CDT mile 724.5, Miles hiked 17
Rare snow-free sections
We awoke in the marshy meadow and began the morning rituals, cook our breakfast and pack up to tackle the day. We climbed from the valley into the snow and trudged our way up to the ridge. We stopped by a lake to grab some water before moving on. The snow was soft and deep, the warm temps last night prevented refreezing and we had to slog our way through deep snow post-holing at times to our waist or crotch.
The six of us worked our way along the ridge at 9 am we took a 20-minute break to dry our gear from the previous nights’ condensation. It was cool and windy and our gear dried fast in the sun. We saw Mulhe a retired doctor who had skipped ahead on her hike avoiding the South San Juan Mountains and was working her way to the Creede cutoff. The last time I saw her was in Lordsburg the morning I was going to the border. She looked at me and said, my Allgood you have lost a lot of weight. It is true, I am down over 25lbs and looking very healthy these days.
After our break we continued on the trail here, following a ridge line for the day and we worked our way up and down, we all put on snowshoes to help with the post-holing. A few miles later and we arrived at the Sawtooth Trail and the Creede cut off. The cut off bisects the mountains and cuts off 80 miles of high country. When I arrived and sat down a new discussion led by Buttercup started. Should we take the cutoff or not? At best we were making 1mph, and with 6 days of food we had to average 15 mpd to make it to our next resupply, some quick math said that today we walk until 9pm and have to hike 15 hours per days to make it in time. I had never really consider the cut off as an option but Buttercup said, “my gut says I need to take it,” I told him, “if you want to go that route I’ll go with you.”
Until we meet again our boy Bandit king of trail food
Ever since we left Chama the last leg did a number on my feet. I have a deep open wound on my heel but worse yet is my right metersal is still sore and red. After some discussion it was decided that Zippy Morocco, Buttercup and I would take the cut off as it felt like the right move for the 3 of us. Zorro, Bandit and Wilderness wanted to carry on the official route, it was a sad parting for sure. We gave them extra food and they decided to push 9 days to make it to Lake City. It was hard to say goodbye, especially to Bandit.
Riders on the storm, one of the factors we choose the low route
Bandit has hiked with me since my 6th day on trail and has been like a little brother to me. We each gave each other a long hug and knew it might be the last we see of each other on the hike. All the laughs and experiences flowed up and I had to fight back some tears and let him go on his own. I know he’ll be good and with his new romantic interest maybe some alone time will be good for him. The three of them packed up and started up the ridge right as the daily thunder began. The forecast is calling for afternoon thunderstorms daily and the weather along with our slow speed played a big factor in deciding to go down.
As we descended I started to doubt if I was making the right decision. Would my hiker friends that I respect think less of me because I took the cutoff, was I being a wuss? It is never easy to know when to call it and when you do the emotions that come with it are tougher than the decision itself. As we descend down the valley we had a few tricky river crossings. One in particular was so bad I decided to put on my micro spikes to make it across the log, when I pulled my spike on the rubber that hold it around your foot tore on half, I guess the universe was sending me a message that I made the right call.
The rivers and creeks swollen by snow melt
The three of us hiked together talking about what we had decided and how we would go on once in Creede. The freedom the CDT provides is great and I know I made the right decision for me now based on the conditions and the terrain in front of me. Buttercup and I are already planning a visit once we are done our hike on the CDT to come back through the San Juans when the weather is nice and the snow is gone.
The burned out forest
Nothing ventured nothing gained is how I view my call and trip into the San Juans, I will hike another day and be thankful I had the fortitude to set my ego aside and make the smart call for myself.
