7/16 - Marshall Pass   Miles Today: 14 Total Miles: 74.4

What another wonderful, beautiful, bizarre day out here on the Colorado Trail. So many weird and wonderful things have happened today that I don’t know where to begin. Why not start with this morning, then.

I woke up at the usual time and began to gather my things that were strewn about the room. I watched a little news and had some coffee before heading out to the Post Office to get my box. Volia – there it was, seven days of trail food goodness waiting for me, all ready to get stuffed into my pack. Ugh! I sent some other stuff out, organized my pack and then tended to hitchhiking back to the trail. I waited for about 10 minutes when I saw the woman who was staying in the room next door drive past. Last night she thought I was a hippie from California because I was cooking my dinner out on the porch. We had a nice drive back to the trail, and I got to the trailhead a lot sooner than I had expected.

Well, it wasn’t three miles into my hike out of the valley that I ran into a group of five college kids from Durango hiking the entire CT. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have actual people to talk to on the trail! This crew was cool, but I was moving a bit faster then they were, so I only saw them occasionally throughout the day.

And what a day it was! I followed the trail up... and up... and up... all the way to the contintental divide! Here in the saddle of two small peaks the Colorado Trail joins up with the Contintental Divide Trail, and what a great place to meet up this is. The ridgeline was totally exposed providing views in all directions. What concerned me the most, however, was the views of all the thunderstorms in the area. Looking back form where I came and forward to where I was going, all I could see were dark, black clouds.The saddle where I was sitting, however, was somehow in a pocket of nice weather and I was relaxing in the sun.

Eventually, of course, I did have to move on and headed south along the exposed ridge. When I stopped to look back, I was astounded! Two dark clouds covered the horizon, but somehow the sun was shining down on the mountain peaks. The result was an illusion that made Mt Shavano appears as if it were glowing. It was totally unreal, and an image that will stay with me for a while.

From this point, it was only about five more miles to my destination for the night, Marshall Pass. I wanted to tent above treeline, but the weather was definitely not cooperating with that plan, so I figured that I might as well get in a few more miles. As I was heading down the sunny trail, I noticed that to my right, the sky was black. I hurried along as the black ate more and more of the sky, gaining with every step. I also noticed that the wind was swirling, which is a sign that the storm isn’t moving anywhere fast. I made it to the parking lot and ducked under the roof of a pit toilet just as the downpour began.

So in case you haven’t figured it out, a pit toilet is NOT a fun place to be hanging out. I was hoping for a torrential downpour, since those usually don’t last for too long, but it was not to be. This storm was in for the long haul. I stood in the toilet and watched the storm with dispair.

But what, whats that? Up on a hill was a somewhat large wooden structure. Maybe its a bigger bathroom, I thought, one where I don’t have to sit on the throne. So I grabbed my gear and made a dash for the structure, which to my pleasant suprise I discovered to be an old Cow Camp! This cabin is maintained by the local snowmobile club, so it is in reasonable shape. Not that it was a posh shelter or anything - its dark, there is one small window, and there are no bunks. However, there is a table, a good supply of candles and even a mattress for the floor that doesn’t smell too bad. Regardless, I was happy just to be dry and out of the storm.

Its 7:30 right now and the rain has been falling for three hours, a good sustained storm by Colorado summer standards. The sky is no longer black and there is a thin ribbon of light provide how that this might all clear out. Thanks to the cabin, a long night confined to my tent has been an enjoyable one.

- chomp

< Previous Entry | Next Entry >