August 21, 2023
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August 20th

Segment 12 and 13

I guess I didn’t set my alarm because Jody woke me up at 5:37 this morning. So I got up and started getting ready for the day and two hikers camping above us walked by on their way down the trail.

We were camped along fast moving Frenchman Creek above 11,000 ft. It was warmer than where we stopped for dinner much higher up, but it was chilly this morning. It’s amazing how much water is flowing by! We are so close to the head waters at all of these creeks that we pass. I’m so curious to climb up the mountain and see what these springs look like bubbling out of the ground. How does so much water come up out of the mountain?

The elevation is still getting to us! We cough, get headaches and feel really short of breath hiking uphills. It’s really slowing us down!

Moose skull? Cool!

Last night I dreamed Jodie was on the opposite side of my tent from where she was camped and said ‘where am I?’ and then I smelled the stink of a bear and woke up wide awake! I must have heard branches snapping and in my mind it was Jody coming back from the bathroom. But maybe it was a bear snooping around and my mind was trying to make sense of it. Jodie’s tent suddenly seemed far away. I wrestled around and turned on my light. Maybe that was all it took for them to go away. They are very shy here in these mountains unlike the California bears, thankfully. I wonder if there is a scent that bears don’t like? And wonder if we could get some sort of essential oil to put on our packs and tents other than capsicum!

We had breakfast at Three Elks Creeks, another full, crystal clear fast moving creek. So much water.

We dropped down almost a thousand feet and will continue to drop in elevation until Silver Creek before our one big climb today.We met a father and daughter hiking the trail, Brad & Ashton. We both sort of wonder if we just planted a seed and he too will someday hike the Colorado Trail. A lot of people don’t realize how many retired people are hiking and backpacking these trails now that they have more time-freedom. We hiked down into another valley and crossed Silver Creek. Then we climbed from 9.5k ft to 11.9k ft in just over 3 miles. It’s a slow long process going up to these summits. I’m admittedly not in the best condition and this is tough!

This was the best little rest stop!

We hike a little way, stop and breath and sip water and then repeat the cycle over and over again. I’m constantly hitting a wall and it feels impossible to keep pushing so I stop, breath, drink and push on. We finally summited and met an older couple probably in their late 60s named Kim and Randy.

Mount Yale, I think.

Rainbow Lake on HWY 306

They were day hiking and we climbed down the mountain together towards HWY 306. Kim was so speedy and hard to keep up with. They sounded like a couple who had been physically active most of their adult lives and I felt inspired by them. They had retired to Buena Vista and gave us ride to the Super 8.Yay!!! A hot shower, a bed and clean clothes! Also fresh fruits and veggies and other foods!!

Jodie’s blog: bikehikerepeat.com