356 miles, 25 days
August 2026
Day 1
July 28, 2026
After many weeks of planning, my start date had arrived: July 28, 2026. The morning began with Ray transporting me on the back of his motorcycle to the Albuquerque airport. The flight to Denver was on time, and I arrived at Denver International airport and found my way to the Denver Light Rail boarding area. I was impressed with the DLR system, although it was not particularly speedy. After a transfer at Union Station, I finally got off at the southern-most station near Littleton. From there, I had arranged with a shuttle driver to take me to the trailhead at Waterton Canyon.
Camp that first night was just north of Bear Creek at 6,165 feet elevation. Already I was loving this Colorado Trail hike. Despite the dryness and heat of late July, I found the hiking through the mixed forest of lodgepole and ponderosa pines, fir, spruce and aspen so pleasant.
Day 2
July 29, 2026
The trail led through a portion of the 1996 Buffalo Creek wildfire scar. It was fairly easy hiking, even with my load of water. The afternoon sky was dark with storm clouds, so I hustled to get through the exposed landscape. I camped at mile 20-ish, in a grove of spruce above the trail, elevation 7,278 feet. It was not a high-mileage day, by any means, but I was content. Just after I had pitched the tarp and Spitfire and crawled in, rain began to fall. During the night I could smell the fragrance of the rain-freshend forest.
Day 3
July 30, 2026
I was packed and on the trail by 5:45 am. The remaining 6 miles to County Road 126 and the Fire Station went by quickly in the cool of the morning. The potable water spigot on the outside of the fire station building was the first water source since the South Platte River, 10 miles back. On a whim, I decided to go out to the small town of Buffalo Creek in order to replenish my food bag. At the store I found a limited supply of sodas and beer, candy and chips. The most delightful food find in the tiny store was a loaf of Cinammon Raisin Bread. For the next four days, I loved every bite of the moist and sweet loaf of bread.
Day 2 camp was near Buffalo Creek, at mile 35.7, elevation 7,399 feet.
Day 4
July 31, 2026
I had not planned to go out to the town of Bailey, but due to some unexpected phone and powerbank issues, I knew I had to get off the trail to sort out the problems. I was fortunate to get a ride from a local couple. And I was even more fortunate to find a replacement powerbank in the hiker box at the Two Bridges Lodge and Hiker Hostel. This lodge is in a beautiful location, on the bank of the gorgeous North Fork of the South Platte River, and less than a mile walk from the main part of Bailey. The staff at the lodge were very friendly and helpful. While charging my phone I took a shower and washed my clothes, then I called for a shuttle ride back to the trail and was finally on my way again at 1:30 pm.
I hiked long and hard up into the higher elevations. At 7:30 pm I found a decent place to pitch the tarp, just a few feet above the trail, somewhere near mile 45.5. Camp was at 10,090 feet elevation. Again, I was so content to be walking through the beautiful Colorado forest. There were still some wildflowers blooming, mostly fireweed. I was happy.
Day 5
August 1, 2026
The trail peaked out at about 10,600 feet, then descended into the North Fork Lost Creek drainage. It was a gorgeous hike through chaparral vegetation in the wide creek valley, which went on for nearly 6 miles. Today the trail was crowded with mountain bikes; I had to constantly be on the alert for the sound of mtn bikes coming up behind me. Also, since today was Saturday, there were lots of hikers on the trail and camped near the water sources.
I camped 5 miles north of Kenosha Pass, near mile 65, in a quiet grove of aspen and pine, just out of sight of the trail. My plan for the next morning was to get up early, as usual, hike the remaining 5 miles to Kenosha Pass, and then try to hitch a ride from the Kenosha Pass parking lot to the tiny hamlet of Jefferson in order to replenish my small food bag.
Day's mileage: 20
Day 6
August 2, 2026
The Jefferson General Store was wonderful! It catered to fly fishermen and hikers and bikers. They had a lot of good trail food and snacks, and they served delicious breakfast burritos. While there I met another thru-hiker, Bryce from Brisbane Queensland. He didn't have a trail name yet.
The afternoon hiking was pleasant. From Kenosha Pass the trail makes a long, northwest trending arc toward the Frisco/Breckenridge area. At Jefferson Creek I stopped to filter water and to dunk in the fast flowing, clear creek. Bryce, another thru-hiker "Snacks", and a woman hiker "SoundBite" had already been in the creek and were standing in the sun to drip-dry.
Again today, the passing mtn bikes were fairly regular. I hiked a bit later again this afternoon. Just south of the Georgia Pass area I stopped at about mile 82, in the last clump of spruce trees above the trail and made a comfortable, stealthy camp. The elevation here was 11,720 feet. About 9 pm I saw a headlamp, southbound on the trail. I wondered if it could be Snacks because earlier in the day he said he might hike at night. But no, it was a mtn biker, followed about 10 minutes later by another 3 mtn bikers. Half an hour later, 2 more mtn bikers. This went on until nearly midnight. I learned the next day that the annual CT bike race had begun at 4 am on this day. The bikers ride as long and as hard as they can, then stop for a sleep/rest whenever they feel like it. The top finishers complete the 513-mile race in just over 4 days.
