[Day 47] Collegiate East

My first mile took me 45 minutes. I slipped on my butt (directly on my oozing skin burn) five times within the mile. I was done with the snow. The situation is complicated by the warming conditions. The temperature did not dip below freezing last night, and it was very apparent. At morning time, I post holed in the middle of secluded snowfields with three to four feet of depth up to my waist. Not to mention, there was another wet slide in the lake basin I camped in. Two rumbling avalanche conditions less than eight hours apart is a poor sign. Though avalanche risk is something to be on the look out for, the events were more an concern of excessive snow conditions and rapidly warming temperatures. And, without freezing temperatures at night, the morning hours of snow walking are almost as slow as those at the end of the day.

Yesterday, I started on the CDT’s Collegiate West route. The Collegiate West is an official route of the Colorado Trail, alongside the CT’s more trafficked Collegiate East route. To avoid another 65 miles of rapidly degrading snow conditions that require trailblazing, I decided to cut to the Collegiate East route. The lower elevation route is said to be clear of snow until Twin Lakes, as was reported by a southbound hiker just before I got to Monarch Pass. It’s not my route of preference, but compromise is part of long distance hiking.

The Collegiate East route, along with my cut over, adds mileage in exchange for a nearly snow free trail. I would have pushed on via the Collegiate West route had the snow report been more encouraging. Based on data, I estimated about 80% of trail to still be under snow coverage, and my hike out from Monarch Pass agreed with that estimate. Had the number been closed to 60% snow coverage, and I doubt I’d be on the Collegiate East route, even with the slushed conditions.

The Collegiate East has been uneventful. Though, it is remenisicent at times of Northern California and even some Southern California forest trails on the PCT. It’s rolling terrain near 10,000 feet, and it certainly sees more traffic. I’ve come across more people backpacking or day hiking in the past 20 miles than I’ve seen from the Mexican border to the end of the San Juan’s (in fact, that second number, other than other CDT hikers, might be zero).

I met a trio of hikers — Rick, Ken, and Lizz. They were interested in my journey and encouraged the Appalachian Trail and a visit to Patagonia. I’ve heard high praise of the Andes from other backpackers, and I figure I’ll need to visit at some point.

The end of the day was rainy and wet. The mountains were socked in, so I’d guess the higher country got significant precipitation. I made camp on the bench of a ridge line after 26 and a half miles of hiking.

Signing off,

Zeppelin / fReaK (ON a leash)