Since my last post so much has happened. Where shall I begin... well I am now a full time Colorado Trail hiker and world traveler person and Mike is gainfully employed full time and making some cushion money just before we head out. This leaves me to do the preparations and pack out for the CT myself, although I shouldn't really say that because so many people have given generously of their time and money to help make this dream a reality. All is going well so far, and things are getting really close, this week everything will be packed up minus bread products (which will go in early next week) and be ready to give to our support teams and the rest to be mailed out to hostels we'll be staying at along the way. In these boxes is everything from baby wipes to cooking oil, whatever we'll be needing for our next stretch.
We have also been physically training for this trip as well. In addition to daily walks and jog/walks we have done a couple backpacking trips as well. Over our anniversary weekend July 4th, we did a prep trip. Since we plan to take it "easy" on the trail (shooting for 10-14 miles per day), I asked Mike to help find a trail that would give us a "feel" for a 13 mile day. We found the beautiful Beaver Brook trail that takes you from Look Out Mountain to I-70 at Chief Hosa, which is where Mike and I got married three years ago. This trail was gorgeous and challenging, a real front range locals gem if you ask me and it helped me confront the reality of what I am about to embark on...this is real. The hike ended up being really good training, it rained heavily on us as we descended into deep slick valleys, up and down up and down. I fell, it hurt, I cried for a bit. I got up and kept moving, all the while Mike was being supportive yet serious about the journey I had asked to undertake. He reminded me how far my attitude will take me on journeys like this and ones to come. I just need to stay positive. Things will not all go as planned. I am going to fall, I am going to struggle physically and mentally, I am going to blister and chafe,be too cold and too hot and too wet and too dry; but this journey, this hike, means so much more to me than all of that stuff, to me it the aches and pains are worth it, and I just need to remind myself of that when things get tough along the way. As my friend Van said, "Beauty is the one truth I know", and I want to go see it as much of it as I can with my 2 furry best friends and the love of my life. So by the time we got to camp we realized we had done over 16 miles that day, I was chafed in all my most tender areas and had trouble getting comfortable in any position. However, this mileage realization, gave me a huge sense of relief and self pride. First because I'd kept thinking all day that we had done 13 miles at least and I couldn't understand why we weren't there yet, and secondly I freakin' hiked 16 miles in adverse conditions on an advanced trail, go me! We were all tired that night and drank some wine to ease the aches and pains. Dogs did amazing and slept like babies, husband was amazing, and I think I did great too and I know I learned a lot about self care and pain prevention (i.e. anti-chafe creams). Arriving at the campsite that night around 5:30pm, it left something to be desired,especially after having been in such beautiful wilderness with dispersed campsites around us on our way up, we set up our tent among the RVs and small children running circles around us. But honestly i don't think either of us cared too much because we were so beat. We didn't even have the gusto that night to hike 100 yards up to the historic lodge where we were married. We laid in our tent ate a good meal drank box wine and I drifted off to the sound of Mike reading to me.
This weekend was a beautiful hike I got to go on with my friends called the Randos, Mike was working so I took Little Britches with me and got a sitter for Joey. Just outside of Buena Vista we hiked up to Ptarmigan Lake. It is a high alpine lake so a good training for me at a higher altitude, it was tough no doubt and this go round I could have done better with my water consumption. I used our amazing new Kelty tent/ home and it kept us dry through hail and rain, it will be a good house on the CT. I tried using my bladder drinking system and couldn't get it to work, so I'm still tinkering with that. All in all though it was a great success and I did a lot of things on my own this trip so I am feeling empowered. Katie reminded me to journal/blog about the little things and details of the trip because those are some of the best things to look back on, we talked about how everyone along way has comments about Little Britches and recording some of those daily comments might be funny. On this trip a lady said in reference to Little Britches and I quote, "oh...and then there's that." Lil B does circles around folks and they don't even recognize she has it in her. I think her story may be one of the more interesting and inspiring I tell along the way.
Thanks For Reading