Day 7
August 3, 2026
It was a beautiful day and I felt strong. I had no blisters, my feet were happy. My knees were doing ok, the rest of me was doing ok. The trail climbed to 11,600 feet, then descended to the Middle Fork of the Swan River (elevation 10,182) which was running clear and cool. The trail contoured around the mountains to the North Fork of the Swan (9,910 feet), also running clear and cool. And then it was a steep and steady climb back up to a beautiful ridgeline at 11,169 feet.
I decided to not go in to Breckenridge this evening. I didn't need anything, I had plenty of food, and I usually sleep better under the trees than in a motel room. The creek at Horseshoe Gulch was dry, but I still had one liter of water left for camp. I stopped for the day at mile 99.5, just 3.2 miles from Highway 9, in an old burned area on top of a small ridge.
Day 8
August 4, 2026
About a mile from the highway, I came to a fellow setting up Trail Magic. He had fresh water, fresh-made sandwiches, bags of chips and candy bars. I filled up my empty bottle, and took an egg-salad sandwich seasoned with curry, which was delicious. I thanked him and carried on out to Highway 9. I had changed my mind about going in to town. I got on the first bus of the morning going to Frisco.
At the Frisco Walmart I bought an inexpensive wristwatch. Nearby was a coffee shop, so I went there for a coffee and a smoothie drink, and plugged in my phone for charging. Across from the coffee shop was a Whole Foods Market, so I went there next and bought a small load. Then I headed back to the bus stop and rode back to where the CT crosses the highway. The time was 10:30 am. I had lost three hours of morning hiking, but the coffee and breakfast was worth it. And I now wore a wristwatch. Thus began the 3,000 foot climb. The first couple of miles were through a burned and re-routed area that was uninspiring, but soon enough the re-routed trail entered live, healthy forest, which was cooler and much more pleasant. The high point on the ridge today was 12,489 feet in the Tenmile Range. Magnificent views all around, above treeline.
At mile 115.5 I stopped to make camp. I was 3 miles north of the Copper Mtn Resort area at elevation 10,322. I was descending the steep mountainside, and had passed up the large camping area that was dirty and trampled and already occupied. My eyes are trained to look for small, flat tarp sites, both sides of the trail, and sure enough, down the slope off the trail maybe 50 feet I found the spot. Private, clean, comfortable, and not very noticeable from the trail.
Day 9
August 5, 2026
My internal alarm once again woke me at 5:15 am; I think it is the dawn light that wakes me. Just barely getting light, but light enough to pack up. As it had been for the first nine days, the night was calm, no wind, no rain; the morning was clear and cool. Just cool enough to put on my thin shell jacket. The Copper Mtn Resort area was quiet, I saw a few locals out walking their dogs. I found one coffee shop just opening, so sat down to enjoy a pastry and coffee, and to plug my phone in for charging.
The hike up to Searle Pass at 12,046 feet was beautiful and fun and tiring. The trail followed Guller Creek for most of the ascent. Then it switched-backed up the talus slopes above treeline. The hike along Elk Ridge, from Searle Pass to Kokomo Pass at 12,024 feet was also beautiful, but exposed and slightly windy. I was more than happy to descend back into the trees of the Cataract Creek drainage.
I ended up camping at an old campsite, just below the trail and above the creek. I have never been concerned about bears, especially at my stealth camps, but I am careful when choosing an established site, like this one. At this campsite, there was zero evidence of recent bear activity. I was camped at mile 133.2, elevation 10,050. Tennessee Pass was 8.9 miles ahead.
Day 10
August 6, 2026
Today was a day of logistics and catching rides. The Colorado Trail from Tennessee Pass to Twin Lakes was closed due to a wildfire, so I would have to skip that 34 mile section of trail. And I had a resupply box waiting for me at the small store at Twin Lakes village.
After a pleasant but chilly early morning hike through chaparral meadows, the Eagle River valley, and the historic Camp Hale area, I eventually reached Tennessee Pass. I was fortunate to get a ride right away into Leadville, where I took a short break. Then another ride delivered me to Twin Lakes village. The time was 11:30 am.
I was bound for the East Collegiate route because I had read it was "easier" and stayed lower in elevation. As much as I love the high country above treeline, I felt more comfortable in the trees. At mile 182.2, elevation 9,243 feet, the East and West routes diverged. I headed east and climbed through a burned area. There was scant shade, and the land was dry and dusty. Amazingly, I found a small trickle of a stream/spring at mile 184.4. I wasn't expecting to find any water here because the surrounding terrain was so dry. I was grateful for the water. I filtered and carried 2 extra liters so I would have water for the remainder of the afternoon and for camp.
