Snowy and tougher than expected. Colorado is beautiful, but the San Juan’s in early June sure don’t give it up easy. 20s are the new 30s. 3:30 starts, spikes, glissades, hail and thunderstorms, and 12k feet. I feel like I’m re-starting the trail, the learning curve and strength training curve just reset. No ice axe yet, but this next stretch might do it. Glad to have lovely friends to keep morale high. Bring it on Colorado.
Got some stealth camping in daytime picnic areas to a blood red ashy sky and some spooky looking vultures. Finally hit the Gila and heard some strange sounding cows at 3am. The Gila is lush and ripe, and seeing so many natural water sources was exciting. Doc Campbell’s was a hiker trash oasis, so many new faces to meet! Are we meeting up with a bubble?
Hot start to the trail for a couple of Boston kiddos, but it’s not too bad. Got fortunate with the weather, first day was about 70 and cloudy. Scorched the back of my legs. Met some cool folks, but all different paces. Seen a fair amount of wildlife, rattlers, antelope, hogs, cows. Hike going smoothly so far. Canada or bust!
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