Tag: hiking

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!

Zeroes! 

I’ll keep this one short and sweet! Pebbles and I hung out in Silverthorne on June 30th-I got new shoes from REI and then ate at a Mexican restaurant. We did some other shopping at Target and basically had a wonderful day of leisure. 

On July 1st, a trail angel, Switch (who I actually met on the PCT and then he remembered me when he picked us up!) picked us up from Wendy’s and drove us to the bus terminal in Frisco. He’s holding our packs for us while we’re in Atlanta! We then road a bus to Denver’s Union Station and then took the railway to the hotel we stayed at that night. 

July 2nd we flew to Atlanta! I was so so happy to be home and to show Pebbles around and have him meet my family and friends! We had dinner at a cute Italian place on the 3rd and then I ran the Peachtree Roadrace on the 4th. We celebrated at a friend’s pool party afterwards! A time was had! 

We hung out and took it easy on the 5th (today) and we fly back to Denver tomorrow to do the whole thing in reverse.. train to union station, bus to Frisco, and to Silverthorne, then get our packs from Wendy’s and start hiking. God help us! I haven’t even gone to bed yet and I’m already tired thinking about tomorrow! I’m actually dreading going back to trail. Bleh. I have to get it done though. So. Time to get over it. 

Goodnight yall. Send good vibes my way!

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!