Day 86 (July 20, 2021)

1367.2 to 1379.4 (12.2 miles)

We were lazy getting up this morning. Just Jim had laid out a mileage plan for us to get to Rabbit Ears Pass (to get into Steamboat Springs) that had us going about 12 miles the first day. This plan is important for two reasons. First, it splits up two large climbs over two days. Second, it gives us a realistic goal of when to reach Rabbit Ears Pass/Steamboat Springs because.... my wife is going to meet us there!

We ate breakfast leisurely at a coffee shop, went back and packed up, and headed for the grocery store for our resupply. The store was nearly at the point we needed to start hitchhiking back into RMNP where we left yesterday, so it worked nicely. As we were putting the food into our packs, Just Jim made a sign saying where we needed to go. At that moment, a National Forest Service employee going into the store saw the sign and offered to take us. Another thumbless hitch. Insane.

Our hike started well with a moose and moose calf sighting. (In the trees so no good picture.) We saw several groups of hikers on their way out for the weekend. I also saw another moose several miles later when I fell behind for a needed break.

It was warm at first, making for a sweaty climb towards Bowen pass, our first big climb of this segment. However, the usual afternoon storms started developing as we approached tree line and the temperature dropped to a comfortable level. The bad news was that we needed to make it over the pass before any severe storm developed. We made it over and back into treeline before it started raining. And, despite the rumbling thunder, nothing severe.

The remaining trail to our campsite was somewhat frustrating; there were a lot of blow downs. Not one severe area, but individual ones all over. It is hard to complain after seeing the tremendous effort put into clearing them in other places. Indeed, it might me that because of all the effort needed elsewhere this section had not yet been cleared. But.... it was still taxing to have to get around them. It is even more work when the trail is traversing a steeper slope. Bottom lines: it just makes it harder. We all commented how the last couple of miles before camp had taken a toll on us.

Our campsite was based on comments in Guthook and is a good spot in the trees. The rain has stopped so we got together to cook our suppers. A good day, if slightly more tiring than expected.