Day 84 (July 18, 2021)

1315.6 to 1341.9 (26.3 miles)

A marathon day! Wasn’t planned that way, but it worked out.

First of all, the weather was good all day. Second, there was only one big climb in the early afternoon, but it was all at once and not excessive. Third, the trail was good (though not labeled well at several intersections.)

Feral had camped just 0.2 miles behind Just Jim and I and walked up just as we were breaking camp. We initially set a goal to camp about 4 miles before Grand Lake.

I didn’t take many pictures today and I don’t know why. So a quick description of the day:

• First stop was a trailhead with a double privy, a trash can, and a picnic table. Nice!
• The remainder of the morning trail was all in forests but a drier environment. The trail gradually climbed over a high point of land to begin a steep, switchbacked descent to Monarch Lake.
• We ate lunch near the Monarch Lake outlet at a picnic table. Feral decided he was going for a dip after lunch.
• After Monarch Lake the trail was at first a road through cabins and campgrounds. Lots of people.
• The road turned to trail along an arm of Lake Granby. It initially climbed slightly up the side of a ridge line but bounced up and down. Eventually it climbed with switchbacks up to climb over the ridge toward the Colorado River.
• Though hiking along the Colorado River, it looks and acts like a lake as it approaches Lake Granby, and only acts like a river as it approaches Grand Lake upstream.
• In this area the trail crosses into and out of Rocky Mountain National Park several times, which is confusing.
• At our planned spot to camp, Just Jim convinced me that with the good trail and a decently fast pace, we could make Grand Lake tonight. (There is both the lake and the town named Geand Lake.) Skeptical at first, I was swayed when he found online a BBQ restaurant that stays open late. With pulled pork dancing in my brain we pushed on.
• We did make good time and reached Grand Lake before sunset. The route into town passes through an area with very nice vacation homes ($$$$).
• Pockets texted she would be in town as well! She met us at the restaurant. The team is back together.
• We are staying at the Shadowcliff Hostel, a really cool place perched high above the Colorado River feeding Grand Lake. It’s a steep climb up to it, but worth it.
• The pulled pork was worth the effort.