Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 25 mile

Collegiate Peaks Trail Run 25 mile

3 May 2014
Buena Vista, Colorado

Name: Elizabeth Erickson
Age/sex: 25F
BIB #: 91
Place: 130 (out of 218 finishers)
Time: 5:10:57
Pace: 12:26

Great run! My longest distance ran at this point. Beautiful weather, fantastic people, and stunning mountain scenery. Made even better by the presence of my support team/friend: Christopher Kolkema, and a post race celebratory pizza.

Horsetooth Half Marathon

Horsetooth Half Marathon

13 April 2014
Fort Collins, Colorado

Name: Elizabeth Erickson
Age/sex: 25F
BIB #: 4173
Place: 293 (out of 1072 finishers)
Division/total: 20/143
Time: 1:54:20
Pace: 8:44

Cold 40 degree weather with frozen rain sleeting at our faces most of the race. Still a fun race though! Made my fastest 13.1 mile time. Ran with a friend, Pat Kelly.

Sharin’ O’ the Green 5K

Sharin’ O’ the Green 5K

15 March 2014
Fort Collins, Colorado

name: Elizabeth Erickson
age/sex: 25F
BIB #: 1510
Place: 239 (out of 2071 finishers)
Division/Total: 21/369
Time: 25:01
Pace: 8:04

Chilly morning but lots of St. Patrick’s Day cheer. Ran with friends: Andrew Reindel, Julie Sundermann, Pat Kelly, and Sally Kelly, and had some good old fashioned fun afterwards. 🙂

Race Schedule 2014

The races are ordered by date.
Race Schedule 2014

April 13, 2014 – Horsetooth Half Marathon (13.1miles)

  • Start: Hughes Stadium, Ft. Collins, CO
  • Aid stations at 2.5, 5, 8.5, and 11.5 miles, include water and gel product.
  • Parking at starting area, Hughes Stadium. Buses provided to transport from finishing and festivities area back to parking lot (9:30-12:30)
  • Rules: No pets allowed.
  • Course Description: The Horsetooth Half Marathon begins at CSU’s Hughes Stadium and travels west and south on County Road 42C (the road running along the south side of the stadium parking lot). Proceeding on County Road 42C, then proceeding north on Centennial Drive (County Road 23), the course follows the east side of the reservoir and then continues north to Bingham Hill Road.
    Turning east on Bingham Hill Road, the course continues to Overland Trail and then turns north. Taking Overland 200 yards, across the Poudre River, and down on to the Poudre West bike trail using the west side access, the course then follows the Poudre bike trail east to Fort Collins, under College Avenue, and then to Linden Street.
    Turning north on Linden, the final 800 meters runs down to Buckingham Street where the course turns east and then to the finish on the south side of the New Belgium brewery.
  • Driving Directions: To the start: The starting line is located at CSU’s Hughes Stadium. If you’re coming from outside Fort Collins, take the Prospect Rd. exit on I-25 and go west. Follow Prospect Road through Fort Collins. Three miles after crossing College Avenue you will arrive at the Prospect and Overland Trail intersection (traffic light). Take a left (going south) on Overland Trail and after 800m you’ll see Hughes Stadium on your right.
    To the finish: The finish line is located just south of the New Belgium Brewery on Buckingham St. The Brewery is located on the northeast corner of Linden and Buckingham Streets. Parking is available in the large parking lot on the northwest corner of Linden and Buckingham. If you are coming from out of town, take the Highway 14 exit (Mulberry St.) and proceed west to College Avenue (approximately 4 miles). Turn north (right) on College Avenue through Old Town Fort Collins, across the Poudre River to Vine St. Turn east on Vine (a right turn) and drive about 500 yards to Linden St. Turn right on Linden St. and drive a few hundred yards to the Brewery which will be on the east side of the road (your left). Parking will be located on the right.
    From the starting line: leave Hughes Stadium and drive north on Overland Trail to Mulberry St. (approximately 2.5 miles) and turn east (right). Travel east on Mulberry to College Avenue and turn north (left). Follow College Avenue through Old Town Fort Collins, across the Poudre River to Vine St. Turn east on Vine (a right turn) and drive about 500 yards to Linden St. Turn right on Linden St. and drive a few hundred yards to the Brewery which will be on the east side of the road (your left). Parking will be located on the right.
  • http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com/race-information/course-map/
    http://www.horsetoothhalfmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/HHM_final-profile.pdf

May 3, 2014 – Collegiate Peaks Trail Run (25 miles)

