Heat waves, Canyons and Cool Water

The best way to start a thru-hike is with transition time. I had the luxury of free accommodation at a friend’s place in the Denver area before I started my hike. Not only did I get to have a great visit with my friend, but the time gave me the chance to tour the area a bit, acclimatize to the higher elevation and pick up some last-minute supplies.

I was surprisingly nervous about starting the Colorado Trail. There were some nearby wildfires to keep an eye on, a heat wave to contend with, and my own doubting demons to fend off.

Of course I was also excited. I’d been envisioning hiking this trail for a couple years and here I was about to set foot on it. I was ready to experience some Rocky Mountain highs.

Day 1 – Waterton Canyon Trailhead to South Platte River, 16.2 miles

Hikers going southbound on the Colorado Trail start at the less-than-inspiring Waterton Canyon trailhead. Instead of trail, you spend a little over six miles hiking a gravel service road along the dam-regulated South Platte River. The river is part of the reservoir system for the Denver area and a large dam helps maintain a reservoir lake higher up in the canyon.

My friend dropped me at the trailhead a little after 8 am. I was grateful that she suggested I start early because things were already heating up fast. The canyon was somewhat pretty and thankfully the miles passed quickly, but I wasn’t much of a fan of the cyclists whizzing past. It was a relief to reach the end of the road and enter the cooler forest on real trail.

I’d made good time on the road and motored right along once I was on the trail. My trail name is Hummingbird and I live up to it with my quick pace and bright colors.

There was a small creek a few miles into the forest that was a perfect spot to take a mid-day break. It was shaded and had a few good rocks to sit on while soaking my feet in the cool creek water.

The next few miles ascended steadily. As I climbed I started hearing the occasional and distant rumble of thunder. It was so hot out that it was no surprise to see clouds building. The wind picked up a bit, as did the thunder. I could see the dark clouds and even some rain on the next ridge over. The question was, would it come my way?

I would’ve liked to take a longer break at the high point which had some really cool boulders to sit on and a great view, but I didn’t want to risk getting caught in the thunderstorm so instead made my way steadily downhill.

I would’ve liked to take a longer break at the high point which had some really cool boulders to sit on and a great view, but I didn’t want to risk getting caught in the thunderstorm so instead made my way steadily downhill.

I reached the campground around 3:30 pm and found it quite busy with other CT hikers as well as some locals enjoying the river. I was briefly overwhelmed and worried I wouldn’t find a decent camp spot.

After a few minutes of hunting around I found an okay spot. I got my tent set up just in time – rain started to fall just as I was unpacking my gear. Another thunderstorm had crept over the ridge and was making its presence known.

Thankfully it didn’t last very long, and it brought some cool air behind it. I rinsed off a bit in the river, once again enjoying the cool water on my swollen feet. My left foot had started feeling a bit painful halfway through my day, which I definitely wasn’t happy about. I’d opted for a thicker-soled shoe, a style I’d worn in New Zealand from Inov-8. I knew from earlier in the year that I’d have a break-in period with these shoes but I hadn’t anticipated any pain.

I’d met quite a few other hikers through the day and had the chance to sit down and chat with some of them a bit more over dinner. It’s hard to say so early on who I’ll pace with but it certainly doesn’t look like I’ll be alone on this trail.