Counting Down the Miles on the Colorado Trail

Colorado Trail Days 32 & 33 – Molas Pass to Big Bend Junction, 37 miles

I was back to hiking by myself for the last handful of days of the Colorado Trail. I knew since meeting him that I’d be saying goodbye to Sungod at Silverton. His goal was to continue along the Continental Divide Trail through to New Mexico while I was motivated to complete the last miles of the Colorado Trail. The trails split about 90 miles before the end of the Colorado Trail after having shared a route for over 300 miles.

It was a bittersweet goodbye. Both of us were excited about our trails ahead, grateful for the opportunity to have hiked together for some of the Colorado Trail, and a bit sad to be going our separate ways.

So it was that I found myself hiking up the trail from Molas Pass all by my lonesome. I had other trail friends a day ahead and some a day or two behind but no one else heading out at the same time or the same pace as me.

It felt fitting somehow to spend the last four days of the trail by myself. I had the chance to settle back into my own rhythms and had lots of time to reflect on my experience.

The day coming out of Molas Pass was beautiful. The trail stayed right at tree line, curling in and out along a ridge then sending me once more above 12,000 feet and over a beautiful pass.  I was briefly worried about getting caught in a rainstorm but thankfully the clouds stayed on the other side of the ridge.

Weirdly my knee started hurting a LOT on the climb to the pass. It wasn’t as bad on the downhill but I stopped for the day a couple miles earlier than I’d planned. I relaxed and massaged my leg a fair bit and hoped that it would feel better in the morning.

The next morning started with a downhill which my leg appreciated. It wasn’t anywhere near as sore but still felt a bit stiff. I really didn’t want to finish the trail injured!

Of course all downhills on this trail are followed by ups! I got into a good rhythm though and my knee relaxed. It helped that the landscape kept drawing me forward.

The trail once again sidled along below a ridge staying right at tree line, then popped over a small pass into a basin. The view north was impressive, and included a distant view of unique rock tower formation called Lizard Head.

I was moving well and enjoyed the next climb which took me through to some beautiful meadows below Hermosa Peak, then higher still to gain a ridge.

After a touch of downhill I had my last significant climb for the day through a beautiful alpine bowl to reach Blackhawk Pass.

By this point I’d managed to hike 14 miles. The trail hadn’t been too steep or too technical and my knee hadn’t bothered me since the morning. I was feeling good and decided that I was going to push to do over 20 miles.

I started downhill and stopped at a creek crossing. It would be my last good water source for over 20 miles. I’d decided to take a long break, have an early dinner and drink lots of water while I had easy access to it.

I set out again around 4 pm, planning to hike a couple more hours. The trail paralleled a forest road on the top of a forested ridge, staying to the eastern edge and offering up lots of great views. It was easy trail with pretty mellow ups and downs.

It was getting on towards 6:30 when I decided to call it for the day. I just had to find a campsite. The first one I came to was a bit too hidden in the trees. The second was right next to the road and the next one was occupied by other hikers. I skipped past a slopey site, and then finally found a good one, sheltered by trees but with a peek-a-boo view out to the valley.

In the end I’d managed to hike over 23 miles. It was the first time in years that I’d broken through the 20-mile ceiling. I was thrilled by my progress and was set up to easily complete the trail in just two more days.