  • Start: 715 E. Main, Community Center, Buena Vista, CO 81211. Ready at Start Line at 6:15, race start 6:30.
  • Aid stations: Located at miles: 0.0, 5.7, 11.7, 14.6, 17.9, 21.8, 25.0. The 25 mile cutoff time is 12:15.
    There are five aid stations on the course – located at roughly 4-6 mile intervals (see “Cutoff Times” below for all aid station distances). There is also an aid station at the halfway point specifically for the 50-milers.  At a minimum, each aid station is stocked with water, energy drink (Hammer Nutrition’s HEED – flavors may vary), pretzels, potato chips, cookies, M&Ms, and bananas.
  • Parking: In general, there is ample parking in and around the Community Center. Parking on Friday will be ‘at will’. However, on Saturday morning, volunteers will be on hand to direct you to appropriate spaces – please look for them and follow their directions.
  • Rules: So, with that said, crews, bicycles, pacers, supply “stashing”, ‘mechanical’ assistance (e.g. trekking poles,…), and other forms of assistance are strictly prohibited (see one exception below). There are no provisions for drop bags via aid stations on the course.  We do advise all runners to carry extra food, water, and warm clothing. While this is the ‘Banana Belt’, conditions on Race Day can be – and often are – “iffy” and ever-changing. Further, while even the race director loves nothing better than running our local trails with his dogs, it is the case that dogs (and all pets) are strictly prohibited from the race(don’t worry, they’ll be excited to see you at the finish line).
    Numbers must be pinned and clearly visible/readable on the front of each runner in order to allow for easy identification by race volunteers – and in order for you to avoid potentially being slowed down by the identification process (and, also, for runner photos).
  • Course Description: Beginning and ending near the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, the course primarily follows single-track and Jeep trails along part of the old, historic Midland Railroad as well as through other scenic areas north and east of town. Encompassing great scenery and spectacular views, much of the course runs through lands managed by the National Forest Service and/or Bureau of Land Management. Due to trail changes and/or closures instituted by those agencies, participants in 2004 were the first to enjoy a slightly different course from the one run for the previous number of years. Truly “new and improved”, the current course retains most of the previous course along with great new added segments! 25-miler’s do the loop once (clockwise) and the 50-miler’s do it twice (the second time around, counterclockwise). Very much an up-and-down course, over 2,500 feet in elevation gain / drop is delivered in each loop!
    Our practice is to provide a course marked “by runners for runners”.  Generally we use a combination of the following primary materials – flagging (usually orange), red wire flags, and flour.  A few things to keep in mind – Flagging is primary course marking;  all turns will be CLEARLY marked;  so, if you get to what looks like an intersection, do not make a turn unless is is CLEARLY marked to do so – otherwise, proceed straight ahead;  turns are generally marked “on the inside”  of the turn you’re making (e.g. for right turns, most markings on your right side – and vice versa); the red wire flags (stuck into the ground) are often used for this “inside” marking;  flour will also be used “inside” but may also be on the outside – but in all cases will normally be in the form of arrows.
    For all intents and purposes, this is a dry course.  Technically, though, there is one creek crossing – at approximately Mile 10 or 11.  There have been year’s where it takes some creativity to get across without getting wet – but those years are rare.  Normally, even when the creek is running, folks can just step or jump across.  In the most recent years, it has been essentially dry.In  case  our  topographical  course map is  difficult  to  read  or  print or  you  are  a  bit  ‘spatially challenged’ (like many of us…), the following text directions may be more helpful. Please note, these directions should NOT be considered as needed at all on Race Day. We strive to maintain what we consider to be a VERY WELL MARKED course – marked literally “by trail runners for trail runners”. Directions here are for either you over-achievers who want to come down before the  race  for  “recon/training”  runs  and/or  for  those  masochists  among  you  who  might  want  to revisit the scene of the crime sometime after the race!
    25-MILE LOOP (CLOCKWISE)
    Abbreviations:
    CR = County Road (metal, typical Colorado road signage);
    FSR = Forest Service Road (typical brown, plastic forest service free-standing-signage or, white and green signage attached to wooded posts);
    FST = Forest Service Trail (same as for FSR);
    TCMM = Total Course Mile Mark;
    RT = Right Turn
    Beginning from the community center: follow dirt/gravel road toward river; road will turn north as it leads down to the river; continue following the road past the foot-bridge that leads across the river (do NOT turn onto the foot bridge!); from the foot-bridge, road continues up a very short rise where it begins to turn left/west – at that point you will see a foot-path leading north along and above the river – follow this; at approximately  1 mile total distance from community center, you will come to an intersection on the foot-path; turn left and you should see beginning of a pave road approximately  100 yards out – head for that pavement;
    This paved road is CR 372; follow 372 approximately 200 yards until it intersects (ends) at CR 371; turn RT onto CR 371; from here, directions are as follows –ƒ
    CR 371 approximately 2 miles to CR 375; turn RT; (if you reach tunnels, you just passed 375 – go back!);
    CR 375 uphill approximately ½mile (?) until road appears to have fully topped out (“a plateau”); at this point road should take a hard left turn – at this point continue straight off of road into a very small natural parking area (space for 2-3 cars) – and you should almost immediately see sign for, and beginning of, FST 6037;
    FST 6037 to FSR 376; turn RT – and go only about 50 yards before looking for FST 1415 beginning on left side of the road;
    FST 1415 to CR 375C;ƒ
    CR 375C to CR 375 (approximately TCMM here is 6); turn RT – and go approximately ¼mile to FSR 375A;
    FSR 375A to FSR 373 (at this point 375A is ending/intersecting at 373; if you are simply running along, you should transition correctly onto 373 without any actual turn –  without even realizing it (and that’s just fine); however, for those of you really who do see the signage, DO NOT turn right onto 373);
    FSR  373  (or  still  “375A” for  those  of  you  who  didn’t  realize  the  transition) – follow several miles until intersecting/ending at FSR 311; note, as you are heading towards this intersection, you will pass by a natural stone arch way up in the rocks to left of the course somewhere around TCMM 10.8 to 11.2 – if interested, keep your eyes peeled; TCMM at intersection with 311 is 11.7; turn RT onto 311;
    FSR 311 to FSR 376; turn LFT;ƒ
    FSR  376  to  FSR  376A  (this  interesting  section  is approximately 3.5  miles  in  length –beginning  with  a  trek  through  a  usually  very  sandy  area  and  concluding  with  the famous/infamous two-mile climb up ‘Lenhardy Hill’ (all run able, but for most, a bit of a grind); top  of  hill  is  race  elevation  high  point  of  about  9400ft – and  on  race  day,  a welcomed aid station! (approximately TCMM here is 17.9); turn RT;
    FSR 376A DOWNHILL to intersection with start of FST 1450A; note, FSR 376A takes a relatively hard right turn here – DON’T go that way; instead turn slightly left straight on 1450A;
    1450A to 1450 – also known as the “Midland Trail”); while there may be little or no customary FS signage, the trail is marked with circular Midland Trail markers mounted on posts; the transition turning right onto this single track is quite natural (you very likely won’t even realize there’s a left turn option…);
    1450/Midland Trail approximately 1.5 miles to CR 304 (approximately TCMM here is 21.8); essentially continue straight forward onto CR from trail – do NOT turn left on 304;
    CR 304 approximately 2 miles – where you will see trails leading off the road – both to the right and to the left; to the right is FST 6032 – do NOT take this trail; instead take the left trail marked with Midland Trail circle on post; this is a steep 0.9mile descent down to the river and to the foot-bridge that  you passed when starting out some 3 hours earlier (o.k. for most of us mortal, non-mutants, 4 or 5 hours earlier……);
    Cross bridge, turn LEFT, and proceed back up to the community center for a well earned reward of your choosing!!!!!!!!
    Course Conditions: http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/Current-Course-Conditions
  • Driving Directions: At the stoplight (yes, we still have only one), turn east off of hwy 24 onto Main Street. Head ½ mile and look for the community center on your right – there is a playground, picnic area, and pay showers. To finish, runners simply cross the finish line pausing just long enough to collect finish medallion and for volunteers to record time. Pay showers (bring quarter supply) available at Community Center.
    http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/Big-Map
    http://www.collegiatepeakstrailrun.org/Terrain-Map-Page

June 1, 2014 – Steamboat Marathon (26.2 miles)

  • Start: 7:30 Sunday, June 1, 2014. Finish at courthouse in downtown Steamboat Springs. Bus pick up 5:45-6:15 at 8th and Oak Street to take to starting line.
  • Aid stations: Located at miles 3, 6.5, 10, 13, 15.5, 18, 20.5, 22.5, 24.5, and the finish.
  • Parking is highly limited, try near courthouse if available.
  • Rules: Cutoff at 1PM, all course support and aid ends at 1PM.
    Pets and pacers are not allowed.
    Course is USATF certified and so a Boston qualifier.
  • Course Description: Run alongside the roaring Elk River through the emerald green pastures on Country Road 129 with the snow-capped Rocky Mountains of Colorado all around and find out why the Steamboat Marathon was ranked as one of the “Top 10 Destination Marathons in North America.”
  • Driving Directions: 
    http://sscra.cms.digital-ridge.com/media/79160/Full-Marathon-Map.pdf
    http://www.steamboat-chamber.com/events-activities/steamboat-marathon-race-info

June 29, 2014 – Heart and Sole Half Marathon (13.1 miles)

    • Start: 7:15 behind Lazy Dog Saloon on 14th Street. Arrive by 6:00 at the latest.
    • Aid stations: 11 aid stations along route every ~2 miles, include: portable toilets, limited first aid, water, Powerade, Power gel, pretzels, bananas, soda.
    • Parking
    • Rules: Pets and pacers not allowed.
      Cutoff at 12:00, all course support and aid ends.
    • Course Description: The 2014 Heart & Sole Half Marathon is a USATF-sanctioned, professionally chip-timed road race, held in downtown Boulder, Colorado framed by the majestic Colorado Front Range foothills.
      When viewing course map: Course is 2 loops around the red line and and addition of the cyan loop to finish
    • Driving Directions: 
      http://heartandsolehalf.com/half-marathoncourse-map/
      Course is twice around red line in addition to cyan loop to finish.

August 16, 2014 – Grand Traverse Mountain Run (40 miles)

  • Start: 6:30 on Elk Ave in Crested Butte, CO
  • Aid stations: 5 aid stations with limited water, food and nutritional products. 1. Ferris Creek, 2. Intersection of Forest Service Trail 400 and 405, 3. Taylor Pass, 4. Barnard Hut, 5. Aspen Sundeck.
  • Parking
  • Rules: mandatory gear: 12oz water container, CORSAR card, Buff or light hat, dark sunglasses, wind shell with hood. Suggested additional gear: wind pants, sunblock, water sterilization, matches/lighter, compass and map, light gloves, trekking poles, emergency space blanket, running pack, cell phone.
    Cutoff 11AM at aid station #2 (Intersection of Forest Service Trail 400 and 405), runners will be turned around to head back to Crested Butte.
    Cutoff 2PM at aid station #3 (Taylor Pass), runners will be driven off Taylor Pass by event vehicles.
    Cutoff 7PM for race finish area.
    Runners must stay on designated trials, no short cutting.
    Grand Traverse committee has final authority on any question arisen during race. Aid stations have authority to act on behalf of Grand Traverse committee.
    Racers must leave each aid station by posted cutoff time.
    No littering.
    No stashing of supplies along course, no accepting aid except within 400 yards of designated aid stations.
    Participants will be pulled for medical or safety reasons if deemed in their best interest.
    No pacers.
  • Course Description: Runners will start on Elk Ave at 6:30AM, run to the Upper Upper Loop trail via Tony’s, over to Brush Creek Road, and out to Canal Trail. They will continue on through Death Pass (Trail 400) to Star Pass to Taylor Pass and Richmond Ridge and into the Aspen Ski Resort for the Finish at the base of Aspen Mountain.
    Starting on Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte, racers will climb more than 8,000 vertical feet in a semi supported backcountry race. Ascending both Star (12,507’) and Taylor Pass (11,928’), athletes will traverse the Elk Mountain Range on there way to an exciting finish at the base of Aspen Ski Mountain.
    The weather is a dominant factor for this run and can be as formidable as the terrain, the remoteness and the high altitude. Realize that late August thunderstorms are widespread. If you are pinned down, chances are that other runners are, too. Your position in the field will probably not change. Use the time wisely – eat, drink, stay warm, and rest. You will be able to run faster when the storm has passed. The course ranges from 7,907ft – 12,100ft, be prepared and train hard for this; especially if you are training at a low altitude.
  • Driving Directions: 
    http://www.elkmountainstraverse.com/wp-content/uploads/summer-map-800x1121.jpg
    http://www.elkmountainstraverse.com/test-photo-gallery-gt-mountain-run/run-profile-2

