Glenn had been six days on the trail when I met up with him on Saturday morning at Kenosha Pass; he said he smelled funky, but since I don’t have a sense of smell, I couldn’t tell. The main point of my driving out there was to drop off Glenn’s snowshoes, heavier hiking boots, and gaiters; apparently Georgia Pass is pretty messy with snow right now. We hiked six miles to Jefferson Creek, where we stripped down to wade (OMG cold) and then set up camp; it is just before the climb to Georgia Pass begins, so it was pretty flat and easygoing terrain. The Colorado Trail is very busy, full of horseback riders and mountain bikers. Glenn told me a useful tip about sharing the trail with mountain bikers: when you let them pass you, you should always stand on the lower side of the path, because mountain bikers are easily spooked by large packs and they might rear or bolt. Or maybe he was talking about horses, I don’t remember which.
At our little campsite, we started a campfire so Glenn could take a hiker-bath, which consists of standing in the smoke of a fire until it covers up the stench of body odor and sweat that comes from hiking for days without washing. I also appreciated the mosquito-deterrent; I’ve never camped anywhere really buggy, and even with a generous dousing of Deet and smoke on my body, I’m covered in bites.
I gave Glenn my freeze-dried beef stroganoff because I’m such a nice person. I finally cooked the little oxygen absorber packet in my meal.
This should be my last involvement in the Great Colorado Loop for some time now, so my weekends are my own again. Anyone interested should follow Glenn’s journal on his website, or check out his stuff on Trailjournals.com.
Sidenote: I’ve noticed a change in my hiking style: I used to be about food when I hiked - I was hungry constantly and I’d have to bring a goodly amount of candy bars and snacks to make it through one; however, lately, I only need minimal food but I’m finding myself slurping down water like a drowning person. Not that I don’t enjoy the snacks still, but I feel more refreshed and energized by drinking water than I do by eating.
At our little campsite, we started a campfire so Glenn could take a hiker-bath, which consists of standing in the smoke of a fire until it covers up the stench of body odor and sweat that comes from hiking for days without washing. I also appreciated the mosquito-deterrent; I’ve never camped anywhere really buggy, and even with a generous dousing of Deet and smoke on my body, I’m covered in bites.
 |
| Looking up at the sky from our sleeping mats. |
Sidenote: I’ve noticed a change in my hiking style: I used to be about food when I hiked - I was hungry constantly and I’d have to bring a goodly amount of candy bars and snacks to make it through one; however, lately, I only need minimal food but I’m finding myself slurping down water like a drowning person. Not that I don’t enjoy the snacks still, but I feel more refreshed and energized by drinking water than I do by eating.
No comments:
Post a Comment