DAY 63 Heading to Salida day 3

JUNE 15TH

i was slow to get up as it was cold when unzipped my tent, I noticed another had joined me.
Although I did hear someone arrive last night. I packed up drank my tea and I was off.
I imeaditly was in a forest, a green full of life forest but I was heading down and steeply.
The forest exited out on to a foot path flanked with young trees.
But then this opened up into another forest road that gently headed down ,near he bottom in the valley was a tent (swiss monkey’s) God I bet he was cold I said to myself (the bottom of valleys always are)

The trail then crossed over the highway and proceeded up the hard shoulder. Mmm that’s quite safe!!. But then dived sharply left over a cattle grid and down another forest road. I followed this for some time while enjoying the scenery. But at 9.30 I took my customary break. I was just about to stop when a sobo Colorado trail person came by. When chatted for a while.

The trail now followed the contours of the hills although in the distance I could see the main road but at 7am it was deserted. The trail crossed through a meadow, I stopped at a stream to grab a bottle just in case. I finished my break and set off up the road it climbed steeply before eventually levelling out.
I was nearing the trail head as I passed over another cattle grid and then turned right into another forest.
Once in the forest the trail began to climb and climb and climb no switchbacks . It was a very steep up I was imeaditly struggling and still the trail climbed. Most of trees were dead, the sun was baking and there was no water up here so I was being cautious with mine. I was still climbing ,omg where is this going , it then decided to drop like a stone but the downs were so steep, no switchbacks and the trail was littered with rock so I was walking very cautious , then it was straight up again bloody he’ll this was mad. I was just looking for a suitable spot to break when swiss Monkey arrived.

I just saw a bear behind you he said ,
We chatted for 5 minutes and how I was hating this section then he was gone .
I headed down, yet another crappy down and then guess what another straight up I was about halfway up when I must of disturbed another bear. He was a big brown chap and went crashing down through the forest. I wish I could move that fast lol
When I reached the top I took another break . Okays water in about 2 miles
It was another down but only halfway and then it began to climb. I was really struggling and needed another break as it was just so hot.
I was just getting my breath back when Blister came pass.
Yes its a crap section he said, but he was doing much better than me .
Water in 2 miles he said
Thanks I said and decided to sit down under a tree. I took 10.minutes before resuming the trail.
I was struggling but was still pushing
When I arrived at the water Blister was here having his break.
Well done he said
THANKS , It was him who was camping next to me last night.
We chatted for a while before he set off again. He wanted 10 more miles I would be happy with 4.
As there was no water ahead I filled up both bottle’s.
This is heavy and I also knew the trail was going to be up for at least 4 miles such fun.
I set off slowly and chugged up the first hill hoping there may be a down, but no. It wound its way across a field then disappeared into another dead forest. FUCK FUCK I said out loud and pushed on up and into the forest the trail imeaditly climbed sharply up.
To make it worse every time I stopped I was mobbed by mossies. Fuck…..
This trail was so steep and never ending and I was in it for another 2 hours, at last I exited into wide open meadows I really wanted to throw up my tent as I was exhausted and fed up

But I wanted the hills gone so slowly trudged up it sweating .
That’s it I’m done dropping my pack. I paced around trying to find a flattish spot where a tree would not fall on me. Right tent up