September 13, 2014 – Run Rabbit Run (50 miles)

  • Start: 6AM in front of The Bear, Steamboat Springs, CO. Must check in by 5:45. Coffee, water, Succeed, bathrooms available at start.
  • Aid stations: Located at miles 0 (bag), 6.4, 13.2, 18.4 (bag), 22.3, 25, 27.7, 31.6 (bag), 36.8, 42.6, 50 (bag).
    This is an out and back course.   The course goes up Mount Werner, and then goes right to Rabbit Ears before turning around.  It doesn’t get any prettier than that.  We think right now it’s just about exactly 50 miles – we ain’t making it longer so you think it’s harder.  It’s hard enough the way it is.  There will be aid stations at Mt. Werner (mile 6.4 and 43.6), Long Lake (approx. mile 13.2 and 36.8), Base Camp (approx. mile 18 and 32), and Old Rabbit Ears Pass-Dumont (maybe miles 22 and 28).  Depending on the weather, we will either have a volunteer who has obviously lost his marbles to check you in or a punch card at the turnaround at Rabbit Ears (mile 25).  Drop bags will be permitted only at Base Camp (mile 18 and 32).  There is also easy spectator and crew access at Old Rabbit Ears-Dumont.  We will try to get the drop bags returned to the Bear as quickly as we can, but they’ll have to be picked up by Sunday at 10:00 am at the latest.  If not, it goes to charity.  Or the circular file.  For an Aid Station chart with mileages and cutoffs, click 50 Mile Aid Stations, Mileage and Cutoffs.
    Only the aid station at Old Rabbit Ears Pass (miles 22 and 28, which we also call “Dumont”) will have crew or spectator access. To get there, take Highway 40 east from Steamboat up Rabbit Ears Pass.  Before reaching the East Summit you will see a sign on your left for the Dumont Campground.  Turn left.  Follow this paved road past the turnoff for the campground.  You will see a large rock monument on your left (about a mile from HWY 40).  Turn left. That’s where the aid station will be.  We hope.
    All aid stations will be stocked with at least Succeed and water, Honey Stinger waffles and chews, a cola and a non-cola beverage, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, turkey and cheese wraps or sandwiches, potato chips, cookies, some fruit and carrots.  If there are other items runners really want, let us know and if there’s enough demand, we’ll put it there.  We won’t put anything there though that might cause a litter problem – like Gu packets.  Aid stations will be manned by friendly, smiling volunteers, who will grin and hopefully do whatever they can to help you finish, but beware – those grins may be those that people reserve when they think they are dealing with the seriously deranged.  Smile back, say thank you and be kind.  They are volunteers.
    You all probably know this, but we’ll say it again:  Our insurance makes us promise that before we can shut down an aid station, every single last bunny rabbit be accounted for.  Please, please, please check in at every aid station, and in the very unlikely event you can’t finish and are forced to quit, make absolutely sure someone at an aid station knows about it.
  • Parking: There is very limited free two hour parking right near the start for those with family or friends dropping them off for the race.  There is also free all day public parking at the Knoll parking lot maybe ¼ mile away and there is free parking across from the Grand, right near the finish.  The Sheraton and the Grand, very close to the start, have all day parking for $10 per day and there should be some free (but not overnight) parking across from the Sheraton as well.  Those staying at our sponsor the Torian will have free parking in the Torian garage.
  • Rules: Limit 15 hours.
    The race will start in the dark so you will need a flashlight or headlamp, at least for a little while.  Please put your race number on your light so you can leave it at Mt. Werner aid station (approximately mile 6.2) or at Long Lake. Or we may have someone a few miles up the trail who’ll bring your flashlight down.  If you leave it at Mt. Werner though you can pick it up for the hop down the mountain in the dark, or we will return it to the finish.  If you have been really enjoying the views or spending a lot of time munching on the wildflowers so your pace has been more leisurely, you also might want to leave a flashlight at the Long Lake aid station, about 13 miles from the finish.
    If you ran our race before you know that the weather may be unpredictable, with rain or snow not out of the question:  please plan ahead.  Please be nice to all the volunteers, and if you see Harvey out there, please say hi and give him a big hug: it’s lonely being a pooka.  Please be nice to the environment.  Please be nice to each other.  And please have fun.
    No pacers, trekking poles, littering, cutting off course.
    Cutoffs: mile 27.7 at 14:30, mile 31.6 at 16:00, mile 36.8 at 17:30, mile 42.6 at 19:30, mile 50 at 21:00.
  • Course Description: The course is a spectacular 50 mile run through the beautiful mountains and fall colors of the Routt National Forest of northern Colorado. The 50 mile race starts bright and early at the Steamboat Springs ski area (elevation, 6,900 feet) on Saturday, September 13, 2014 and proceeds up, up, up to Mount Werner (elevation, 10,568 feet) then goes up and down and up and down some more and then across the Continental Divide to Rabbit Ears Mountain (elevation, 10,500 feet) before heading back and way down to the ski area.  It will be tough. Approximately 9,000 feet of climbing.
    We will try to have all runners issued Colorado rescue hiking permits.  We promise that the course will be well marked with nice colored ribbons so no one should get lost.  If you fall and hurt yourself please stay where you are and don’t try to short cut your way back.  We will have sweeps to make sure that all runners are accounted for. WARNING:  The course is not closed so others may be using it, such as hikers and mountain bikers.  Please be courteous.  It is also hunting season in Colorado so while we welcome and encourage (really encourage) bright colors and clever costumes, dressing as an elk may not be the brightest of ideas.  And please, no walking or hiking poles.  We don’t like them on an out and back course, especially on single track.Section 1: Starting at the base of the ski area (outside of the Bear River Bar and Grill where packet pickup will take place), ascend Burgess Creek to ‘Why Not’ access road to Rainbow Saddle, past the Four Points Hut.  Join the Storm Peak Challenge summer trail (rough two track) to the top of Storm Peak and the Mount Werner aid station. There is approximately 3,600 feet of elevation gain along this 6.4 mile section.
    Section 2: From the Mt. Werner aid station join Mountain View Trail (FS Trail 1032). Descend the ridge off Mt. Werner with beautiful views of the meadows of Hogan Park to the south and the rocky peaks of the Zirkel Wilderness to the north. This is single track. A short steep descent at the end of the Mountain View Trail will bring you to a trail junction with the Fish Creek Falls Trail (FS Trail 1102). Take a right onto 1102 (heading east).   You will quickly arrive at Long Lake. Rounding the north shore of Long Lake to the Long Lake aid station. There is about 700 feet of gain and 1,200 feet of loss along this 6.8 mile section.
    Section 3: From the Long Lake aid station continue east along the Fish Creek Falls trail for approximately 1.3 miles to the four way intersection with the Wyoming Trail, FS Trail 1101. Take a right (heading south) on the Wyoming Trail. Another beautiful section of trail awaits. As you run south through open meadows and old growth spruce, fir, and pine forests, keep an eye out for Lake Elmo. Stay straight through the junction with Lost Lake and you will quickly come upon Fishhook Lake. Much like Mountain View, this is rolling singletrack. A quick descent down the Fishhook drainage will lead to a modest climb up to the Base Camp Trailhead aid station. This 5.2 mile section of trail has 550 feet of gain and 450 feet of loss.
    Section 4: From the Base Camp aid station head southeast along the Base Camp Road (FS Road 311) for about 1/2 mile to the junction with the Wyoming Trail, FS Trail 1101. This right hand turn on 1101 will be well marked but please don’t miss it. Follow the 1101 trail to a short, steep descent to a stream crossing. Cross the stream, continue along the 1101, and look out for Dumont Lake below you. The trail follows an old ditch above the lake for almost a mile until you come upon the Dumont Campground. There is a short section of dirt road on the outskirts of the campground. Look out for a hiker sign on your left, again this will be well marked. Take this left, and follow to the Dumont aid station. This is a short section, about 3.9 miles, with about 100 feet of gain and 550 feet of loss.
    Section 5: From the Dumont aid station head to Grizzly Creek Road, FS Road 291. Follow this rough jeep road as it climbs steadily uphill to the base of the Rabbit Ears. At the end of this road you can literally reach out and touch them. A volunteer will be at the turnaround to punch your bib, otherwise there is no aid here, other than the terrific views of the Gore Range, Rawahs, Flattops, and Rabbit Ears Pass area. Catch your breath, turn around, and pound back down to the Dumont Aid Station. This 5.4 mile section has approximately 1000 feet of gain and loss.
    Section 6: This is the reverse of Section 4. Follow the 1101 from Dumont along the lake back up to the Base Camp Road (311). Take a left onto Base Camp Road and follow it for about a half mile back to the Base Camp aid station. 3.9 miles, 550 feet of gain, 100 feet of loss.
    Section 7: This is the reverse of Section 3. Follow the 1101 out of Base Camp down to the Fishhook drainage, then climb back up to Fishhook Lake. Go straight through the junction for Lost Lake, then take a left at the four way intersection with the Fish Creek Falls Trail, FS Trail 1102. Follow this trail for 1.3 miles back to the Long Lake aid station. 5.2 miles, 450 feet of gain, 550 feet of loss.
    Section 8: This is the reverse of Section 2. Follow the 1102 out of the aid station back along the shores of Long Lake. From the aid station it is .8 miles to the trail junction with the Mountain View Trail (FS Trail 1032). Take a left onto the Mountain View Trail, and follow it as it climbs back up the ridge to the Storm Peak aid station at the top of the Steamboat Ski area. 6.8 miles, 1,200 feet of gain, 700 feet of loss.
    Section 9: From the top of the ski area, follow the Storm Peak Challenge trail (rough two track) back down to the Four Points hut, Rainbow Saddle, and eventually the Why Not access road. Why Not will graciously take you back down to the base of the ski area, the finish line, pizza and beer. 6.4 miles, 3,600 feet of loss.
  • Driving Directions: To get to The Bear, drive up Werner Road to the ski basin, towards Gondola Square.  If you’ve parked at the (free) Gondola Square Parking Garage (opposite the Sheraton), follow the signs to Gondola Square.  Look for the gondola and then look left. The Bear is right opposite the gondola.  If you’re staying at the Torian, well, The Bear is a short walk down the path to the gondola.
    http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/50-Mile-Aid-Stations-Mileage-and-Cutoffs3.pdf