After 3 miles of charred tree stumps and dust, I reached healthy forest once again. The trail meandered through beautiful groves of aspen and pine. While looking for a nice place to camp that evening, I discovered that if one could find a flat area with no rocks, the combination of aspen leaves and pine needles makes for a very soft bed. Camp was at mile 186.2 at 9,699 feet.
Day 11
August 7, 2026
The East Collegiate route was great! From Clear Creek at 8,903 feet, up to the ridge at 11,635, then back down to Pine Creek at 10,397 feet. Like Clear Creek, Pine Creek was gushing clear and clean. Then began climb number two for the day, back up to 11,847 feet.
Those two big climbs tired me; at the high point I found a shady Ponderosa, took a half hour nap, then pushed on for Frenchman Creek, my last water source for the day. Later, as evening was coming on, I hauled off into a healthy and fragrant Ponderosa pine forest, ready to make camp. The trees were widely spaced, so I would need to find a stick for pitching the tarp. I looked around. No sticks. Nothing. I was tired and ready to lay down and relax, so I pulled out my Spitfire and foam pad, and decided that I would bivy it tonight with no tarp. The sky was clear, no threat of rain. I slept extremely well. Camp was at mile 203.5, at 10,730 feet elevation.
Day 12
August 8, 2026
I overslept. I woke up at 6 am. It was quick and easy to pack up. I hustled down to the next water at Three Elk Creek where I filtered, drank and filled up two liters. Then began the morning climb. It seemed to take forever and I seemed to be so slow. However, I had the town of Buena Vista on my mind this morning. I just had to hike the 11.4 miles to the Avalanche Trailhead at County Road 306. Today was a Saturday, so I hoped it would be a quick 9-mile hitchhike east to Buena Vista.
There were several nice creeks along the way so I was able to hydrate well this morning. Although I didn't take a photo, I saw my one and only columbine flower for the entire hike. North Cottonwood Creek, followed by Silver Creek, up to the top of the ridge at 11,904, then the long, steep descent to Avalanche at mile 214.9 where I arrived at about 1 pm. I was ready for town. I was looking forward to laundry, a meal, groceries, maybe a shower if I could find one.
Buena Vista was a good town stop. I was able to accomplish all of the above, thanks to the showers at Walt's Laundrymat. I was back at the Avalanche trailhead at 5:00 pm and quickly set off. The trail contoured the north slope of Sheep Mtn, above Rainbow Lake and the resort there. There were numerous side creeks flowing into the Middle Cottonwood Creek drainage. I was tired from the day's exertions and from the heat, so I decided to stop early. Camped at mile 215.3, at elevation 9,325 feet, in a beautiful stand of Ponderosa and lodgepole pines mixed with aspen. I do love camping in the trees!
Day's mileage: 12.8
Day 13
August 9, 2026
I was on the trail by 6 am. It turned out to be a much easier day today with the trail contouring mostly around the lower, eastern slopes of Mt Princeton. Every now and then the terrain revealed the stunning summit of the mountain. Mt Princeton would have been a good one to summit. By 12:30 pm I had hiked the 13 miles to Princeton Hot Springs. There I took a long lunch break and an equally long soak in one of the natural hot springs.
I finally left the resort, feeling quite refreshed. The time was 2:30 pm. To avoid the dangerous, 2.5 paved road walk, I hitched to the Chalk Creek trailhead. The trail followed a good dirt/gravel road that ascended the Chalk Creek valley. Then the trail contoured around the lower, eastern slopes of Mt Antero. As usual, it was very pretty terrain, and as usual, I was so happy to be in the forest, surrounded by the fagrant trees. I hiked through many large stands of standing dead lodgepole pines, but the spruce, fir and aspen were healthy and thriving.
Camp that night was at mle 237, half-way between Little Browns Creek, which was flowing nicely, and the larger Browns Creek which was tumbling over the rocks noisily. I could hear the cascading water at my camp, and again I was surprised that the white noise of the rushing water did not keep me awake but instead seemed to lull me to sleep. Elevation at camp was 9,622 feet.
Day 14
August 10, 2026
I slept well and awoke at my usual time of 5:30 am. I was packed and on the trail by 5:50 am. This morning for the first time I felt tired. After two weeks on the trail, I decided I was due for a rest day. Although I had made town stops regularly, none of them had been very restful. I had always tried to be back on the trail within a few hours, and I had always managed to hike at least 15 miles a day, even with those town stops.
