I want more time. 8-21

I'm getting sick of 18-23 mile days. I want to be able to slow down, and enjoy this a bit more. But right now it feels like we either try to do bigger miles and finish before August 31st, maybe on it, which would mean I literally would have to be at work the next day, or relax, take our time and don't finish. I don't like the idea of either of them, but once I start something I like to finish it so for now we're still pedal to the floor.

Buena Vista was awesome. Thank you so much for all the boxes!! We had a ton of food to snack on while we were in town, and have plenty of snacks now.

Surprises 8/22

Today was full of surprises. Starting from the moment we hit the trail, at 8:30!! That's pretty good for us since we normally don't get on trail until around 9:30-10. As we went down a hill we noticed some raspberries, lots of raspberries, so naturally we sat down and ate our fill. Coming up a mountain that was very dry, and hot we both smelled a camp fire, which would be weird that early in the day. Upon summiting I saw a pile of smoking embers near the bottom of a dead stump, and no one around. I did Smokey proud by putting the fire completely out, all naturally, and honestly feel like I prevented a wildfire. We passed a fold up sports authority chair, which I relaxed in for a moment, brought to you by Sports Authority. After the desert environment, we entered a wet, green, luscious aspen forest, that changed from all aspen to all pine in a matter of steps, very cool. We ended our 19 mile day on the edge of twin lakes, which is huge, watching the sun set over mountains reflected in the lake below them, sitting by a nice warm fire.

8/19 Buena Vista

Well, we made it. I don't think 4-5 of my posts published, so here's what you've missed...

We got Bo taken care of, and a ride to Denver with people to watch him.

Watched the Animas river turn yellow, glad it was not a water source!

Crossed through 2-3 wilderness areas.

Passed the half way point, and hiked over 200 miles.

Did lots of road walking to get from mountain range to mountain range.

Hung out in a cool horse trailer for an afternoon.

Ran out of fuel, so it has been fire, or don't eat. We've been having lots of fires. Hope to get fuel this morning...

Split with the continental divide trail.

Camped on the top of a mountain and saw literally every star in the northern hemisphere. Was awoken by a furious thunder battle, and after that passed, we heard a chorus of coyotes all morning.

Hiked 5 miles the wrong way, yes we hiked the 5 miles back making it a 10 mile detour. However, we did get ice cream and sandwiches.

Stephie is pondering between Fievel, and Tiger Lilly for a trail name.

And made it to Buena Vista.

8/11 not a thru hike until Bo makes it one

There are lots of similarities between the AT and the CT. People are amazing, views are some that no one else will ever experience, same with the entire experience. But Bo wanted to make it feel more like my first thru hike. He wanted me to freak out, think my trip was over, then realize I have some pretty incredible friends, finish the hike, and make me feel bad when I see him again. So far we're still waiting on the incredible friends to come through, but it looks like we might luck out after all. If anyone is available to watch him for a week, weekend, or 3 weeks in Denver let me know. I'm antsy to get him all squared away, but the fact that some people are so willing to help out is not only humbling but also renewing of my faith in humanity. It seems like every time I lose faith in humanity, spending so much with people who are only looking out for themselves, all it takes is for me to go to the middle of nowhere, and have a problem before I realize: 1. My previous problems weren't that big (don't make a mountain out of a mole hill) 2. Good people tend to look out for each other and 3. There are good people every where you go, you just have to find them.

8/10 the end?

Well Bo has managed to make me question yet another thru hike. I thought bringing him with us would make it easier, ha! He did great, for a while, until he took off after a marmot on a cliff one afternoon. He came back with some blood on his paws but kept up with us off the leash, and seemed alright. But this morning he wouldn't even get up to eat his breakfast, I had to put it in front of him. Stephie carried him across the street once we got into town, and he limps when he walks. I think his trip is over, but now what do we do?

Right now we're in lake city, who's post office is inept.

8/7 half day Friday

We woke up kinda late this morning, and as we were packing up, Maleak showed up. We flip flopped with him as we climbed, and descended various mountains through the end of the San Juans. Which were absolutely amazing! We got into a wilderness area and climbed up a mountain that has a couple creeks running through it's valley meadow at 12,300 feet just outside Silverton. Bo was the happiest I've seen him this whole trip today as he ran around next to the trail off leash for a bit. We joined up with the continental divide trail today as well... I could see us doing that. We climbed pretty much all day, ups and downs, as we were getting close to another climb that would put us near 13,000 feet  Maleak came walking down the trail towards us, going South. He told us the from the ridge he could see a couple of storm systems coming our way. We decided we would wait them out rather than run 6 miles on a ridge that goes from 12,500" - 13,000" with absolutely no cover. One storm has passed, and the other is on the way. I think we'll stay here tonight and get up early tomorrow to watch the sun raise from the ridge.

A cold morning 8/8

Last night didn't get above 50 degrees, when I got up at 5:30 to go to the little boys tree it was no where near 50, and it was wet. I was grumpy, to say the least. We camped at the head waters of the Rio Grande, and eventually made our way to the continental divide trail, crossed the 100 mile mark, and reached the highest peak on the Colorado Trail 13,271 feet. I felt so good climbing to that point that I decided I would go another 100 or so feet up to the top of the mountain. I put a rock on the highest peak and by the time I got it balanced Stephie was at the top, she didn't take one break, I am still impressed. Tonight we camped about 400 feet altitudinaly down from the trail, but are still at 12,600 feet. It's gonna be another cold one, but I will not be getting up at 5:30. We didn't really think about days for mailing foods so now we can relax and take 2 days to go 14 miles because tomorrow is Sunday and as Harry Potter put it so well: "There's no post on Sundays."