    http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/50-mile-course-description-2

    http://runrabbitrunsteamboat.com/50-mile-course-description-2

October 11-12, 2014 – 24 Hours of Boulder Endurance Race (24 hours or 100 miles)

  • Start: 9:00AM on Saturday, Oct 11, 2014.
    Finish by 9:00/15:00 on Sunday, Oct 12, 2014.
  • Aid stations: 2 stations: Base Camp (start/finish) and half-way mark.
    Water and food may be supplied to any racer, by anyone, anywhere on the course. However, racers must stay well clear of the course when taking food or water. A strict Leave No Trace policy will be implemented. There will be an aid station with water, sports drink and energy gels halfway through the course.
    We will provide hot food throughout the night at the Base Camp and Hammer Gel and Hammer Heed/water will be provided at aid stations.
  • Parking
  • Rules: Pacers are allowed for solo 24 Hour runners and 100 milers only, starting at 7:00 pm on Saturday. All pacers must check in at the registration table.
    Although everyone is welcome, the team captain and solo runners must attend the pre-race meeting.
    Racers must log-in on each lap at the Base Camp located at the Start/Finish area. The team baton must be passed from one racer to the other within site of the timing official. There will be a running clock, therefore the lap splits will run from lap-end time to lap-end time. It is the team’s responsibility to verify that each racer is logged-out correctly. Each racer must clearly state your number and wait until the race official acknowledges that your time and number are recorded. There will also be a number check at the aid station. Time will not be logged and baton transfers are not allowed at this checkpoint. It is important that you check in at the aid station or your lap will not count.
    Racers must display their race numbers at all times.
    While running a lap, racers must stay on the designated course. Any racer that goes off the designated course (i.e. shortcutting) will result in a disqualification of that racer and team.
    Racers entering the course two hours before sunset on Saturday and up to one-half hour before sunrise on Sunday must carry a light source and it must be in good working order. Racing with lights out is permitted but all runners must have some sort of lighting affixed to the outside of their clothing while light is off (i.e. glow stick). The course will be marked with reflective tape. We suggest using a headlamp or a handheld light that can be raised to eye level for night time navigation in order to maximize the reflective tape.
    Solo 24 Hours racers will not be entered into the 100 mile standings.
    All 100 milers finishing before the 24 hour mark will be included in the 24 Hour awards at 9:30. All others will be given their awards as they cross the finish line.
    Come race in your best Halloween costume and win a prize. Costumes will be voted on at the awards ceremony and a prize will be given to the crew member and runner with the best costume. Runners must complete at least one full lap in their costume.
  • Course Description: 7.14 mile lap (lap 14 ends at exactly 100 miles) with approximately 100 feet gain per lap with an aid station at approximately 3.5 miles. There will be approximately 1,400′ for the 100 mile category.
    This race is a fast flat course. The course is an even mix of pavement, dirt road and smooth single track with a stunning view of Boulder’s front range. And after each 7.14 mile lap, you’ll return to Base Camp, complete with lots of food choices and the tent city with easy access to your gear, team and crew.
    Race under the sun and stars in the running mecca of Boulder, Colorado. 24 Hours of Boulder is a series of endurance races that brings out the sense of adventure, stubborn determination and fun in every competitor!
  • Schedule: Saturday, Oct 11
    6:30-8:30 packet pick-up
    8:45 pre race meeting
    9:00 race begins
    19:00 pacers allowed for solar runners
    Sunday, Oct 12
    9:00 last lap for 24 hour race
    9:30 awards for 24 hours and 100 milers finishing before 9:00
    15:00 100 mile cutoff
  • Driving Directions: Directions from Denver
    I-25 N / US-87 N
    Merge onto US-36 W via EXIT 217 on the LEFT toward WESTMINSTER / BOULDER.18.1 miles
    Merge onto FOOTHILLS PKWY / CO-157 N toward C U STADIUM. 4.9 miles
    FOOTHILLS PKWY / CO-157 N becomes CO-119 N / DIAGONAL HWY. .2 miles
    Turn right on N. 51st Street 1.1 miles
    Turn Right in the Boulder Reservoir past gate/entrance to Main Beach parking lot. Registration will be at the beach house.http://www.mapmyrun.com/us/gunbarrel-co/24-hours-of-boulder-course-route-10223587

Ultra Running

With the noticeable lengthening of daylight time at the end of each day, I have begun plans for this summer’s adventures. The winner of “what venture I will take up this time” lottery is… ULTRA RUNNING. I am not historically a runner. In fact, I can truly say that my running debut began two years ago when I realized how much happier my body was when I ran/walked more than a single mile. That said, I am trying to set my ambitions high. Last summer I succeeded in reaching a point where I could run 6-12 miles every day with my down days filled in with hiking. The longest distance I have ever ran is approximately 16 miles. So this summer I am going to work my way up to a 50 mile endurance run. And if everything goes well, I may enter into a final endurance run or either 24 hours or 100 miles. I am going to see how the rest goes before I try and become too ambitious though.