Fourteen miles ahead was the trail crossing of Highway 50. The options were the Butterfly House hostel about 4 miles west on Hwy 50, or the Monarch Spur RV park, about 1 mile east on Hwy 50. I wasn't interested in the hostel. The RV park had travel trailers for rent; I called and booked a travel trailer for 2 nights. The owner said she would pick me up at the trailhead and drive me to her RV park.
The trailer I rented seemed to me luxurious. It was actually just a standard, 30-foot RV, nothing special. A full-size bed, a kitchen/dining/sitting area, and two bunk beds and a bathroom with sink, toilet, and shower. It was all very clean and welcoming. The park also had a large and very clean guest bath house with toilets, sinks, showers, lots of hot water, and an adjoining laundry room. It felt fantastic to be clean with clean clothes once again. I spent the afternoon sleeping and making arrangements with a shuttle driver for an early morning trip out to Poncha Springs to a grocery store the next morning.
Day 15
August 11, 2026 - Rest Day
Day 16
August 12, 2026
The nice folks at the RV park gave me a ride back to the trailhead, and I set off hiking at 6:10 am, following Fooses Creek and South Fooses Creek. Along the way I saw an adult wild turkey with half a dozen older chicks. They all scattered when I walked by. Half a mile further, I noticed an owl perched on a tree branch quite close to the trail. The owl flew away at my intrusion, but oddly, it looked like it dropped something before leaving it's perch. I investigated and found a freshly killed turkey chick on the ground, directly below the owl's perch.
The trail climbed steadily. I hiked slow and took a lot of rest stops. The climb was not steep, the trail was nicely graded, but it was relentless for 10 miles. Growing alongside the trail were lots of ripe, red wild current. They were tart but good.
At noon I reached the junction with the West Collegiate/CDT route. This high terrain was beautiful; one could see for miles in all directions.
The Marshall Pass area appeared to be a popular ORV area. I was taken by surprise when a string of at least a dozen dirt bikes passed by me, headed north, on the Colorado Trail. Motorized vehicles on the CT? I saw a sign later that afternoon indicating that dirt bikes are allowed on the CT in this area.
I was tiring and my shoulders were aching from my load of food and from carrying water since leaving South Fooses Creek. I stopped hiking early, at 3:30 pm, just as the heavy black clouds overhead started rumbling. At mile 265-ish I made a hard left off the trail and up a steep jeep road that led about 20 feet onto a beautiful, quiet, private knoll with a camping area. It looked like an old hunting camp that hadn't been used for several decades. I was snug under the tarp and inside the Spitfire when the rain started falling gently. It rained lightly for about 2 hours. Usually I prefer to keep hiking several more hours into the early evening, but I was glad I had stopped early today.
Day's mileage: 15.3
Day 17
August 13, 2026
Today was an enjoyable day of hiking, despite the challenges of finding good water sources. Several seasonal creeks and springs were dry, so I had to carry more water between good sources. The trail headed generally southwest toward Sargeants Mesa and the Cochetopa Hills.
As usual, I was entertained by the birds. Nearly every day I have seen and heard robins, flickers, chickadees, juncos, wrens and sparrows, other woodpeckers, owls and redtail hawks. Today was no different.
The Tank Seven Creek drainage was summer home to cattle, but there were many feeder creeks and the water looked acceptable. I used my small plastic bowl to scoop the water without disturbing the bottom layer of muck, then poored it slowly into my Cnoc bag through my bandanna as a pre-filter. I drank two liters and carried two more liters to camp.
I had decided camp would be somewhere up on Sargeants Mesa. Dark rain clouds had been building all afternoon, and off to the west I heard thunder accompanied by occasional high lightning bolts. I repacked my pack with the plastic bag liner, anticipating some heavy rain. Meanwhile, the trail climbed up and over and down the other side of several un-named knolls. The hiking was tiring, but not terribly difficult. Along the way were ripe raspberries; they were sweet and flavorful and I could have spent a lot of time picking the berries. I figured this would be a popular area for bears, with all these ripe berries, but I saw no sign of bear activity.
I made camp at mile 282.5, just about at the summit of the flat-topped mesa at 11,720 feet elevation. It was a lovely area with mostly spruce trees.
Day 18
August 14, 2026
The morning was beautiful up on the mesa. Between stands of spruce were open meadows. It was peaceful and quiet. Along the way I saw several groups of elk; they ran off abruptly when they heard and saw me approaching. I also saw many deer. They did not bolt away like the elk; instead they seemed more curious, especially as I whistled and sang to them quietly.
The day wore on and the trail continued its constant ups and downs, over Middle Baldy Peak at 11,700 feet, then gently downhill with a few more minor knolls to climb up and over. Eventually I descended into the Lujan Creek drainage. I stopped to make camp under a couple of ancient Grandfather Ponderosa pines, about 100 feet from the trail, and just 2 miles north of Highway 114, at mile 300.7.
Day 19
August 15, 2026
Day's mileage:
