Colorado Trail Journal With Pictures

Hiking the Colorado Trail

Random Memories of a 68-Year-Old RamblerBy Chet Anderson (aka Gray Ghost)

Colorado Trail - July 9

th

to August 2

nd

2010.

Journals, photos, and more available at: http://www.grayghost.info

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2010 Colorado Trail Journal

The Colorado Trail (CT) is 488.1 miles long, with an average elevation of 10,000’. The lowestpoint was at Waterton Canyon, 5,522’ elevation at the start near Denver. Coney Summit at13,334’ was the highest elevation on the trail.

When I hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail I met Mike. He and his wife had hiked the Colorado Trail andshe sent me a link to her pictures. He said the trail was well marked with bridges (no streams toford!) and her pictures showed it would be a beautiful hike.After finishing the Arizona Trail on May 18, I took an 8 week break waiting for snow to melt inthe mountains of Colorado. I went home to Eloise in Wisconsin for five weeks, and then droveto Nevada and California to visit my grandchildren. I hiked with my son in Yosemite beforeheading back to Arizona. I had to hike the Arizona Trail between the north rim of Grand Canyonand Jacob Lake, the part that we had to road walk because of snow in May. Shirley and herfiancé, Bob, brought their horses and joined me.From there I drove To Durango, the western end of the Colorado Trail. My daughter, Cheryl,and grandson, Neil, were kind enough to drive from Carson City, Nevada, to meet me inDurango and transport me to Denver to start the CT. After dropping me off they headed toWisconsin to visit Eloise. I had made arrangements to leave my van at a ranch near Durango.This would mean I had no schedule to meet; my van would be waiting whenever I finished.I spent one night in the hostel in Durango waiting to meet Cheryl. That evening at the hostel, Imet Mark who had just come in from completing the Colorado Trail. I would guess he was oneof the first finishers of the year. What agreat opportunity to get the latest trailinformation. I was surprised to find thathe had only a minimal amount of snowon the trail. However, he did experiencea number of afternoon rain and sleetstorms. This was his second thru-hike of the Colorado Trail, having hiked it a fewyears previously.

On July 9

th

Cheryl and Neil left me off atWaterton Canyon, the eastern trailheadof the Colorado Trail. The morningtemperature was 40 degrees. The first 6.2 miles followed a gravel road along a river to StrontiaSprings Dam. The only vehicles allowed on the road were for dam maintenance personnel.

Gray Ghost

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The road was a great place for exercising; quite a few people were walking, running or biking.Because of the river there were many birds-both in the water and in the bushes. I also saw amother Bighorn Sheep with her youngster. Nice way to start the trail. An added bonus wasrestrooms along the road until the dam.

The first day I hiked 23 miles and camped at 7,760’

elev.

July 10

th

, 25 miles, (48) camped at 10,460

’

elev, morning temp 31 degrees

Day two was Saturday. Still being so close to Denver, there was a lot of activity on the trail,mostly mountain bikes. I estimated that I was passed by more than 50 bikes before noon. Theyappeared to have a circular route because I saw very few on their way back. I knew I wouldshare the trail with bikes but I find it hard when they are approaching from behind

; it’s

muchbetter to meet them and have more of a warning to find a place to step off the trail.Crossing the South Platte River, I watched a father and son panning for gold.

July 11

th

, 27 miles, (75) camped at 9,880

’

elev, morning temp 36 degrees

There was much less traffic on thetrail; the further from Denver themore peaceful it is. I saw aGoshawk/Cooper's Hawk?

I’m n

otsure which; I thought it sounded likea Cooper

’

s but it acted like aGoshawk. Goshawks are noted fortheir defense of the nest. One of them dived at me from behind, justclearing my head by inches. I heardlater that one hiker had actually beenstruck on the head by those hawks.I hiked through the first of many broad open valleys that had beaver ponds and dams, one rightafter another.

It’s t

ime to admit my incompetence. The first night I set up camp I found I was missing my tentpoles. I assumed I had left them in the van in Durango. I had to lay the tent over me like ablanket for the first three nights. My grandson, Dan, had the same model tent at our house so Icalled my support crew (Eloise) to send his poles to me. I was able to pick them up at theBreckinridge Post Office. I am lucky. I hated to think of camping for 500 miles without them.