Twig Adventures

September 15th, 2019 Squaw Creek mm 2109 to Piedra Pass mm 2131.2 Distance in miles: 22.2 0610-1645 We have good intentions, mileage-wise, for today but the mountains and weather say otherwise. We’re off to a great start and the morning has fine weather. The fire-haze dissipates some and the sun comes out as we climb up to the divide for the billionth time. We’ll stay pretty high the rest of the day. Early on, we pass a tent with a dog standing guard at the entrance. The dog doesn’t bark or even move, just watches us. What a well-trained dog! We think the hiker might be Dogma, who Relentless knows and we met briefly in Montana, but we don’t stick[…]

September 14th, 2019 West Ute Lake mm 2082.4 to Squaw Creek mm 2109 Distance in miles: 26.6 0640-1700 For whatever reasons, my efficiency and motivation is off all day. As hard-core as yesterday was, today I just feel like I’m riding the Struggle Bus. Following such a hard day has a lot to do with it and this day just brings more of the same beastly elevator terrain, but with more challenging trail conditions. These mountains seems to stretch forever, spectacular yet unforgiving. It’s of course very cold in the morning but this time we aren’t in a hurry to get down and out of the wind. We take our time packing and get a bit of a late start.[…]

September 13th, 2019 Near High Point on the Colorado Trail mm 2051.5 to West Ute Lake mm 2082.4 Distance in miles: 30.9 0620-1830 The weather and mountain gods are merciful, sending only a few breezes that ruffle our tents all night. It’s enough to create a cold draft, though. I struggle to keep warm in the early hours of the morning, all my layers on. But we make it through and somehow find the courage to depart our semi-warm cocoons, hiking at first light. It’s just Relentless and me, since Sugar Rush and Sunshine prefer a later start. Even up here, it’s too dark to walk without a headlamp until 0620! Oh these short days. For once we get to[…]

September 12th, 2019 HWY 149 mm 2035.6 to near the High Point on the Colorado Trail mm 2051.5 Distance in miles: 15.9 1245-1830 I still have many town errands in the morning, primarily shopping for resupply since I missed the grocery store’s closing hour the night before…small towns shut down early! We join up with Sunshine and Sugar Rush for the hitch out…they are on repeat after Sugar Rush lost her phone in her ride’s car the day before. Fortunately he’s a local trail angel and she was able to get her phone back. But they stayed another night in town as a result. We wait for about 30 minutes, without much traffic going by. It’s not the best situation[…]

September 11th, 2019 Creede Junction mm 2021.3 to HWY 149 mm 2035.6 Distance in miles: 14.3 0620-1200 I wake with a migraine and the wind is howling…not a great start. But it’s not freezing or raining, so that’s good! It’s going to be a tough-go over the exposed passes and snow mesa but we can do it. Last time, hail and lightning thwarted me and my trail family from continuing on in this section. We had to retreat down to Creede and since there was no accommodation there, we went to Lake City, missing 14 miles of trail. I’m determined to hike them today, even if the weather isn’t perfect. The San Juans rarely have perfect weather…you just have to[…]

September 10th, 2019 Monchego Creek mm 1994.5 to Creede Junction mm 2021.3 Distance in miles: 26.8 plus 3 RT to San Luis Peak 0620-1800 Coyotes again make a racket through the night, probably fighting over dibs on the dead cow. Their yips and yaps become a part of my dreams…white noise of the high hills. I should make one of those relaxation tapes out of it. In the early morning, I hear the soothing hoots of a great horned owl. I was just saying to Relentless the morning before that the woods are lacking any owls. Here’s the reply to my concern. They must like lower elevations. The morning is fresh and beautiful, the low light enhancing the yellow flowers[…]

September 9th, 2019 Mm 1960.3 to Monchego Creek mm 1994.5 Distance in miles: 34.2 0610-1830 The elk call all night and there are also some coyotes making a racket so close for the longest time. While half asleep, I mumble something about them shutting up and they actually do, as if they were close enough to hear me. But it’s a very peaceful night overall and I wake excited to hike. We hope to do a big day to be well positioned for taking on the start of the San Juans the following day. We start in the very first light, now so late that I still need my headlamp at 6 am. We walk through more meadows at the[…]

September 8th, 2019 Monarch Pass mm 1935.8 to mm 1960.3 Distance in miles: 24.5 1000-1900 It’s time to get back on the trail. I think 3 days off was maybe too much. My parents drive us up to the pass in the morning and we all say goodbye again. It hurts much less to part with them this time, knowing things are going well at home. I will see them again soon. We head down the trail and for awhile, I’m in a funk. I feel sick from the car ride and somehow also a bit dizzy. How could I loose my fitness for the trail so quickly? I’ve felt better doing back to back to back 30’s than I[…]

It’s not often that I get to take a zero along the trail that coincides with being home. As a result, we end up staying a whole 3 days! I had only planned for 2 but it’s too easy when you have a free place to stay and lots of food to eat. Also, it’s good to spend time with my parents. If you’ve followed this blog since the beginning, you’ll recall that my hike nearly ended when my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma cancer. The prognosis was grim but he decided to try a new immunology treatment, which has resulted in his cancer going into remission. When I see him now, just 2 month later, he looks[…]

September 4th, 2019 Abandoned Cabin mm 1923.8 to Monarch Pass mm 1935.8 Distance in miles: 12 plus about 3 on a road-walk detour 0715-1400 I wonder all night if it’s going to be possible to hike on the divide in this weather. We can walk out to the highway on a jeep trail if it’s too bad, saving a 12 mile stretch for when we come back. We get a late start, lingering in the protection of the cabin. But there are blue skies when we step out, so it makes sense to walk all the way to Monarch Pass this morning. Except that we miss the turn from the jeep road up to Boss Lake and walk most of[…]