Tag: Colorado

• [Day 121] Unfinished

  

  Radio check. Is this message received? Today will be my last day on the Continental Divide for some time. I am unsure if there exists any readership on my posts, but an audience was never my intention. My blog is intentionally search-engine restricted. For now, I prefer limited reach. In the future, if I find…

  jarodlyles

  September 1, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 120] Above Treeline

  

  A day before Waterton Lake, I lost my tent stakes. Today, I left behind my spoon, the sole food consumption utensil I own, at my lunch spot. I realized my mistake when I put together dinner tonight. However, going back 14 miles for my beloved titanium spoon that accompanied my meals from Mexico to Canada…

  jarodlyles

  August 31, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 119] Collegiate West

  

  I was started by 9am this morning on the steep climb up Hope Pass. At this point, there are no standards. I finished my continuous walk and now I’m picking up mileage where as I’d like. Undoubtedly, I have decided: I will return for another border-to-border hike of the Continental Divide. 🗓️ Date August 30th…

  jarodlyles

  August 30, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 66] Halfway

  

  My 7am start was proper, but not ideal. Hiking down from camp at North Lake, the blowdowns were fairly numerous within the first five miles. I was side tracking a blowdown to its tip to get around. I stepped from log to log when the bark failed on my next step forward. Tumbling forward, I…

  jarodlyles

  June 30, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 65] Snow or Swamp

  

  The mosquitoes were not in attendance this morning. I presume last night’s air temperature was too cold for most of them. I packed up, downed a liter of water, and headed for the snow. 🗓️ Date June 29th ⇢ Mileage 25.3 📍 Trip Mileage 1398.9 ⛅️ Weather Sunny 55°F with late day clouds 🏞️ Trail…

  jarodlyles

  June 29, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 64] Walk the Plank

  

  I’m walking off “The Boat.” Colorado prods me to exit this state. First, I was forced to highway walk around Rocky Mountain National Park. Okay, I can live with this (though I hear people are sneaking their way through the closure). Then, I was in and out of “The Boat” in a matter of six…

  jarodlyles

  June 28, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 63] Going

  

  I woke up around 6am to an unpleasant windstorm. Despite the wind, I slept well. I hit snooze for another hour and started hiking around 7:30am. 🗓️ Date June 27th ⇢ Mileage 37.0 📍 Trip Mileage 1362.4 ⛅️ Weather Sunny 65°F; extreme winds early in the day 🏞️ Trail Conditions Ridge walking to forested roads…

  jarodlyles

  June 27, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 62] Parkview Mountain

  

  The day started with a mix of the worst: snow traps, slippery slushy snow from 70°F sunny weather, mosquitoes, steep slopes, and downed trees. Plus, I didn’t get going until 9:30am. Luckily, this rude terrain contouring the mountainside lasted only five miles. Along the way, there was the earthen, sweet smells of volatile organic compounds…

  jarodlyles

  June 26, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 61] Rocky Bypass

  

  I intended to leave Grand Lake early, but other things were on my mind: breakfast and hiking Rocky Mountain National Park. I slowly packed up my stealth camp on a hill near the North Inlet and Tonahutu Creek Trailheads. In the pitch of dark last night, I scavenged the woods for an hour for a…

  jarodlyles

  June 25, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado

• [Day 60] Lake Granby

  

  Today’s racetrack started before 8am. Finally, I hiked some flat miles in Colorado. 🗓️ Date June 24th ⇢ Mileage 20.5 📍 Trip Mileage 1286.9 ⛅️ Weather Sunny and fine 🏞️ Trail Conditions Downhill for the first few miles; flat trail rolling lakeside most of the day I cruised down to Monarch Lake and pushed my…

  jarodlyles

  June 24, 2023

  CDT

  Colorado