Segment 8, Colorado Trail, CO (13)
CO (Eagle County)
My plan for this year was to hike from Breckenridge to Twin Lakes, via Leadville, and then hike the Collegiate Loop. That would've been about 200 miles. I didn't even make it to Twin Lakes. For some reason I just wasn't in to hiking this year. Maybe it was the distance, I don't know. The scenery that I had already enjoyed should have spurred me on but it did not.
The hiking for the day was not difficult. The trail went past a few landmarks. First thing in the morning was Cataract Creek Falls. Shortly thereafter the trail went through a meadow until it passes Camp Hale bunker ruins. At 9300' Camp Hale was a military, winter training camp during WWII. I bet it was cold and snowy!
After crossing East Fork Eagle River, the trail reentered the woods. I took a short break at the James Miller Memorial Bench where I contemplated going into Leadville earlier than planned. There are 3 easy access points to Leadville from the Colorado Trail. I was planning to catch a hitch at the end of Segment 8 via Tennessee Pass off of US24. The trail crosses US24 several miles before Tennessee Pass and that is where I decided to go in.
I caught a ride fairly quickly and made it to the Leadville Hostel where my car was parked. I was done hiking but I wasn't done hiking. Less than 35 miles of hiking for this year. Well those were backpacking miles. After getting off the trail I hung around Leadville for a few days. I day hiked the rest of Segment 8 and a portion of Segment 9. I climbed Mount Elbert (start very early to avoid crowds and possible thunderstorms).
So even though I didn't hike as far as I had planned I still had a good time exploring around Leadville.
Segment 8, Colorado Trail, CO (13)
CO (Eagle County)
My plan for this year was to hike from Breckenridge to Twin Lakes, via Leadville, and then hike the Collegiate Loop. That would've been about 200 miles. I didn't even make it to Twin Lakes. For some reason I just wasn't in to hiking this year. Maybe it was the distance, I don't know. The scenery that I had already enjoyed should have spurred me on but it did not.
The hiking for the day was not difficult. The trail went past a few landmarks. First thing in the morning was Cataract Creek Falls. Shortly thereafter the trail went through a meadow until it passes Camp Hale bunker ruins. At 9300' Camp Hale was a military, winter training camp during WWII. I bet it was cold and snowy!
After crossing East Fork Eagle River, the trail reentered the woods. I took a short break at the James Miller Memorial Bench where I contemplated going into Leadville earlier than planned. There are 3 easy access points to Leadville from the Colorado Trail. I was planning to catch a hitch at the end of Segment 8 via Tennessee Pass off of US24. The trail crosses US24 several miles before Tennessee Pass and that is where I decided to go in.
I caught a ride fairly quickly and made it to the Leadville Hostel where my car was parked. I was done hiking but I wasn't done hiking. Less than 35 miles of hiking for this year. Well those were backpacking miles. After getting off the trail I hung around Leadville for a few days. I day hiked the rest of Segment 8 and a portion of Segment 9. I climbed Mount Elbert (start very early to avoid crowds and possible thunderstorms).
So even though I didn't hike as far as I had planned I still had a good time exploring around Leadville.