[Day 35] Wolf Creek

The day started with a quick first five miles; I began walking around 7:30am. I used the snow to my advantage, cutting nearly a mile off trail distance to Elwood Pass.

After Elwood Pass, the post holing got deep and abundant along the trail corridor. I went through with it for about four miles, until I reach a nice merge with the watershed divide line. The watershed consisted of more up and down travel, but it offered much more compacted hard snow. I’d have to guess this has to do with wind over the ridge line providing some convective effects and the flat angle of incidence between the snow and the sun.

The watershed divide merged with trail again, and I traversed a rather aggressive scree field. The scree field brought me into a hole in the woods, where large tree blowdowns were numerous and unavoidable. I jumped from tree to tree navigating the snow between, doing my best to avoid air pockets created by the downed lumber. I fell through a couple times and nailed my shins on logs. I got back on the watershed divide as soon as I could, and it was more clear of blowdowns. I’m loving the watershed divide: views, better walking conditions, the true divide of the country.

I followed the watershed divide to the Wolf Creek Ski Area. I accidentally followed the wrong ridge line into a valley and had to do gnarly mountain goat maneuvers to get back up on the watershed divide and trail.

In the Wolf Creek Ski Area, I continued in the watershed divide. The ski area had four to five feet of snow still, and some very steep slippery traverses. The watershed divide was very steep (I should have used my ice ax a couple times) and followed directly along a cliff line with a cornice at times, but I found it the better choice.

After climbing to the top of the ski area, I reached a warming hut built for ski patrol, hikers, and backcountry skiers. I used the spot to my advantage and decided to call it camp for the night. Tomorrow, I’ll hitch to Pagosa Springs from Highway 160. Tonight, though, I am listening to BB King and Wayne Dyer’s “How to be a No-Limit Person” as I eat my mix of ramen noodles and dehydrated mashed potatoes. Lightning flashes through the windows of the hut and brief hail storms clink the roof.

Signing off,

Zeppelin