Magrilless

Well, we’ve postponed our Colorado Trail thru hike until the summer of 2021. There were too many changes from our original vision, plus work complications because of this darned pandemic. (Hashtag not a fan of COVID.) But that doesn’t mean we won’t be out on other adventures!

To wit, earlier this week we planned a 2-night backpack from a cluster of alpine lakes above Silverton to Molas Pass. Right from the start, the trail was exciting and beautiful. Within 2 miles, we had already accomplished 4 stream crossings, one via a snow bridge, and ascended 1400 feet!

The three Highland Mary Lakes are as beautiful as promised, and gave us much scope for our imaginations. And also very high!

12,000 ft above sea level is no joke! We camped our first night on the edge of Verde Lakes, huddling our tents below some scrubby bushes in hopes of being out of the gusty gusty blustery wind. (We’ll make believe it made some difference.)

But could we go higher? You bet! We hiked against the wind up to a segment of the Colorado Trail. There we walked on the spine of the world, across snow and rocks and scrubby grasses and more snow, against more wind.

But holy smokes, it’s gorgeous up there!

(And mom was the only one to fall on her rear after postholing in the snow!)

After 4.5 miles (that felt like twice that with the wind in our faces) and a top elevation of 12,690 ft, we reached the drop-off to lower altitudes that we had been promising all morning.

The trail dropped fast and furiously, changing character around every turn. There was chunky rocky slippery dirt trail.

There were avalanche fields to climb over and through and balance on top of.

There were stream crossings. (Sometimes the trail became completely submerged!)

After 12 miles and 12 hours of hiking, we finally dropped into bed (unfortunately in a tick hot zone) next to Elk Creek. We were so tired, we didn’t even notice our bear-proof food sack being put to the test. (The bag was the victor!)

In the morning, we descended the final mile down to the Animas River and narrow gauge train tracks at 8,900.

Which meant that it was time to start going up again! We took it slow and steady.

1,400 feet of elevation gain in 2 miles (again!) brought us to within spitting distance of our final destination.

We finished at Molas Lake, back at 10,600 ft above seal level, 21 miles from our starting point. We were tired and stinky and a little sun- and wind-burned. But so happy and excited to have been in the wild. And proud — exceptionally proud of these girls!

We got out on a hike yesterday. No agenda. No training. No escaping. Just went outside in order to be with each other and the wild wonderful Earth.

About a year and a half ago, we started dreaming. We were in Europe, traipsing around a different city every couple of weeks, relying only on our little family, and watching our girls become better and better friends with each other. What could we do next that would excite us, challenge us, unite us?

The Colorado Trail was something we had been planning for a few years in the future. (What a celebration for Bill’s 40th!) When we began to think about it, though, we started to wonder why we were waiting, really. And then we started to get excited! 486 miles of trail from Denver to Durango — over mountain passes, through wilderness areas, past small high country mountain towns. Let’s walk home from our state’s capital!

breaking in our new trail shoes

We’ve bought gear, tested gear, rejected gear, bought more gear. We’ve pinned up maps, created spreadsheets, filled in calendars. Planned meals for 59 days away from home. Cooked, bought, dried, and packaged food for (so far half of) our two month adventure.

food waiting to be compiled in resupply boxes

We’ve been preparing our bodies too. We’ve always been a good hiking family, but we’ve amped things up lately. Our half weight/full mileage day was a huge and happy success. Our full weight/half mileage hike was likewise awesome. We will be ready!

Now, we know this may not happen. We may be spending those 59 days in our backyard playing ping pong. On June 13th, we will make a final decision to go for it or postpone until next summer. And of course we’re really hoping it will be a go, for so many reasons.

Some days we’re optimistic, some days we’re not. But we are full steam ahead as if we were sure. And if in a month we have a puppy named Consolation, you’ll know we have to add some new gear for 2021.

A 15-minute drive and a few hours in the sunshine is sometimes all it takes.

Boy, it feels good to get out! We have not settled into a routine so much as accomplish the same things every day: a few hours of school assignments, a few moments for work, a few neighborhood strolls, some jumping on the trampoline and frisbee tossing, some meals, and a movie. Repeat in some order.

So today we got in the car (whoa! — event!) and drove half an hour to sun soak, rock scramble, map read, and stress release.