It's been awhile since we've been able to send our posts. Catch up on our last five days in the mountains.
7-18-06
Start: 2,000 feet below the Divide
Destination: Frisco, CO
Elevation: 9193 ft.
Miles: 19.0
Weather: Brisk Morning, Afternoon Storm
We had such a nice campsite that it was difficult to leave it. But we got up around 3:30, made coffee and oatmeal, got ready and hit the trail. We climbed back up to the divide where we left off and then hiked back down toward the Colorado Trail. I was really enjoying hiking the divide, and navigating with "Waldo" the GPS was fun, too. I can't wait to get into some geocaching when I get home. And maybe I'll hike the CDT, now! I love scrambling from ridge to peak to pass to ridge. It's beautiful, and every corner, hill, slope and turn brings new views.
I forgot to mention yesterday that we saw some mountain goats pretty close up. There were 3 adults and 2 babies. They were losing their really thick white coats, so they looked kind of mangy, but it was cool watching them crawl down the steep, rocky mountainside like it was nothing. We've been also seeing a lot of mule deer, and I think I saw 5 elk working their way up a mountain side this morning, but I wasn't completely sure - they were pretty far away. But they were big animals!
Hickory and mom started talking about cheeseburgers today, so shortly after that conversation, we began to discuss the quickest way to town. We decided to go as fast as we could to Hwy 9, catch the free shuttle bus, and head to Frisco. We did just that, and the minute we hit Hwy 9, the rain started. We walked on, and then it started to hail! It was little hail, so it didn't really hurt, but it was really cold. We finally got to the bus stop, but Hickory was nowhere to be found. He trucked ahead and must've went past the bus stop. So mom and I got on and head directly to a hotel room to warm up, dry off, wash away the stinkies, eat and do laundry. We did hook back up with Hickory - he got on the bus and found us at the hotel. Now we're re-supplied, clean, and ready for a few more days in the woods. We have been completely out of touch with the outside world, and we'll probably have a few more stretches like this. And these opportunities are hard to pass! Phones! Restaurants! Washers and dryers! TP!
Oh, and I took a spill today. It was a scary one for me. I slipped on some loose gravel going down a steep downhill, and my pack and butt landed on the bottom of my walking stick. So my hand got caught underneath the stick, and my body weight pressed down as my hand bent backwards. My ankles and legs were fine, but my wrist hurt and my hand went numb for a minute. I freaked out, but mom got me to calm down. I knew it wasn't broken because it didn't hurt that bad, but it was enough for a scare. After calming down and rolling it around, I realized it was going to be just fine. It's still a little sore, and it feels a bit weak, but with a little babying, it'll be okay. At least it wasn't an ankle or leg! I can still walk with a sore wrist!
Hickory says hi! :)
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