15-09-13  Day 154  A Grand Visit – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

I knew I would be cold. I camped along a creek in a valley. The cold breeze slowly passed through the tent all night. At 5:30 am I was ready to get up and start hiking. I bypassed making coffee to get a quicker start. My college roommate and resupply point man, Bront was coming to meet me and hike into Grand Lake. I hiked late last night so I would be closer but as I looked at Lay’s Map 10, I could see that there could be A LOT of confusion meeting up on the trail.

I met Otter getting his pack stuffed. I met him long ago as we were hiking out of Leadore. It is a small world…..

I pushed hard climbing up to 11,476 ft at Bowen Pass to get phone connection. It was 11:00 am and still Twelve Miles to the trail head. Bront answered the phone….YES… He also noticed the many options and had a detailed map with even more crossing trails. WOW…. He decided to wait five hours after driving three hours for me to hike out.

I playfully sent him pictures of “North Supply 120.4  4X4” road which was steep and full of rocks. Since it was Sunday, ATVs and dirt bikes were zooming by as I descended as quickly as I could. I took screen shots of my GPS position so he decided to hike up and meet me.

At 4:00 pm. we met and went to the Sagebrush BBQ restaurant to eat. The Broncos were playing and I was in culture shock. No tv, No football since I have been on the trail.  Wow…

Bront took me to the Shadowcliff hostel and dropped me off with thicker long underwear and a food drop….I was sad to see him leave as I am getting homesick and ready to prepare to return to ???

Shadowcliff Hostel, Grand Lake, CO

17.5 Miles

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