As I have only just begun my inquiries into this venture, I have little to say as of yet. However, I have finalized my running agenda and it is as follows:
April 12, 2014 – Horsetooth Half Marathon (13.1 mi) ->Ft. Collins, CO
May 3, 2014 – Collegiate Peaks Trail Run (25 mi) ->Buena Vista, CO
June 1, 2014 – Steamboat Marathon (26.2 mi) ->Steamboat Springs, CO
June 29, 2014 – Heart and Sole Half Marathon (13.1 mi) ->Boulder, CO
August 16, 2014 – Grand Traverse Mountain Run (40 mi) ->Crested Butte, CO
September 13, 2014 – Run, Rabbit, Run Endurance Run (50 mi) ->Steamboat Springs, CO
and still pending…
October 11, 2014 – 24 Hours of Boulder Endurance Race (either 24 hours or 100 mi) ->Boulder, CO
I have officially registered for all the events outside the 24 Hours of Boulder Endurance Run. I also have an extensive collection of information about each of those races already collected. In a rough format currently, that information can be viewed here.

Winter Skiing Adventures

Since there is little I love more than spending time in the mountains, I decided to continue my peak enjoyment during the next few winter months. The result was the purchase of a lift pass for unlimited winter skiing (and possibly ventures into snowboarding). My skiing history is brief, I went maybe a couple times a year at spring break while growing up. I haven’t been in over seven years. Yet now I have gone twice and am picking things up fast (or at least feel that I am). The goal is to go as often as possible, with fun and safety being my top priorities. I am also interested in dabbling into the realm of snowboarding. I have only tried once and spent the majority of my time on my butt. However, that was only messing around on the hill behind dorms at my college. If I make a go at it now, I will get a lesson the first time or two.

Anyways, I am not sure how much updating of skiing adventures I will post, but thought I would at least put word out that life hasn’t stopped so neither has my keenness for motion. Below is some information on the pass I bought and the mountains I will be conquering this winter.

My Pass:  Epic Pass

Perks: Unlimited access to the resorts listed below (Colorado only. There are other resorts all over the world, but Colorado is my primary focus for the obvious reason that I live there.). I also have six SWAF (Ski With A Friend) discounted lift tickets for any resort of my choosing and EpicMix. Beyond the unlimited access to the resorts, EpicMix is my favorite feature. Through your pass it tracks where you skied, the days you skied, your vertical feet, and there are people running around with cameras to take photos of you that are automatically linked to your profile. The photo part is the primary reason I like it. Anyone can have their picture taken, in whatever creative pose you want, and they are usually posted at the top of the mountain for great views. No more finding a stranger to remove gloves and snap a blurry cell phone image. The tracking is not entirely accurate of course. Short cutting midway down back up to the top to skip lines at the bottom of a run do not quite register. But overall it is cool to have a record to look back on.

“Vail Ski Resort is the largest single resort in the United States with 5,289 acres of the most diverse and expansive skiing in the world, blessed with over 300 days of sunshine a year.

Vail Mountain is accessed by three base areas: Lionshead, Vail Village, and Golden Peak. Lionshead is home to the Eagle Bahn Gondola and Born Free Express (Chair 8). Mountain access out of Vail Village is via Vail’s new state of the art gondola, “One”. Golden Peak is home to the Riva Bahn Express (Chair 6), accessing the terrain park and Northwoods Chair 11, and the race course. Also at Golden Peak is Chair 12, the Gopher Hill Ski School beginner lift.

The Front Side of Vail is home to the most groomed terrain on the planet. Wide, long runs such as Riva Ridge, Born Free, and Simba, Lodgepole, and Bear Tree are popular. Check the daily grooming report for up to date info on where the best places are to ski groomed terrain. The Front Side is also home to Kid’s Adventure Zones, three Terrain Parks including Golden Peak Terrain Park, home of a 22 foot half pipe and site of theBurton US Open Snowboarding Championships, Game Creek Bowl, The EpicMix race course, and mountain dining restaurants at Eagles Nest (including Bistro Fourteen), Mid-Vail, the 10th, and Larkspur at the base of Golden Peak.

The World Famous Back Bowls offer wide open skiing and amazing views. Start by exploring Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls, and work your way back to China and Teacup Bowls. China Bowl offers the only groomed blue run runs in the Back Bowls (access from Front Side via Sourdough Express #14). If you are feeling adventurous, make your way all the way out to Siberia Bowl and the surface T-Bar style lift #22 and Inner and Outer Mongolia Bowls!

Not enough terrain for you yet? Follow signage from Patrol Headquarters back to the three high speed quad lifts and Blue Sky Basin. Ski the steep and snow filled sections under Skyline Express #36, or explore the runs on Pete’s and Earl’s Express lifts (#38 and #39), named after Vail’s founders Pete Seibert and Earl Eaton. With so many options, it’s no wonder that so many people choose a Vail season pass. All this mountain simply can’t be conquered in one visit!” (citation)
trail maps

“If World Cup racers refer to Beaver Creek as their favorite place to compete, maybe there is something you should know when you plan a ski trip to Beaver Creek.

Every year, athletes and spectators alike migrate to our mountain top resort for the Birds of Prey Men’s World Cup. But that is only a slice of what Beaver Creek Resort has to offer. From the gentle, manicured slopes of Bachelor Gulch, to the open intermediate trails of Larkspur and Rose Bowl, to the steep bumps of Grouse Mountain, skiers and riders of all abilities will feel at home on our mountain.” (citation)
trail maps

“With five huge peaks spanning 2,908 acres, Breckenridge skiing has something for all abilities and interests. Every beginner and intermediate trail is groomed nightly so you can enjoy endless turns throughout your day. Or, ride North America’s highest chairlift, the Imperial Express, up to the high alpine bowls for unforgettable views and steeps. If you’re looking for terrain parks, Breckenridge has four—one for every skill level.” (citation)
trail maps

“At 11,640 feet, Dercum Mountain is home to long green and blue runs and perfect groomers to keep you cruising all day. This is a great place to start for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. For the daring, A51 Terrain Park invites you to show off your skills. Named top-ranked parks by Freeskier and Transworld Magazines, this is the place to be for shredders and jibbers. If tree skiing is what you’re after, you can access The Windows – truly legendary tree skiing. High above the green and blue runs, you’ll find Bergman, Erikson and Independence Bowls – the perfect opportunity for guided CAT skiing tours. And, you can take a Mountain-Top Snowcat Tour from the top of Dercum to Independence Bowl for a breathtaking scenic journey.

Rising to 11,660 feet, this is the place for skiers and riders that love long trails full of bumps. Flex your skills on a variety of blue intermediate and black expert runs. At the top of North Peak is The Outpost, home to every dining experience you could want. Experience award-winning cuisine at Alpenglow Stube. Family fun at Der Fondue Chessel. And, a variety of delicious options at the Timber Ridge Food Court.
Our tallest mountain, The Outback peaks at 11,980 feet. Blue intermediate and black expert skiers and riders will find plenty of long, well-groomed runs here, powder and bumps. As a bonus, there is some of Colorado’s best tree skiing in the North and South Bowls. You can hike or take The Outback shuttle to access these epic bowls.

Flex your skills at Keystone’s A51 Terrain Park – named one of the best in North America. Take a dedicated chair lift to the park and spend the day on rails, jumps, jibs, in the pipe and more. There are features for every level, so it’s an awesome place to hang with your friends. The park is well groomed and always changing. And, it’s Colorado’s only night park. Come try out one of North America’s best parks.
The most epic way to see Keystone is with Keystone Adventure Tours. In the comfort of a heated snow cat, you’ll travel above the tree line to 12,000 feet for a view of Keystone like you’ve never seen. A full-day CAT skiing tour into Independence Bowl is complete with guides to show you the best runs and catered lunch in our warming hut. Spend the day riding or skiing through untracked terrain. This will be journey you won’t soon forget.” (citation)
trail maps

“The Legend isn’t any ordinary ski mountain; we earned our reputation from decades of pioneering and experience. With a summit elevation of 13,050 feet, visit the Swiss Alps right here in the Colorado Rockies. Set at the base of the Continental Divide on Loveland Pass, A-Basin offers over 100 expertly carved trails, boasting above-timberline bowls and deep powder stashes. Whether you’re interested in groomed cruiser runs or if chutes and glades are more your style, the Basin has it! Elevate your experience this winter and see why Arapahoe Basin is called the Legend.

