Days 10-14: July 28- August 1
Fooses Creek Trailhead to Spring Creek Pass (Lake City)
Distance: 105 Total Distance: 285
Highlights: Rain, Continental Divide Monarch Crest, Wind, Green Creek Shelter, Marshall Pass, Mud, Windy Peak, Sargent’s Mesa, cows and cowpies, Cochetopa Hills, Baldy Lake, CT northbounders, Cochetopa Pass, Trail Magic from Apple, meeting Mark and Tessa, meeting Jo again, getting lost, meeting Matt and Ming, Cochetopa Creek, La Garita Wilderness, San Luis Peak Summit, San Luis Pass, Snow Mesa, sheep, Lake City
Campsites:
9. Tank 7 Cut-off trail
10. Near Cochetopa Pass Road
11. Nutras Creek
12. Near East Mineral Creek
13. Lake City
Comments:
Day 10 (Fooses Creek Trailhead to Tank 7 Cutoff Trail) was probably the toughest day for me. It rained almost all day and I got relatively cold, especially my hands. The Green Creek Shelter saved my day by providing a much needed break out of the rain.
Flowers along the trail
Unlike the picture above, there were some areas that were experiencing heavy bike use, including motorcycle use. This combined with the rain created some of the poorest trail conditions I saw on the trail. There was lots of mud and pools of water in the trail.
Views up on the divide were in the clouds and it was very windy so I didn’t manage a single picture.
Views up on the divide were in the clouds and it was very windy so I didn’t manage a single picture.
I was able to cruise through some big miles on days 10-12 with Day 11 (Tank 7 Cut-off Trail to Cochetopa Pass Road) being my longest of the trip at a little over 30 miles.
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Moo!
Lake Baldy would be an excellent campsite or at least an excellent water stop. I dropped my pack and hiked down there. Beautiful lake but a good climb back up.
Lake Baldy
These stretches offer some of the most difficult water challenges along the trail, but they are manageable with adequate planning.
Old School Sign
Cow pie!
Trail magic from Apple was amazing! I had some Nutterbutters, chips, a Gatorade, and best of all, a Root Beer float. I also met some new hikers, Mark and Tessa and Jo for the second time. She did the Collegiate East and had been joined by her dog, Cody. Apple dedicates his time everyday throughout the hiking season to provide this great lift to hikers’ spirits!
Look closely for Apple's truck!
Shortly after leaving Apple, the four of us got lost. We came to a junction that went left or right but had no CT sign. After looking at our maps we decided to go left, because going right was east and the trail didn’t go east. Going left only took us to a fence, so we decided to turn around. I went back as fast as I could, looking for the last Colorado Trail sign. On the way I found my Gatorade bottle full of water that fallen out of my pack while I closed a gate. My lucky day! Then I saw two hikers coming toward me. It was Ming and Matt and they were Southbound hikers as well who had thru-hiked the trail three years previously but had managed to get lost near the same segment last time. I told them about how I wasn’t sure where the trail went. We decided to continue the way they were heading and then turn right at the fork. On the way we ran into Jo, Cody, Mark, and Tessa who said going right led to nothing. So we all continued back where we had come from until we saw where all 6 of us had erred. The road/trail appeared to go left, but we were actually supposed to have gone straight. A few hours lost, but a good story. Aside from this spot and the one on the Collegiate West the Colorado Trail is marked excellently!
Lost on the CT
The skyline trail near Cochetopa Creek is beautiful. I was very tempted to stop and camp along the creek before the trail crossed over it.
Cochetopa Creek
Met a northbound hiker who had gotten lost before crossing Cochetopa Creek. While lost, he had the experience of being scared by a bear. My bear protection techniques were very poor, but I had little problems. I’ve read of others who had bears eat their food!
The day in the La Garita Wilderness was spectacular, one of my best on the trail! Great weather gave me the opportunity to summit San Luis Peak. I almost didn’t do it, but as I was taking in the view on San Luis saddle I met two hikers descending from the top. They said that while I had a nice view where I was, the view up top blew it away. On the way up, I met a gentleman whose climb of San Luis was his 50th 14er, quite the accomplishment! The view was great, as San Luis is one of the most remote 14ers.
Looking towards the San Luis Saddle
The effort to climb San Luis was also much less than the other 14ers I climbed.
Climbing up!
Looking back down the summit ridge
San Luis Peak
Lots of flowers!
Of the five 14ers on my journey. I rank them as follows: Massive, San Luis, Missouri, Elbert and Belford. Sunrise on Massive was great. I also like the small amount of scrambling at the end. San Luis is just a beautiful peak and relatively easy, at a little less than an hour to the top from the saddle. Missouri had nice view and was a fun challenge. Elbert had great views and is the tallest in Colorado, but it felt to me like the views didn’t quite reward for the work of the climb. Belford was nice, but doesn’t really stand out. Overall, I'm happy to have had the opportunity to climb all five!
More beauty in the La Garita Wilderness!
Camped near Jo and Cody near East Mineral Creek. The sunset over the mountains was beautiful.
I enjoyed the walk across Snow Mesa. It’s certainly a lightning risk, so I hiked in the morning. Even then it got quite cloudy and there was slight precipitation. I saw some sheep, but missed out on the shepherd. I anticipated the mesa being flat but it actually has many rolling hills. The view of the San Juans from the mesa is epic.
Snow Mesa on the right
Matt and Ming were at Spring Creek Pass, finishing up their hike and waiting for a ride to Alamosa with Jo’s trail angel who brought her resupply. We had a nice time talking about random stuff.
There was construction on Highway 149 with traffic allowed only in one direction following a pilot car. I walked a mile or so down the road to get out of the construction. After some time waiting in the rain, a van pulled up and I got a ride. There were already two northbound hikers getting a ride as well.
Waiting for a ride!
Upon arrival in Lake City, our kind driver took us to the bakery and I got amazing cinnamon and caramel rolls. Then we got we got dropped off at the post office to pick up our packages.
On San Luis Peak I was able to call my dad and ask if he knew anywhere to stay in Lake City. He got a reservation at a motel and insisted that he pay. Thanks Dad! Once in town, I discovered that there was a great hostel, but a room to myself was a great way to relax.
I had two beds!
After taking a shower, I opened the door to go get something to eat. I was shocked to see and hear a mighty rain storm. I had to put on my rain jacket. I was craving pizza, but I made my way to the High Country Market, a new store that is making an effort to serve hikers. I bought some fresh fruit, ice cream, a cookie, and an excellent Greek sandwich. This is their website: http://www.thehighcountrymarket.com/
I spent the evening watching TV, packing up my resupply, and doing laundry in the sink.
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