CDT - Day 84 - Leaving Saratoga
After three nights in Saratoga, I was ready to get back on the trail. My ride fell through once again, so I decided to rely on hitchhiking instead. Three of the hikers staying with me at the Agape House managed to get a ride right in front of the church. After they left, Hiker Greg and I tried our luck. The guy who picked us up took us to Encampment, where we hitched a second ride to Battle Pass. A friendly older couple in a van picked us up and dropped us off at the trailhead.
The hiking was mostly uneventful until the last couple of miles. We missed an unmarked junction and ended up hiking nearly a mile off trail. I suggested we try bushwhacking back to the CDT, but it quickly became obvious that wasn't going to work. The slope was too steep, and there were far too many downed trees. In the end, we had to backtrack all the way to the junction, adding about three bonus miles to the day. After 14 miles, feeling tired and thoroughly beaten up by the trail, we finally reached the campsite we had originally planned to stay at.
Today was also one of those days where I tripped and fell multiple times, adding to the frustration. I scraped up my leg and drew a little blood, but nothing serious. I cleaned the cuts, got back on my feet, and kept moving. I was definitely getting frustrated, but I managed to keep my spirits up. My only goal was to make it to camp, eat dinner, and sleep it off.
Sometimes the trail wins. You just have to embrace the brutality.