Since 1946, Arapahoe Basin has been serving up a fantastic ride for skiers and riders from Colorado and all over the world. We’re often the first in Colorado to open – if not the nation – and the last in Colorado to close. Arapahoe Basin receives over 350 inches of snowfall annually.

Our amazing mountain has been rocking wintertime adventurers for 67 years now. We work hard to preserve the mountain’s natural beauty and take steps to see that our patrons do so as well.

From a total of 1200 skiers during its first season aided by nothing but a tow-rope and a military transport truck to haul them to the base, Arapahoe Basin now sports 109 trails and multiple chairlifts, stunning over 400,000 skiers per season!” (citation)

trail maps

“Eldora is your backyard Ski Area. Located just 21 miles from Boulder and 45 miles from Denver – Eldora is close enough to make getting here easy. Relaxed. Unpretentious. Real. With something for everyone – steeps, bumps, glades, a terrain park, a world-class Nordic Center and groomed corduroy for cruising. And don’t forget our acclaimed Children’s Center where we make learning to ski or snowboard fun! Eldora also features free close-in parking and RTD bus service that drops you off only 50 feet from the lift.

Eldora is best known for its diverse terrain, cross-country center and outstanding children’s SnowSports school.” (citation)trail maps

With the ski season barely opened, I am already excited to get out on these mountains!

Lessons Learned

As expected, I’ve gained some valuable thru hiking knowledge from this trip. That was essentially the point of a shorter hike, I suppose, to build my confidence and abilities for application to other hiking ventures of grander scales. Things I will change and/or hone in on before my next thru hike:

  • Socks dedicated solely for sleeping in. No one wants cold feet at night, especially if that means wearing the wet socks from the past three days of rain. Might go with compression style too, just to keep circulation up at night. I want my feet to have all the luxury and comfort as possible, they dictate forward progress more than any other thing. 
  • Shorts and thermal tights combo in place of hiking pants. I will miss my cargo pocket, but after walking all day in the rain it would be fantastic to have dry pants to change into. Plus wet thermals will still be warmer and lighter than wet hiking pants. 
  • Some combination of tarp-tent. I like the, possibly false, sense of security with a completely enclosed structure. And I will preference Cuban fiber over silnylon, which seems to hold moisture. 
  • More creative and healthy meal plan. It took two weeks for me to feel the same hunger I have in day to day life sans 25 miles of hiking. During week three I only wanted a regular amount of food. Not until the end of my hike did I gain the hunger associated with thru hiking. No hunger creates a problem when you need food for fuel but cannot motivate yourself to eat what you have. I tired of junk food quickly and found myself simply not eating the less desirable items except as a last resort. This will simply need more work to know my trail food preferences. 
  • Hiking with a companion/s. I definitely prefer the company of at least one other person over being alone all the time. This is mostly the case at night while camping. Unless well matched in pace and endurance, actually hiking with someone is not as convenient nor realistic as having someone to camp with. I found it difficult to perform anything long term other than my own pace, set by my moment to moment physical capacities. 
  • If given a full day, even with plenty of breaks and a leisurely pace, I will make about 25 miles. I can manage higher 30’s but not for extended, consecutive days. In honesty, I liked setting overall mileage goals so that 25 miles is my day to day average while the actual tally ranges from 20 to 35. You can never anticipate the lightening storm in a pass, heavy rain coupled with wind and chill, and whatever else may impede your forward progress. Plus zeros or neros are fantastic. 
  • Hike your own hike. I met a lot of thru hiking neophytes through well seasoned veterans, and everyone has advice and hiking preferences. That is the best part about hiking. You start at A, end at B, and the purpose is the journey. Of course you should try new techniques, styles, goals, etc., and always make minor alterations to keep things fresh. But in the end, only you should dictate how you want to hike because why hike at all if not for your own achievements and pleasures. 
  • Embrace the hiking community. With my misanthropic tendencies, I habitually take the role of observer in new settings and when meeting new people. However, I discovered that hiking is neutral ground. People do not ask the petty, volatile, or controversial questions, so you can create connections based solely on people in their basic state, on who they are as a person. Prejudices and stigmas run more along the lines of opinions on ultralight versus traditional, stove versus cookless, or tarp versus tent. Not that I am suggesting we should avoid conversation about subjects that separate us or create room for conflict, in fact I quite enjoy the role of devil’s advocate in my normal life, but there is shroud of serenity and ease over the people you encounter on the trails and the people who support the people on the trails. You all have hiking in common and that is sufficient to allow bonds amongst people of all shape, size, gender, color, creed, ability, etc. I found the hikers, trail angels, townspeople along the route, and others interested in my hike, to be amicable, generous, and engaging. 

I am sure there are lots of things I have taken away from this experience that I am leaving out, but these were the big things or more germane lessons I wanted to accomplish.

The Final Mileage

My official CT mileage log.

Day One: 23 mi
Day Two: 26 mi
Day Three: 27 mi
Day Four: 28 mi
Day Five: 19.5 mi, morning in Breckenridge
Day Six: 22.5 mi
Day Seven: 25 mi
Day Eight: 32 mi
Day Nine: 27 mi
Day Ten: 22.5 mi, afternoon in Salida

Day Eleven: Zero, all day Salida
Day Twelve: 37 mi
Day Thirteen: 37.5 mi and getting lost
Day Fourteen: 20 mi
Day Fifteen: 30 mi and San Luis Peak (14014′)
Day Sixteen: 22.5 mi
Day Seventeen: 25 mi, afternoon in Silverton
Day Eighteen: 15.5 mi, morning in Silverton
Day Nineteen: 37 mi
Day Twenty: 22 mi and Durango!
485 miles of the CT complete!

The final leg!

Day Eighteen: 28 August 2013
Start: 410.5 miles 2:15PM 75 degrees
End:426 miles 7 PM Cascade Creek (10904′)
15.5 miles
Lowest elevation: 10800′
Highest elevation: 12400′

