CDT - Day 57 - Alternate Routes
This morning I was the last one to leave camp. IQ, Sticks & Stones, and Steady had all packed up and headed out before me. That was expected—we had talked the night before about what time everyone planned to leave, and I knew I'd be bringing up the rear. I usually wake up around 5:30 a.m. and try to be on the trail between 6:30 and 7:00.
The day started with a steep climb up to a ridgeline. Once I reached about 12,000 feet, my phone suddenly came to life with a flood of notifications. I often get cell service on the higher peaks. I sent out a few messages, and within a couple of minutes Kimberly called me.
It's always nice to hear her voice after a few days without any contact. As much as I enjoy the solitude of these hikes, I still crave human connection. It can get pretty lonely out here. We talked for 43 minutes while I sat on the ridge at 12,000 feet. Eventually, I had to get moving, descend back into the forest, and continue my day.
The hiking was challenging once again. It was hot and sunny all day, and every climb and descent seemed steeper than it probably was. I continued following the Purple Line (Mirror Lake Alternate) until mile 18.7, where I took a well-known cutoff that saved me about three miles of hiking. The only catch was that I had to cross a couple of creeks.
One of the creek crossings didn't have an easy rock-hop, so I took off my shoes and walked through it. The water was only shin deep and felt amazing after hiking in the heat.
After a few more miles on the Purple Line, I connected with the Blue Line (the Old CDT Trail) before eventually rejoining the Red Line, the official CDT route. The CDT is often described as a "choose your own adventure" trail because of its many alternates, shortcuts, and opportunities to explore.
I never did catch up with my new friends. I'm pretty sure they were a few miles ahead of me by the end of the day.
After 18 miles and roughly 3,500 feet of climbing and descending, I was exhausted. I found the perfect campsite next to a stream and decided to call it a day.