CDT - Day 62 - Kokomo Pass
Last night, I could smell smoke from one of the nearby wildfires. At first, I thought someone had started a campfire near my campsite, but the smell grew stronger as the night went on. By morning, the smoke had mostly dissipated.
I overslept by a few minutes because it was cold and I was way too comfortable under my quilt. Eventually, I forced myself to get up, make some coffee, and hit the trail. The day started off great, with the first few miles following an old railroad grade. I was able to cruise along and knock out the miles until I reached the Camp Hale Trailhead, where I accidentally took the wrong trail. I've done that more times than I'd like to admit, but this one was especially annoying because I climbed about a quarter mile up a steep mountainside before realizing my mistake. Oh well—just a few bonus miles and a little extra elevation gain.
The next several miles were fairly steep before the trail eventually mellowed out into a more manageable climb.
The ascent to Kokomo Pass was enjoyable, with incredible views near the top. After reaching the pass, I still had several more climbs before crossing another high pass later in the day. By the time I reached camp, I had hiked 24 miles and climbed roughly 5,000 feet.
I met quite a few southbound Colorado Trail hikers today. One couple in particular caught my attention because I immediately recognized their South African accents. We stopped and chatted for a while before continuing on our respective journeys.
Later in the afternoon, as I approached Copper Mountain Ski Resort, I noticed a large plume of smoke rising behind me. It looks like there may be another wildfire, possibly much closer than the others. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the fire reports over the next few days. Tonight I'm camped near the ski resort, just off Interstate 70, which means I have excellent cell service. It also means I can stop by the convenience store and pick up a few extra snacks before tomorrow's 17-mile hike.