Hot and Winding Trail
Colorado Trail Day 2 – South Platte River to Buffalo Creek, 19.3 miles
As I write this I’m lying in my tent listening to thunderstorms roll by. My timing was perfect – I made it to camp and got my tent set up just as the first drops of rain fell. I’m starting to sense that there’s going to be a pattern to my days until this heat wave breaks.
My second day on the Colorado Trail started early. There wasn’t going to be any water for the first ten miles of the day so I opted to wake up and get hiking early to beat the heat. My alarm went off at 5 am and I managed to roll out of camp just before 6 am. There were some other hikers up and out earlier than me, and a few more right on my heels.
It was still a bit cool as I started up the hill and out of the river valley and I was glad I’d made the decision to get up so early. The trail ascended into a burn zone. Wildfires leave such an indelible mark on the landscape, transforming forests into eroded and rocky slopes. One small positive to enjoy from this burn was the expansive views of the nearby peaks.
Thankfully not all the mountain had burned and the trail was routed back into the forest for a while, offering some much-appreciated shade as the morning warmed.
The trail curled and curved, winding upward around ridges and through bowls. I couldn’t help comparing it to the Appalachian Trail which often seems to cut a straight line along the ridges, going up and over each and every summit.
While I appreciated all the switchbacks, it was a bit frustrating to realize I wasn’t going very far as the crow flies! I had to keep reminding myself that a lot of the Colorado Trail is also build for cyclists, with a maximum grade closer to 10%.
Mid-morning I had a few more miles through the burn area. It was hot and exposed, but I again appreciated the views over the landscape, especially of all the unique boulders formations.
At the tenth mile of the day I reached a road and was able to get some fresh water at the nearby volunteer fire station. Because it’s a decently long waterless stretch they’ve made an outside tap available for use by thru-hikers. It was also the socializing spot of the day as hikers congregated for water and shade.
A few hikers decided to hitch into the nearby town for ice cream but I opted to press on. I had it in mind to do a 19-mile day. The afternoon was hot but the trail was relatively flat and straightforward, and thankfully fully in the forest.
The trail wound past more boulder formations and through another burn area, this one having burnt through the undergrowth, preserving the canopy.
I took lots of breaks, including a 2 pm siesta and coffee break. Some hikers I’d met earlier rolled in just as I was getting set to go and I briefly considered staying and setting up camp with them. But ultimately I pressed on. I wanted to reach the campsite near Buffalo Creek so I could soak my feet and rinse off some of the sweat from the day.
The sky had clouded over towards the end of my siesta. I caught glimpses of dark clouds in the distance but hadn’t yet heard any thunder. Still, I knew it was a race to see whether I’d get to camp before the thunderstorms did, a race that I won!
The thunderstorms and rain lasted a lot longer than yesterday’s. I rested in my tent for over an hour waiting for the thunder and lightning to move past. It was still raining but I really needed to do my chores – collect water, soak my feet, rinse my socks and cook dinner.
Up to this point I’d had the campsite to myself, but three other hikers rolled up just as I was finishing my last bites of supper. I don’t mind camping on my own, but it’s a bit more reassuring to have company.
The storms had brought refreshingly cool air behind them making it much more comfortable for sleeping. What with the early wake-up, the heat and the long miles I was definitely ready for a good nights sleep!
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Comments 1
Segment 2 is a bit of a challenge with zero water, unless you get blessed by a storm and filter the puddles (which I did). The burn is serious, and humbling but it sounds like you did well on it.
Thanks for sharing your CT journey.
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