Quality Inn. Or, better yet-my own king sized bed, since the Quality Inn has decided to charge my credit card 3 times for my one night stay. How fun! 

Anywho. I eventually got out of the comfy bed and made my way down to the free breakfast. Waffles and bagels were alright.. not my favorite options but beggars can’t be choosers and I didn’t have to pay for it (unless you count them continuously charging my card like crazy people). I sat with Pika and Firefly, and Wolf and Redline were a few tables down. Everyone else in the breakfast room had at least 30 years on us. Wolf and I both seemed to be people watching. Quality Inn is quality entertainment.

I ended up showering again, the water pressure being incredible, and then finally dressed and packed for the day. I made a sign on the back of a cardboard box from my food: “CDT HIKER TO TRAIL” and headed out. I handed off the last bit of my old bottle of bug lotion to Firefly, saying my byes, and made my way outside to the intersection across from the motel. 

I wasn’t out there 10 minutes before a nice guy maybe in his late 30s or early 40s turned around and came back for me! He was quite handsome, lives in Steamboat Springs, but also spends half his time in Tasmania. My kinda guy! We talked the whole way out to the junction I had gotten picked up from the other day.. it was so easy! Travel and hiking and adventure. I enjoyed it so much, I forgot his name.. something with a W.. I know Waylon probably isn’t right, but oh well. Now he’s just a memory. 

He let me out at the intersection and another hiker was there hitching.. so, “Waylon” ended up picking him up and taking him back with him to Steamboat! Nice when things work out that way! I left my pack at a sign pole and trodded down Colorado 14 to the spot Greg picked me up from the day before yesterday. I’ve been so determined to keep my continuous footpath, I’m honestly a little surprised I’ve been able to! So, I walked half a mile down and then turned around and walked back to my pack.

From there, it was 2 miles of highway road walking to get to the turnoff for the trail. It started off as a dirt road with a weird paved section in the middle for a bit.. weird, but made for easy walking. I passed the parking lot for the Rabbit Ears trailhead, and then got to walk around some gorgeous lakes. 

I think I was more stunned with the beauty of all of the wildflowers than anything, but the different lakes made stunning backdrops. I took picture after picture of so many different varieties of wildflowers. They were truly spectacular. And then the big fields surrounded by trees made leaving the lakes worth it. 

The only downside has been the bugs: mosquitos, flies, gnats.. they are absolutely everywhere and non stop. The lotion helps tremendously, but my God that swarming around my ears makes me a lunatic. It started raining after 1pm and I was actually glad because it knocked the bugs down-but when it stopped-they came out in full force. At 4:15 when it started to rain again, I decided to call it quits and put up my tent. Mainly to have time to write out these last few posts and call and deal with the Quality Inn overcharging me before I lose service and they get away with it. 

So, it’s hardly 5 something, the rain has stopped again, and the bugs are absolutely diabolical. I’ve seen 3 other hikers walk through, but not Pika and Wolf and their crew. I wonder if they’ll get passed me today with me calling it so early. I’d be happy to keep the same pace with them, I find them all so fun. I guess we’ll see! It’s nowhere near bedtime, but I think that’s all I got for today. Gotta eat dinner and write out a few posts from the last few days! Until next time, friends! Goodnight!