Day 4
Miles hiked today: 13.1
Miles from Denver: 49.4
Elevation: 10,200 ft
Segments 3,4
Landmarks: Pike National Forest, Lost Creek Wilderness Area
VIEW MAP
I found out a very important detail about my new tent last night; it leaks. There was a massive thunderstorm and then just rain that lasted through most of the night, and almost as soon as it started I knew I was in trouble. Water was coming through the fabric, through the seams and up from along the mesh on the sides. I had diligently seam sealed this tent when I first got it, but this is really my first time using it. After a few minutes of feeling the rain drops on my face, I just put all of my stuff away that I didn't want to get wet and went to sleep. I awoke with a puddle in my tent and a wet sleeping bag. Thankfully it had stopped raining in the morning but all of my stuff was wet. It was cold too, and I couldn't stop thinking about what would happen if it rained all day and was cold again tonight. Thankfully, right around 10:30 AM I came across a small clearing just as the sun was coming out. I dumped all of my stuff out of my pack and laid it in the sun for an hour, which dried everything perfectly. My morale was improved 100%, and as I shouldered my pack I could physically feel the weight difference from all the evaporated water.
I ran into another thruhiker today, this one going my way. He said he started yesterday! Those are big miles. It was nice to chat and hike for a little bit with another thru hiker. He'll probably put down another 20 miles by the end of the day, so I doubt I'll catch him.
Lost Creek Wilderness is the first of six wilderness areas the CT goes through. This place has a very interesting history. There is a creek (called Lost Creek) that at times goes underground, reappearing further downstream nine times. But there are legends that gold was hidden somewhere in this area by the notorious Reynolds gang which used to hold up stagecoaches and whatnot in nearby Southpark. (Yes, THAT Southpark)
As for the trail through here, I couldn't be more disappointed. The trail simply follows an old logging road (built by H.W. Hooper in the 1880s, according to the guidebook) at a consistent, unchanging direction and angle for nearly 8 miles. That's about it. The climb is relentless, going from 8,280 ft to 10,880 feet. There are no views or breaks in the scenery, and because all of these forests were logged, the trees are all the same exact size, in perfect rows. The most exciting part of it is that I'm now above 10,000 feet!
I'm camped in this beautiful 5 mile long meadow, which happens to also be where ranchers put their cattle in the summer. So there is a cow pie a foot from my tent, and the water I got from the stream was yellow. I think this is the first time I made sure to boil for the full 3 minutes.
