15-09-26 Day 167 Complete – Mark Trail CDT Blog
Hiking The Continental Divide Trail – Mark Trail CDT 2015
Start Date 4/12/15 – Completion Date 9/26/15
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The Full Moon shown over me all night long. It was my last night on the CDT. When I woke up during the night, I thought of all the people that made my journey so very special. I reviewed my hike day by day, reminiscing all my fellow hikers and Trail Angels that I met along my path, thanking each one individually in my mind. From the Greyhound Bus driver Juan, who bought my dinner on the way to Lordsburg, NM to the hunter Mark, who gave me a liter of his water yesterday so I could have coffee this morning. What can I say about Bront and Shelly from Boulder, my resupply Champion. Ginny my Jacksonville life Manager….Oh Boy, what a job…… And everyone I have missed writing here….Thank You… I am so grateful that I burst out in joyful tears. I cannot contain my emotions once again. I felt like a spring, releasing it’s precious resource……
What a day.
I couldn’t believe the 9 Oz primus fuel canister and the lithium batteries in my spot lasted all the way from Rawlins, WY. on September fourth.
I wanted to lie in my sleeping bag and enjoy the morning coffee but I couldn’t. I needed to pack up and start hiking… The routine. This transition back into the “World” will be different….
On the last 11,000 ft peak I called Soudough in Akaska. It was early and he answered knowing it was me. He congratulated me and we talked about what a time we had hiking New Mexico together. Somehow I need to spend time in Alaska, just add it to the bucket….
When I arrived at Highway 114, I hiked to the spot I hitched into Gunnison in June. Wow…A strange finish but then again this is the CDT…..
Two hours of hitching agressively, no one would stop…. I prayed for the right person to come help me. Amy stopped going in the other direction. “Where are you going?” she asked….. “Gunnisonn” . ” I’m in no hurry, I’ll give you a ride”…. How does this happen?
We talked about her Yert and ways of gardening in Taos, NM. I learned a lot… Adobe construction and solar power. … We shared lunch together and she dropped me off at McDonald’s. Thanks Amy, My newest Trail Angel.
I sent out the announcement of my completion of my hike and the well wishes flowed back…. I felt truly blessed and glad to be done. I had contacted a bike trail angel Marti earlier about staying at her home but my bus left at 6:20 am and she lived out of town so I stayed at the Quality Inn. The whole town was booked up but Jessica found a way to get me a room….. With a Jacuzzi… 
Now that’s the way to Celebrate. Amber Bock and Bubbles….It wasn’t long I was roasted, toasted, and burnted. I went to bed a happy Man….. Thanks CDT for an awesome backdrop for my personal development and growth…. Cheers!!!!!
Mark Trail -The Triple Crown!!
The Triple Crown!!!
Gunnison, Co. 10 Miles
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I came around a corner and Mark was going through his hunting things when he said “Hello” . Mark is from Gunnison and loves being in the outdoors, experiencing our wonderful world… He asked if I needed water… Ding…. Blessed again…..Could this really happen every day and we are just to busy to notice????? 
“Yes Please” and my water problem was solved. As I hiked I was pondering the completion and how blessed I am every day to be able to physically hike and all the support I have had along the way…….
When I went to fill the pot for coffer the Sawyer filter was frozen solid. I guess it really was cold last night at 11,800 ft. No wonder I had to get up during the night and eat to produce some heat. The sloshing of ice in my water bottles entertained me as I hiked.
Then the Rollercoaster began, up and down, around Mirror Lake. Then the trail climbed to Tin Cup Pass, 12,154 ft. I was happy to be on the other side as the sun set…..
North Fork Chalk Creek, 30 Miles
We forded multiple creeks and finally connected with the CDT/CT. We climbed Little Willis Gulch from 9,200 ft to 12,548 ft .
The Aspen trees were in peek color. Bright Yellow. When I stopped for lunch, a gust of wind blew so many leaves down on me, I thought l had just won the Super Bowl. It was an incredible moment, so glorious, so wonderful. The moment was imprinted on my soul…..
The trail dropped down to old historic silver mining towns, Rockdale, Winfield, and Hamilton. While I was doing the tourist thing, Maria (Talks a Lot) and Lisa drove up and unloaded their beef Jerky and snacks on me, Bummer… Great Trail Magic…Thanks… I then climbed from 9,847 to 12,400 ft to Lake Ann Pass. 
