15-09-22 Day 163 Finish Fever – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking the Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

At 5:00 am I started boiling the dozen eggs Carl gave us to eat for free….they were a day out of date, perfect for hikers. Scallywag and The Darkness started stirring so I put the coffee water on. It was a delicious breakfast. Bagels, Egg, and cheese….Yumm.. We packed up the rest of the eggs and started hiking at 7:00 am.

We had to cross the swamp at the end of Twin Lakes. There was a bridge a mile and a half down the road but who wants to hike three miles when you can walk barefoot in mud and freeze your feet right where you are.

We forded  multiple creeks and finally connected with the CDT/CT. We climbed Little Willis Gulch from 9,200 ft to 12,548 ft .

To Hope Pass. Scallywag hiked to the pass as I was hiding Oreo Cookies on the cairn for him and Dark Girl. We hugged knowing I needed to hike on.  I was sad I had to hike alone again but I have the fever…..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….

The Head waters of Illinois Creek, 28.7 miles

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