CT Part 6- To the End!

With consistently wet weather in the forecast and only 75 miles left to go, I headed out of Silverton for my last few days on the trail.

Day 25- Hiking in the Ocean

The first day out of Molas Pass was very wet with off-and-on rain and the clouds hanging low over the mountains all day.

We passed numerous waterfalls, including some flowing so strongly that they couldn’t be crossed without getting wet.

After passing Cascade Creek, we experienced a brief period of sunshine and blue skies before the clouds moved back over us. As the afternoon wore on and the clouds moved in, so did the rain. We ended our day with a few hours of steady rain, including setting up our tents.

Day 26- Rain, But No Water

I felt very strong on my second-to-last day and not at all that I was slogging along, like this inchworm found during a Reset Dry in the morning sun.

Encouragement from a trail sign before the last section of trail above treeline.

The San Juans provided some of the best views of the trail, like along this last ridge before descending to Taylor Lake and the end of the long dry stretch.

Day 27- To the End!

The last morning on the trail and a very early start to complete the last 22 miles before 2 p.m., when I had a ride coordinated with a friend. After the trail goes over a small pass, it descends and wanders through a canyon for a number of miles, keeping the morning cool.

As I continued to approach Durango, the trail began to change, becoming drier and sunnier. The trees transitioned into a ponderosa forest with a mix of trees and shrubs underneath. It reminded me of small portions of Yosemite National Park.

Made it to the end! What an incredible journey and I had spent so much time using trekking poles that I didn’t know what to do with my hands without them. If you have been following along with my posts, I hope you have enjoyed them and haven’t forgotten that the Colorado Trail is on land stolen from the Cheyenne, Ute, Jicarilla Apache, and Pueblos.