It was overcast and there was rain in the forecast so I did the boogie. I am really homesick… I miss my family and friends. That’s all I can think of….Over and Over in my mind. The finish fever. I need to keep present and enjoy the wonderful beauty that surrounds me every day….
It was twelve miles to Twin Lakes and I wanted to do an “In/Out”. Get my food, Wash my clothes, And wash my body…in that order.
I asked Carl at the General Store about doing laundry or a shower…..Five miles down the road….Hummm. Not Good. My box? Not here….or there..Really not good……
The Beanster arrived and hung out for a time before doing her magic. She assembled all our dirty cloths and drove five miles to the washateria….you know, the Laundromat. Whatever… Very Nice…..
After dinner I checked to see if UPS delivered and YES…my box from Ghost Ranch, forward to Lake City, Forward to Twin Lakes arrived. I was elated……. With much convincing, we stayed in the hut next to the store and caught up on social media.
I was up and packed at 6:00 am to ride into town for coffee. A real treat. James and Curtis went on as if they haven’t been apart for a day. It was wonderful.
The CDT/CT is a great trail. Most stream crossings have bridges and the blowdowns cleared. The trail is used for winter sports and is well graded which makes for fantastic hiking. I passed by Turquoise Lake and Leadville Federal Fish Hatchery. There was a great place to camp next to Willow Creek..at 7:30 pm.
I started at 5:45 am. The Conoco at Copper Mtn. didn’t open till 7:00 am so I plugged in my phone and waited for it to charge. Chris came out and gave me a cup of coffee at 6:45 am and I was off.
As I approached Kokomo Pass there was a hiker ahead of me….This is the CDT. I never catch up to hikers. Curtis is from Texas and section hiking the CDT….”Yep.. started in Steamboat and hiking south to Twin Lakes…”.
Curtis said he was meeting a friend at Tennessee Pass for a ……BEER. oh boy, I’m all in. We had six miles to go and it was 4:30. It would be tight so we put on the boogie..
When I turned the corner along the creek, Rich and Bobby from Dallas Texas were standing there drinking coffee. “Any Extra?” “Sure” Rich said.. Trail Magic at its best……
Off I went happy and coffeed up. Next, 2.8 mile climb back up to Ptarmigan Gap, 11,777 ft…It seemed like it took forever. The trail only lost me twice. Fxxxing, Fxxxing, Fxxxing Trail!!!!! Max Frustration…..Then it began to snow…lightly thank goodness. Oh Boy…It’s comming….SNOW WORRIES…
The walk along Dillon Reservoir was beautiful. The sun came out and there were bikers and skaters along the trail. I stopped in Frisco at the Safeway market to resupply and charge the phone batteries. I night hiked to Copper Mtn till 10:00 pm. Wrote this blog till 10:50 pm. Maybe I will be able to sleep.
I started at Bill Moore Lake 11,400 ft and climbed next to Breckenridge Peek 12,889 and watched the sun rise…..
Then Mt Flora 13,132 ft. It’s a shame but the trail dropped to Berthoud Pass 11,315. Bummer.
It was twelve miles to the next water so I stopped at 7:30 am to load up. As I climbed from 10,000 ft to Devils Thumb Pass at 11,747 ft the sun came up and started to warm me up. It was a up and down climb till I dropped to Rollis Pass at 11,671 ft.
There was an alternate that saves seven miles of hiking but was a risky route and I am alone so I took the longer route. Be Safe. Smart Move!. I stopped at Loch Lomond Lake, where I met Justin and Rob out to enjoy the great outdoors. They gave me a beer and we spent a few minutes together celebrating today.
Bill Moore Lake, 23 Hard Miles!
I packed up and said goodbye to Otter and White Face. At 7:30 am I was hiking south. Well the trail actually runs through the town so I don’t which way I was going…I think West. I turned SOUTH… and hiked along Grand Lake, Shadow Lake and finally Lake Granby. Next was the Roaring Fork Campground where I had lunch. I left the road and entered Arapaho National Forest.
