Above treeline, Segment 23, Colorado Trail, CO (3)
CO (San Juan County)
Day 5 near headwaters Elk Creek to Cataract Lake
After Stony Pass the frustration began. A trail sign indicated that Cataract Lake was 12 miles away. The databook said it was 10, which I continued to reference as I hiked. I didn't catch the difference. It seemed like I was making good time but not good progress. There were numerous little bumps to contend with but the hiking was relatively easy.
I met a couple of hikers hiking the other way and asked them the question I never ask. "How much further away is 'insert destination'?" I never ask the question because the answer is always skewed, mostly because my hiking style will be different from theirs. Knowing I still had a ways to go, I asked this time and was not pleased with the answer. I wondered how could I be moving so slowly? It appeared I was doing less than 2 miles per hour which is agonizingly slow.
Nevertheless, I persevered and finally made it to the lake, which wasn't exactly Cataract Lake but a nearby smaller lake. If I had stopped short I knew I would be less likely to finish in the morning, which would have left a gap in Segment 23.
It was after 6:30 when I finally setup camp next to this pristine lake, which provided an excellent reflection. A long, sunny day, all above 12,000 feet, with awesome views. Per the databook it was over 18 miles but adding in the 2 mystery miles from the sign equals over 20. I don't know which was accurate, the sign or databook, but I'll stick with the sign since it felt more accurate.
Above treeline, Segment 23, Colorado Trail, CO (3)
CO (San Juan County)
Day 5 near headwaters Elk Creek to Cataract Lake
After Stony Pass the frustration began. A trail sign indicated that Cataract Lake was 12 miles away. The databook said it was 10, which I continued to reference as I hiked. I didn't catch the difference. It seemed like I was making good time but not good progress. There were numerous little bumps to contend with but the hiking was relatively easy.
I met a couple of hikers hiking the other way and asked them the question I never ask. "How much further away is 'insert destination'?" I never ask the question because the answer is always skewed, mostly because my hiking style will be different from theirs. Knowing I still had a ways to go, I asked this time and was not pleased with the answer. I wondered how could I be moving so slowly? It appeared I was doing less than 2 miles per hour which is agonizingly slow.
Nevertheless, I persevered and finally made it to the lake, which wasn't exactly Cataract Lake but a nearby smaller lake. If I had stopped short I knew I would be less likely to finish in the morning, which would have left a gap in Segment 23.
It was after 6:30 when I finally setup camp next to this pristine lake, which provided an excellent reflection. A long, sunny day, all above 12,000 feet, with awesome views. Per the databook it was over 18 miles but adding in the 2 mystery miles from the sign equals over 20. I don't know which was accurate, the sign or databook, but I'll stick with the sign since it felt more accurate.