Colorado Trail Pre Hike 15 July 2018

It’s Sunday night and I am Littleton, Colorado on the outskirts of Denver. The Waterton Canyon trailhead for the Colorado Trail is 8 miles away. From the hotel where we are spending the night, I can see the canyon carved between the foothills of the Rocky Mountains - Waterton Canyon. Tomorrow we will walk the first 6.2 miles along a dirt road that follows the South Platte River before departing onto a single track trail that will lead us into the shelter of trees as we begin to ascend. The air should be a cool welcoming 62 degrees when we start.

Today the sky darkened with thick grey clouds riding over the crests of the mountains that hover over Colorado Springs.  The air turned from summer heat to an early spring chill with gusts of wind and then soon heavy rain.  There were moments where the entire mountain range with the majestic Pikes Peak were completely hidden in thick voluminous clouds of shadow.   As we drove to Denver, the rain continued to fall.  Knowing that Colorado has had very little precipitation this summer, I was glad for the sudden change in weather.  Hopefully now some small streams almost dry will have trickles of water along the trail.  And we just received word that the last segments closed due to a fire have now reopened so we can complete the trail all the way to Durango.

My thoughts are calm tonight.  I take comfort in the companionship of Ed and Julie.  I feel my hiker energy rising to the surface ready to propel me forward one step at a time.   In the dark of night I know that the trail is out there - 8  miles away - waiting.  And tomorrow I will find myself walking along its pathway.

Tomorrow the hike begins.   And I will let that beginning represent a moment in my life, fleeting and fantastic.