CDT - Day 51 - Wind, Falling Trees and Tacos
For the first time in a while, I woke up warm. During the night, I actually had to take my socks off because my feet felt like they were on fire. I even took off my beanie.
The hiking today was mostly uphill through the forest. For much of the day, it felt like I was trapped in a never-ending sea of trees. If it weren't for the relentless wind, it would have been unbearably hot. The sun was out all day without a single cloud in the sky. At one point, I was hiking through a forest of dead trees when the wind knocked one down right next to me. After that, I picked up my pace a little. Things got much better around mile 10 when I came across a trail angel camp run by an older couple. They spend days at the trailhead cooking breakfast and lunch for thru-hikers, much like Camp Oasis back in New Mexico. They made me tacos and offered soda, chips, and oranges. Another CDT hiker, Hulk, was there as well, and we chatted for a while.
It was an amazing experience and gave me the energy I needed for the next 12 miles of hiking. Water is definitely becoming more scarce. Instead of flowing creeks and abundant water sources, I found myself carefully planning where to refill. I eventually decided to hike down to Baldy Lake for water and a campsite, even though it meant a steep climb back up to the trail the next morning.
A group of three Colorado Trail hikers also camped at the lake. The only redeeming qualities of the campsite were the reliable water source and the flat tent sites. Unfortunately, the entire area was surrounded by dead trees, which had all of us feeling a bit uneasy.
Thankfully the wind stayed calm through the night.