So I ended up leaving my trekking poles in the car of the guys who gave me a ride to Silverton from the trailhead. Anyone who owns trekking poles can verify that they are not cheap items, thus I was not willing to give up on them so easily. I did not know where the guys were staying last night, but I did know they would be back on trail today. My solution was to wait until late afternoon to get back on trail, insuring they would have already started and I would be able to catch them. The outcome: I found them within a few miles, hurray!, but they had left them with the mom who had picked them up, boo! We had a delightful afternoon shower, accompanied by lightening, so I opted for camping with the guys that night to guarantee the use of a trekking pole for my tarptent. It was nice to have company for the night. Of the three guys, I am camped with Robert and Herb. The third, Tony, went ahead to log more miles. Robert and Herb are planning a five day finish, Tony a four day finish, and I am planning a three day finish. Robert’s mother is the woman and vehicle who picked us all up at the trailhead for Silverton. Fortunately, she lives in Durango and I can be reunited with my trekking poles when I finish the hike! The guys all started at different times and hike different speeds, but had made a little group and traveled a short while together. All of us are first time thru hikers. 
Silverton is actually a great little place. It is definitely reliant on tourism from the twice daily train out of Durango, but sweet nonetheless. I also quite enjoyed the hostel experience because of the manager, Julian, and my hiking buddy, Joe. Joe and I were the only two guests, so I would have been very alone if he hadn’t decided to spend a few days in Silverton. Julian was incredibly nice. He drove out to the trailhead to pick up Joe last night, he drove me out today, and will drive Joe out tomorrow. He also let me use the hostel washer and dryer for my clothes. This morning, Joe and Julian went together to cut wood for the hostel furnaces. Also, Julian has a <2 year old dog, Valor. He is possibly the best behaved dog I have ever met. 
Today it hit me that my trip is winding down. I am in self sabotage mode: leaving my trekking poles and today almost losing my map book at the coffee shop. This is my second to last night. With the delay I will have to make up mileage over the next two days. The surreal count down has begun and I feel as though I have only just come to terms with being out and away. I suppose these feelings and transitions are why the longer trails (PCT, AT, CDT, etc) are so much more fulfilling. I would have had months to find my pace, gain comfort being alone and camping, pushing myself, building bonds with strangers, and experiencing new things. Every day is an adventure regardless.
Day Nineteen: 29 August 2013
Start: 426 miles 7:30AM 55 degrees
End: 463 miles 7:30 PM Kennebec TH (11635′)
37 miles
Lowest elevation: 10388′
Highest elevation: 12264′
It did not rain last night. It was actually a beautiful, star filled night. Yesterday’s afternoon shower was the only bad weather. I slept wonderfully and headed out strong this morning. I caught Tony quickly and we pretty much stayed together until lunch time when we reached the last water for a 22 mile stretch. I did not want to stop until reaching the next water at Taylor Lake. Tony only wanted to make another ten miles or so. By 2PM I was 19 miles down when rain broke out. This would not have necessarily have been eventful if I was not spending the whole day walking along mountain ridges and to my right was a lightening storm. I waited out the worst of the rain, but I did not want to risk being stuck in lightening and continued forward through the rain to put as much distance between myself and the storm. Despite having a fair amount of rain interactions over the last three weeks, I have had hardly any lightening. Yesterday and today had afternoon lightening and rain. I suppose it is only fitting to go out with a bang right? 
I made my desired mileage to Taylor Lake, only to be pushed off my camp spot by a bear hanging out among the willow bushes. I continued another 1.5 miles down trail to the next viable place, a trailhead parking lot. Since I did not find people and do not have my trekking poles, I need a flat spot near a tree to fasten to my tarptent. After setting up camp and crawling in for the night, I heard another large animal stomp the ground not far from me. I was of course instantly paranoid and knew it had to be another bear. I continued to hear noises but decided I was being harassed by a raccoon or similar, pesky rodent. (Though the next morning I did find fresh bear droppings not 20 feet from my resting spot…)

Day Twenty: 30 August 2013
Start: 463 miles 7:30AM 50 degrees
End:485 miles 2:30 PM Durango (6512′)
22 miles
Lowest elevation: 6977′
Highest elevation: 11750′

My last day. I hit the trail this morning ready to crank out my last miles and finish strong. My body had a different plan, however, and started resisting forward progress a mere four miles into the day. After all the hard work and other struggles I have put my body through over the last three weeks, I wanted a grander finale. I wanted to go skipping into Durango, full of energy and happy as a lark. Instead I was simply exhausted and ready to be finished. I did meet the Vice Chairman, Jerry Brown, of The Colorado Trail Foundation, at the Durango Trailhead. He recognized me as a thru hiker and congratulated me on my accomplishment. I was oddly satisfied with that interaction since I was again near a city with lots of outdoor enthusiasts, making my presence on the trial a common site. When coming in and out of high traffic areas, I occasionally had a feeling of insignificance. While out alone, you gain a sense of power and accomplishment. You are doing something that few people dare even attempt. But when you are surrounded by other out door enthusiasts, you somehow become invisible. I am not expressing my sentiments with much clarity ha. I suppose I am trying to make a connection of how strong and empowered hiking makes you feel when you are alone and in solitude, but once you are with people again, the whole venture seems irrelevant. 
I am finished and it feels great to be done. My feet are ready to rest and heal. I met Robert’s mother in Durango to retrieve my trekking poles and she generously took my to lunch. I have been so fortunate in all the interactions I have had on my hike. There are so many wonderful, kind, generous people in the world. I am delighted that so many seem to be related to the hiking/outdoor world. I am staying tonight with one such individual, Mike Kelly. Whom provided a hot shower, washing machine, and comfortable place to sleep. He even helped me get a ride back to Denver, removing the need to hitch hike. 

Day Twenty-one: 31 August 2013
Durango to Westminster

I slept like I had not slept in months. And of course I was starving when I did wake. I went to Doughworks. Amazing! Breakfast burrito, french toast, and maple long john. Followed by a chai and cookie at a coffee shop. My hunger only just began to set in a couple days ago, just in time for me to be off trail. It is a bit strange to be finished. 

Silverton, CO, resupply done. Next stop Durango!

What a rush. Only 75 miles to go. I cannot wrap my mind around how close I am to the end. As with all things coming to a close, bitter sweet feelings flood the thought process. The last six days below:

Day Twelve: 22 August 2013
Start: 252.5 miles 7AM 60 degrees
End: 289 + 0.5 miles (camp side trip) 7:30PM Baldy Lake (11000′)
37 miles
Lowest elevation: 8800′
Highest elevation: 12000′
I feel the need to reflect on Salida a bit more. It is actually a neat little town. About 50% of employment is tourism based but a significant part of the rest is self-employed and small business of an eclectic nature. The hostel, Simple Lodge & Hostel, is fantastic! A lot of hikers and cyclists (road and mountain), but also other random travelers looking for a budget option. Hostels are incredibly underrepresented and under appreciated in the US, so it is awesome to find these little gems. I won’t go into detail about the people I met here, but with my zero day I had the opportunity to meet CT nobos and sobos, all with different backgrounds, hiking experience, and stories. There were some Continental Divide riders doing a mountain bike alternative. Other cyclists going cross country. In particular I met a woman named Judy Gross from North Carolina, who owns and runs Light Heart Gear, she hand makes ultra-light backpacking tents. I also met a guy named Venture who stayed the night before with Dirt Monger after we split at my Hwy 50 resupply exit.
As for my leisure time, it was wonderful to do absolutely nothing for a day. I hit several coffee shops, chatted with travelers and locals alike, and tried to have my feet touch the ground as little as possible. I borrowed a large tshirt and some old man shorts from the hostel to wear those two days while I washed my outfit and let it line dry. Interestingly people never realized they weren’t my actual clothes hahaha… I aired out all my gear and repacked my new food and was ready to go.
The hostel owner dropped me off at the trailhead this morning and I cranked out a 37 mile day. The extra rest definitely did wonders for my stamina. Today was quiet and peaceful. I passed two others leaving from my hostel that morning and was passed by a bunch of mtn bikers on a CDT event. I am camping alone at a secluded lake a half mile off trail. Tonight is incredibly windy and rainy. So much for that good weather window.

Day Thirteen: 23 August 2013
Start: 289 + 0.5 (camp sude trip) miles 7AM 45 degrees
End: 318 + 8 (lost) miles 9PM Circle Ranch gate (9500′)
37.5 miles
Lowest elevation: 9338′
Highest elevation: 11750′
Over 300 miles traversed and I finally get lost. Not the mile off trail lost either, I was miles off… I am not particularly pleased either. I was following the map and the topo fit as well, and yet I made a seven mile course not on the trail at all. Fortunately I came to a spot towards dark and pulled out my headlamp and could see the reflective flicker of the CT markers in the distance. I ended up back at a point earlier on the trail. I am going to add out of journal here, because I am very concerned over this matter. The place I took a wrong turn is severely under marked. Some maps don’t even mention the turn off I took and my map has it being a superficial off shoot. In reality it is a two-way split off that CTers take the left route while knowing by some divine source that the “insignificant” yet well established farm access route going to the further left is not the appropriate course. I have met two other sobos and one nobo since who went off there this trip. I also happened to meet a guy peak bagging who made the same error last summer. There is a trail marker but it is past this junction and not necessarily easily identified. Of course hundreds of CTers have gone through with no complication, but in my opinion, with all the overuse of signage, this is the one place that an added marker would do wonders to prevent potentially dangerous outcomes. I should mention that this junction happened during a 15 mile no water stretch. 15 miles is nothing without water, but when you add the extra 7 minimum of being lost if you were direct and didn’t wander, well that’s almost two days of hiking for some people. And the side loop fits too well with the topo of the true trail, that is an added factor that makes this not just an issue of poor map reading. Due to that detour, I camped at the entrance gate to a ranch about a mile off trail. I regrouped and got back on track the next morning.
Aside from that …er …delightful addition to my trip, I crossed several people today. There’s a girl and her dog with lots of parental support for resupplies and company which is awesome! There is a guy bringing along a violin to learn how to play along the way. I met a nice couple with three horses riding the CT southbound by doing each segment in the north direction. I crossed two older ladies nobo CT.

