Day 84: Limping out of Steamboat

Mileage: 22.1 miles (1369.5-1391.6)

I sat around and drank coffee and played with River, the puppy, until a little bit before nine. He chewed on my fingers and toes like they were rawhide and I just egged him on, tossing him around tussling the fur around his neck. 

Then I got dropped off at gas station so I could hitch to back to the pass. Literally the third guy who drove by pulled over and asked where I was going - he said no problem. Sometimes it's just that easy. We talked a bit as we drove about hunting Elk and his home back in Denver and when he dropped me off we took a selfie together so he could show his wife.

I talked to Laura on the phone and the signal kept cutting out - the frustration of keeping in-touch was boiling over in our communication. Either I was out of range or she was busy. When we did get on the phone it would just be for a few minutes and half the time the signal was terrible. It just wasn't working very well, but we were trying our best.

I walked past a bunch of lakes with the classic blend of reds, yellows, and purple - the Colorado wildflowers. Nearing the Wyoming border I wouldn't see that combo too much longer so I tried to savor every meadow and vista.

I caught up with Lion King and his wife and ate lunch with them. We exchanged stories and swapped info about who was ahead and behind. The mosquitoes were horrific so I got moving pretty quick after I finished eating. I listened to music and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Heading into Zirkel Wilderness I passed a guy who turned out to be a filmmaker as well. We talked a bit and then he asked if he could pray for me. I figure it couldn't hurt so I told him to go for it.

I kept moving but there was lightning up high so I decided to camp early. My right foot has really been bothering me and I might need to hitch back to Steamboat to get new shoes or otherwise take care of it soon or else I could be in trouble. 

I tried adding more support with gauze which kind of worked but now a different part of my foot hurts. I might end up with a stress fracture if I'm not careful. I should get new shoes ASAP. Maybe I can hitch out with Lion King's wife tomorrow if it's still pretty bad?

Day 83: Roadwalk into Steamboat Springs

Mileage: 21 miles (1348.5-1369.5)

I woke up at 4:30am and saw stars so I decided to get moving after night of rain. I wrote a quick Facebook post asking if there were any trail angels in Steamboat, and a guy named Austin immediately responded, saying he'd be happy to pick me up at the pass. What a guy! There was a great sunrise, speckling the clouds with shades of pink, orange, and gold. 

As I went to charge my home so I could call Austin later in the day my battery pack shorted out. I was on 4% and it seemed improbable that it would last the few hours I needed to let Austin know when I was an hour from the pass.

I blew it off, angry at the battery that seemed so shoddy, and just walked down the muddy roads. The deep purple lupine was back in droves with the Colorado blue columbine. Mule deer dotted the fields, and also some cows. I pushed myself hard, trying to get to the pass by the time I told Austin, even if couldn't get ahold of him.

I cut a corner across a meadow to avoid a hill but then almost had to ford the at least waist deep Grizzly Creek - luckily found a beaver dam and crossed on top of that. I was happy to get on the highway and off the private property which was signed prominently off the paved road.

My phone died when I tried call Austin and I thought I was done for and would have to hitch into town. But, I tried turning it on a few hours later and it worked! I don't understand iPhone battery, but we arranged for the pickup around 11am.

I walked the paved roads all the way to highway 40, seeing a tent along the way, with muddy prints leading to the site. I wondered which CDT hikers these were....I'd followed their prints for miles, but had no idea who it was. I wasn't planning on waking them up either.

At Muddy Pass I met Austin and his adorable golden retriever puppy, River. We hopped in his pickup and River chewed on my hand the whole way into town.

After we stopped by his house and I took a shower we grabbed some food, Iresupplied, and sat on the couch while Austin took a nap. Another hiker, Delightful, also stayed at his house that night and brought some beers. We ordered a pizza and fell asleep watching "Dangerous Fish Monsters" or something like that.