Take a Trek

Day 3: Acclimation Shmacklimation

South of Raleigh Peak to Rolling Creek Trailhead
Day: 17.3 miles
Trip: 40.3 Miles

The sides of my head feel like they’re being lightly squeezed together by a vice grip. I woke up every hour or so, last night, because of this pleasant sensation. Ah, the joys of altitude acclimation.

Finishing off "The Burn"

Finishing off “The Burn”

Myself and a half liter of water polish off the last four miles of “The Burn,” in a little over an hour. Despite the fact that this place is trying to murder me with dryness, it’s quite pleasant on the eyes. If I had more water, battery power, and time, I would take endless photos of this landscape that I hope I never walk through again.

The trail crosses a road that provides access to a voluntary fire department. On the back side of the building is a spigot that is purposely left on for mountain travelers that are in desperate need of water.

Desperately Needed Water

Desperately Needed Water

I am in desperate need of water. Thank you, volunteer fire department.

I set up camp just in time to wait out a thirty-minute thunder storm that rumbles loud enough to shake the ground. The moment it ends, the clouds give way to sunshine, the birds start to sing again, and its as if nothing violent or moderately terrifying ever happened. It’s Rocky Mountain weather. It’s bizarre.

Din Din

Din Din

A mountain biker skids into camp, stopping near the cluster of trees that my tent is pitched beside and blabbers something about camp sites. I’m startled to the point of spitting my rice and rehydrated vegetables all over the ground. I’m far from accustomed to sharing trail with these two-wheeled travelers, but I do think they add an interesting element to the long-distance hiking experience.

Anatoli is a long-distance mountain biker, a “bikepacker.” He is currently “thru-biking” the entire 500-mile Colorado trail in one ride. He’ll actually clock more than 500 miles, since mountain bikers are required to detour around the five wilderness areas that the CT traverses. Anatoli began his journey forty miles ago, in Waterton Canyon. It took him twelve hours to reach the same cluster of trees that required me three days to reach. I’m intrigued by his fancy one-speed bike, the variety of strangely shaped storage compartments that it carries, and all of the other ultralight this and that. More interesting than any of this though, is the fact that Anatoli is carrying way too much food. “It’s just too much weight,” he says over and over again. Since my food cache is running a little light, I’m happy to take 840 calories worth of mashed potatoes and energy bars off of his hands.

Anatoli

Anatoli

Hey, maybe I can just panhandle my way to Durango.