Day Fourteen: 24 August 2013
Start: 318 + 1 (lost) miles 8AM 60 degrees
End: 337 miles 7PM Stewart Creek Trail #470 (11758′)
20 miles
Lowest elevation: 9690′
Highest elevation: 11758′
With the frustration and long day yesterday from getting lost, coupled with the howling wind and rain last night, I slept very little. Optimism not yet dowsed, I made it back on trail and continued forward. I passed the guy with the violin again haha, and met an older guy named Derrick, nobo CDT, who provided some trail beta on water and conditions. I also saw the couple with three horse again. As afternoon set in so did heavy rain. I was on course to head up Cochetopa Creek into San Luis pass during this weather when hail began. Not wanting to deal with that and still a bit frustrated with the previous day’s excursion, I opted to take cover and wait out the storm.
While waiting I met Paul who had taken supplies up on his two horses for a friend up the pass. Later that friend, a nice man named Brian with two friendly Golden Retrievers, came down too. He was setting up a hunting camp higher up the pass to come back the following week. I also watched a moose and her calf in the creek plain. I was on the watch for mountain goats up in the cliffs, but no luck. After almost three hours, the sun finally reappeared long enough to let some things dry before night and cold began to set in. I started up the valley further and met two guys who bagged San Luis Peak. (One of these two is who took the same detour I took the evening before…). These guys had seen the nice man Joe I met in Mt Princeton Hot Springs. They let him use their satellite phone to call the trail angel to get off at Creede. I also saw a couple heading up for a couple days of 13er hiking. I am camped about two miles down from the San Luis Peak saddle in hopes to climb the peak tomorrow and continue forward. Already cold, windy and rainy. Awesome weather…

Day Fifteen: 25 August 2013
Start: 337 + 4 (San Luis Peak) miles 8AM 45 degrees
End: 363 miles 7:30PM Rejoin Road #547 (11726′)
30 miles
Lowest elevation: 10913′
Highest elevation: 14014′
It was still raining this morning. There was so much wind last night I had to re-secure my tent during the storm last night… Despite the inclement weather, I stubbornly decided to bag the peak anyways. Possibly the worst decision, but I wasn’t going to let a late monsoon season deter my ambitions. I made the treacherous trek up the peak, with cold rain plastering my face and wind trying to rip me off the mountain face the whole way. Despite bagging the peak I am dissatisfied as I had no view and fought to the top merely to avoid the need to give up. Once back on the saddle I set off to head through the pass. Today was almost the last straw of my ability to keep moving forward. The whole day I was battered with cold rain and wind around 12000 feet. Up a saddle, down across the face, up to a pass, down a face. Over and over. Best part was the less than 200 foot view at any given time. Not that I was looking around much with being occupied by trying not to e blown off the mountain, keeping my footing and not losing my poncho to the wind. I came around one of the final passes and ran into Joe, whose trail name is Joe Haz No Horse. What a nice surprise. We made it to Spring Creek Pass which drops down out of the mountains. The wearer finally let up slightly and we intended to camp there. At that TH I met Doug and shortly after his hiking partner Chris with dog Zipper. They met through White Blaze to hike together. What a brilliant idea to find a hiking partner. Anyways, some confusion on where the camp spot was lead to Joe and I stopping at a fairly exposed willow area about 5 miles passed where we meant to be. How glad I am to have company tonight as more wind and rain pounds down on us.

Day Sixteen: 26 August 2013
Start: 363 miles 7:30AM 45 degrees
End: 385.5 miles 5:30PM Small Lake (12904′)
22.5 miles
Lowest elevation: 11714′
Highest elevation: 13270′
The last several days have been frustrating, cold, windy, rainy and endless. Today was at last a break in the gloom. It started out cold and foggy. I set a camp spot with Joe the night before. He set out at day break and I slept in. By ten I caught up to him and the sun was out and I could at last take in the incredible scenery surrounding us. I likely took more photos today than the entire rest of the trip. I can only imagine how spectacular yesterday would have been if I had been surrounded in misery haha.
I feel very fortunate to have caught Joe. When things are bringing you down, it is nice having someone to camp with and share sentiments with. We do not actually hike together as we move at different paces, but I don’t mind shorter miles and he has been fine with longer miles, that we pick a camp spot the night before and meet later. He gets going early in the morning and I catch him later. Tonight we are at Small Lake which is at the top of a mountain by a small lake haha, but with stunning views all around. And with the short miles I was there early and actually enjoyed my camp area for once. The sun was out, warm and inviting. Sharing our site for the night were Steve and Tyler, father and son, nobo CT. They likewise were happy to finally have good weather and equally relished in our evening relaxation. The site is exposed, so everything will be covered in cool dew tomorrow, but the pleasantness of tonight truly makes it worth tomorrow’s condensation. And the stars are extra brilliant, possibly because I haven’t seen them in four days!

Day Seventeen: 27 August 2013
Start: 385.5 miles 6:15AM 45 degrees
End:410.5 miles 3:15 PM Silverton (9138′)
25 miles
Lowest elevation: 8900′
Highest elevation: 12950′
I thought yesterday was stunning until today. Literally the most beautiful day of the whole hike. I was on trail just before daylight and had the opportunity to enjoy sunrise at 12000 feet, with golden rays slowing filling the valleys and streams of light suddenly burst over a distant mountain peak. Of all days, today my camera battery died, and my spare had somehow depleted its charge over the last two weeks. Unfortunate but I have mental images and, equally unfortunate, this is not the first time I have missed out or lost photos. In hindsight, my truly brilliant mother pointed out my access to a phone camera, which I will utilize for the remainder of the trip. My mind was a bit focused on making it to the TH in time to hitch to Silverton and beat the 4:30 PM Postal closing time. I had 25 miles and needed to stay focused if I was going to meet that deadline.
Anyways, yesterday and the remaining 10 miles of high altitude this morning were positively breathtaking, yet the 10 miles down Elk Creek valley today vastly shadowed that in splendor. Dropping from 12690′ to 8920,’ I was surrounded in what I consider the epitome of wild, natural landscape. How spectacular! Rivers actively cutting valleys, water seeping from rock faces creating spontaneous waterfalls, everything fertile and teeming with life. The starkness of sheer cliff faces filled brim to brim with lush greenery and constant energy. Pines thickly gathered with the soft and inviting needle floor, like a soft neat to pitch a tent. The multitude of streams colliding into a roaring river. And the occasional canopy gap revealing sharp spires looming above. And I had this wonderland all to myself. Through that entire ten miles stretch I only encountered three small groups of people. And to top off the spellbound ing beauty, I just zoomed down a scree and rock section that opened up on this pond, which somehow incorporated all the raw wild beauty just described, into a single moment, when less than thirty feet from me where a moose cow and bull (fully antlered) basking in the cool waters from the hot sun. A mental image of a lifetime. They both stared at me for a long time with that knowing that I wasn’t going to interfere with their activities and them not able to care less about my presence. I will definitely need to re-traverse the last 50 miles with more time and extra (actually charged) camera batteries. I still have 75 miles left to go too!
At the end of the valley is a final 5 mile uphill, switchback section before reaching the TH. just at the bottom I ran into three young guys, sobo CT all, who were meeting one’s mother at the top for a ride to Silverton. I quickly acquired a spot in the car and we began the last jaunt up. We made it in just under two hours as it started to rain. But I had my ride and made it to the Post before closing time! Joe was likewise coming to Silverton but not on the deadline I was so I went to the hostel, Silverton Inn & Hostel, and laid out my gear to dry, washed clothes, and took a long relaxing shower. Later the hostel owner, Julian, took me back to the TH to pick up Joe. I had expected long before but he took a mistaken 5 mile side trip to a gorgeous lake that set him back two hours. We enjoyed a wonderful supper and cold beer before bed. What a good day. And now only 75 miles left of my trip.