Leg 3: Kenosha Pass to Breckenridge

Stats:
Distance: 3 legs, 6 segments, 14 days, 104 miles
Best food: beer and cookies! and peaches
Wildlife sightings: (Do other thru hikers count? Where are all the animals?)

Day 10:

Well. We spent our last evening in Fairplay watching hail from the hotel window, looking at weather forecasts, and becoming increasingly convinced that we should skip this segment. Take a taxi into Breckenridge. Camp somewhere outside of town. Come back in the fall and do this leg at a better time.

That’s how we left it when we went to bed.
But when we woke up, it was sunny and warm, and we looked at the forecast again, and at the elevation and mileage charts. And we decided we could buy some extra gear and be safe.

So we had our breakfast (including a pup-accino for Pie), bought our gear, and got underway to the trailhead. After hugs goodbye and extreme thanks to Scotty and Delores, we were on the trail again!

It was a pleasantly overcast day while we were out in exposed sections, and then a lovely blue sky for when we were shaded by aspens and pines.

There was one moment when we looked out and saw a wall of rain heading our way, so we quick dropped packs, bagged our electronics and paper, threw on our rain jackets and pants, and covered Pie with her trash bag poncho. 2 minutes later we were bone dry and the sun was back. So we stripped off our gear and made our way to camp by 3:00. Dry. We even got the tent set up and dinner eaten before any rain.
We went to bed glad we made the decision to head out.

Day 11:

All’s well that ends well, they say. And I think we can agree.

The day started drizzly and early. We wanted to be up and over Georgia Pass (above tree line) by 9:00, after which the weather service forecast thunder storms.
We got to the pass just about 9:30, and fortunately there was no sign of lightning or thunder heads. Unfortunately, it started to sleet. Oh, brrrr.

None of us (except for Bill) was very happy for the next hour or so. He kept promising us that we would dry out and get warm, but it felt like lip service for a long time, even after he stopped and made us hot ciders during a break in the rain.

Of course he was right, and eventually the sun broke through long enough for us to dry out our tent and ourselves. The girls bustled down the trail making up songs about sharks, happy as could be.

About a mile from our intended camp, we came upon a crowd of folks hanging around. What was going on? Trail magic! These people drove down from Denver to set up in the woods, just to be nice! They offered cookies, beer, powerade, fresh veg, hot dogs, chips, took our trash, and had a pup for Pie to play with. It really did feel like magic!
It gave us the energy we needed to push a little uphill, where we quick set up our tent and ducked inside just as the rain began again.

We felt lucky to be dry and cozy all night long!

Day 12:

When we woke up it was still raining. We found a window in which to cook breakfast and pack up, and we were back on the trail.
It did eventually stop raining, and we did get some blue sky. We could see Keystone ski area on one side and Breckenridge way below us to the other. But we watched clouds amassing all day, and none of us were super stoked about the thought of another cold night.

The girls decided they could pull out another bigger day (13 miles), and we made our way to the creature comforts of town.
But not before we hit a big milestone: 100 miles on the trail! So incredibly proud of all of us!

Day 13-14:

Breck is treating us well. Gondola rides, good food, pool time, hammocks in hotel rooms, ice cream, free bus travel, and folks who are impressed with our kiddos. We are loving this journey!