Colorado Trail Day 3 18 July 2018
/I had a little over half a liter of water to get me to the next water source close to the end of Segment 2 - 5 miles away. It was early morning and the air was still cool.Most of the trail would be downhill, easier.And because we dry camped last night, this was all the water I had left. There was nothing to do but start hiking and get to the spigot before the heat came on full blast.
After camping in a grove of pine trees, I thought that the burn section was over but very soon I found myself back in that exposed dry landscape. The trail wove around small ridge lines with new growth emerging up from the fire stained ground. This second burn area seemed to go on forever. I desperately wanted tree cover to shield me from the sun’s rays. Even at 8am, the air was fast becoming hot. We were facing another day in the upper 80’s. I just kept my mind focused on the emergency water spigot. Water! Water!. Is this the PCT all over again? I wanted Segment 2 to end.
But eventually I did make it to the spigot and I was very grateful. No filtering of water required for this site! I downed a full liter at the source. I put my buff under the cold wet and then slipped it on over my head. Oh the cool relief was ecstatic happiness! And yet a sudden weariness overcame me and I thought about the miles we had to put in to get us into Segment 3. I swallowed a salt tablet and then almost brought it back up. I steadied myself and sat in the shade breathing. No! I will not relive the PCT!
I asked one of the other thru hikers at the spigot about my lack of hunger. He advised me to just graze though out the day and not eat large meals till I was ready. So my plan is to have some nuts and dried fruit at every stop. I absolutely need fuel to hike these miles.
At the end of Segment 2 and the start of Segment 3, we made use of a latrine stationed for hikers and campers. Then I lay down on my sleeping pad and let the morning’s hike drift away from my body. I needed some rest to get myself motivated for the next section. I left before Ed and Julie and began the wandering trek along the trail. After a few miles, I stopped again to rest. I wasn’t making good time. I lay on my pad and watched a slender aspen tree’s circular leaves shimmer in the light wind. Eventually I started moving again. But it was a struggle. Maybe it was the elevation gain from Segment 1 and 2. Maybe it was my lack of appetite.
We had made a plan to hike 5.1 miles into Segment 3 and set up camp near a reliable water source which ended up being a very small trickle and a very small pool of water. But Ed managed to filter enough water so we could make dinner and have available water for the night. The camp site became quite popular as other hikers showed up. We all shared our stories and reasons for thru hiking the CT. I was actually able to eat most of my dinner and was suddenly feeling better.
That night I awoke at 1am to absolute stillness and quiet. The air held in place. The insects seemed to have flown to another forest. The stick clickers had abandoned this dense wooden gulch along the trail. Between the tops of pine trees I could see stars blinking in the far away night sky. I had never heard such a quiet night on the trail. It was a patient hush waiting for the first light and the renewal of the day. And soon it was indeed morning. And the breakdown of camp would commence as would another day of hiking. For that is why we are here - to hike and surround ourselves with this Colorado wilderness that both demands and pours out its wonders.