Otter was up as I was at 5:00 am. I worked on the blog and read some news. At 7:00 am we went to the Sagebrush for breakfast. We left hungry and went to the first small grocery store we could find. Otter bought a apple breakfast baked thingie. I got a banana and popcorn. Yumm..
Since Bront picked me up at the North Supply Trail Head, I had to hike from there. Otter suggested I hike from the Shadowcliff Hostel to the trail head and hitch back. The hike was through Rocky Mountain National Park and it was beautiful. I was carrying my full pack minus food. It was four miles and the time went by quickly.
Just after I entered the park boundary, Das Boots appeared with their Big Smiles. Their BIG leather boots rotted due to being wet all the time in northern Wyoming. Look at those new Keen Boots. We talked about meeting at the hostel later… Cheers.. I stopped by the visitor center and it was just like all the parks centers.
I watched the sun rise as I hiked along poison ridge. I had no trouble crossing Troublesome Pass. Then hiked around Haystack. When I reached the ridge again, I had lunch. Grit walked up and we climbed Parkview Mountain, 12,400 ft, as White Face and Patch followed. It was the biggest climb for me since the Winds in Wyoming. I haven’t had a day off to rest my legs since I restarted at Rawlins, WY.
I texted Bront as we hiked out of the pass. Hopefully we will meet tomorrow somewhere North of Grand Lake on the CDT. I am thirteen miles north of Hwy 34 and when he gets at the trail head he will hike north till we meet….Great. Bront is my Supply person, sending maps and food…. So excited.
The frost was heavy on my tent since we were in the open and down low next to Grizzly Creek and the road. I called out at 5:30 am to wake the boys…..Not a sound. I hooted Cock-a-doodle-do as I started the road walk back into the mountains.
Past Sheep Mtn. 26.5 Miles
I was motivated to get rolling so at 5:20 I was hiking by headlamp south two miles to highway 40. It was a little after 6:00 am and since there was no traffic, I hiked east on the road to get in some more miles. When I reached highway 14, the trail turned east. Hitching was still not the best so I turned around and started walking west towards Steamboat. Four miles later, Nate picked me up and took me to McDs for a senior coffee and big breakfast….
Wow. John and Diane, from Steamboat. They had their old backpacks from the seventies. I loved their kelty packs. 
Then Greg and Michele, from Nunn, Grouse hunting. Greg showed me two Grouse he shot with his Grandfather’s rifle….amazing.
I climbed from 8,085 ft to 10,700 ft. It’s great to be high again. Well I am in Colorado, aren’t I????. Made half of a Mountain House Chicken and Noodles with a half a ramen next to North Lake. Stopped at 6:30 since the trees stopped and the trail continued above tree line… I need a good night’s sleep…
The rain came and went all night. At one point I dreampt it was snowing…..By 6:00 am it had stopped and I packed and started hiking at 6:40 am. Due to the rain the grass was wet and my boots were soaked. Wyoming’s last hurrah.
It was sixteen miles to the border and not easy miles. Up. Down. UP. …..There was a welcome sign for Wyoming but Colorado???
I looked at the map and maybe I can make it to Steamboat Springs on the food I have. I will pass the road to Encampment this afternoon and the post office is closed.
Standard Park, 22 miles
Medicine Bow National Forest
Shelly drove me to downtown Boulder for the 9:45 bus to Denver. It was a quick turnaround, finishing in East Glacier Park on Tuesday the First. Taking Amtrak from East Glacier to Seattle. Wednesday the second, Flying from Seattle to Denver. On Thursday the third, Eating. Resuppling. Send a box to Encampment, Wy. Exchange my broken Panasonic camera. Opening and sending mail. Eating. Printing maps. Replace water filter. Replace thermarest back pad. The most important, making dinner, Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Corn, and Rice……
We had our last lunch together at the ..TM Grill. I did some last minute packing, shopping and sending cards. The train was on time and at 6:45 pm, I was riding west to Seattle. There was a narrative given by a guide as we traveled through history of the west.
Wip, who I hiked with on the AT in 2011, met me for lunch, brought me two packs of Starbucks Via Coffee packs, and drove me to the airport. It is so nice to have friends all over the US….
Bront met me at the Denver airport and Shelly made me a big salad. It’s great to be back to my Boulder Home….
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