Words about science and hiking
The ranchers are at it again, trying to do an end-around of the people’s will by petitioning Colorado Parks and Wildlife to pause the reintroduction mandated by CO referendum 114, passed in 2020. The Rocky Mountain Wolf Project is asking for supporters of wolves and wildlife to write the CPW asking them to reject the Read More …
After making camp I texted Yancey Gill, who lives near the Lick Branch TH and was holding a resupply box for me. I gave him my ETA for being at the TH tomorrow, asking how I could retrieve the box. And also, as he does hiker shuttles, that I was thinking about bailing on this Read More …
Another early start after another warm night. The first few miles were a steady climb and I did my best to pace myself to avoid overheating. Yet within a mile I found myself panting once again. Not from the exertion but from the heat. The trail leveled off as I approached the Cherry Bend TH Read More …
Another day of relentless heat. It was even hotter than yesterday, with temps in the upper-80s. And humid. I thought to beat the worst of the heat by rising early and hiking before sunup. This would let me get some miles in before it got too hot. I could then take a more leisurely pace Read More …
Rough rough day. It had pretty much all of the elements of a hard trail day: bad trail (my arms and legs are bloody from thorny overgrowth and deadfalls) bad weather (in the upper 80s with humidity), bad bugs (the gnats were atrocious and the hotter it got the more there were) and long water Read More …
Cathy finished her chemotherapy treatments in August. Imaging showed a complete response–the tumor was gone. Although there is a 30% chance that it could return, her oncologist said that a “watch and wait” approach was appropriate, meaning that she could choose whether or not to undergo surgery.. She didn’t have to be asked twice whether Read More …
I woke to clear skies after a deep sleep, still feeling good. There was no rush to get going as I was planning to take two days to hike the 16 or so miles back to the trailhead. I enjoyed a cup of coffee on a sunny lakeside rock, watching the shadows roll back to Read More …
Despite the drought and dry soils, my meadow campsite turned wet as soon as the sun went down. My tent was sogged with condensation which froze around midnight. But the morning was clear and bright. I felt a little better, managed to eat a couple bites of breakfast (scrambled eggs with veggies), and set out Read More …
East Fork back to Big Sandy TH then out to Dad’s Lake Rain continued through the night and was joined by hail and snow, as well as plenty of lightning and thunder. It was still raining and thundering in the morning as I packed up to head to the car and retrieve my AquaMira. I’d Read More …
Cathy completed her last round of chemo (yay!) and her sister came to visit, so I had time for a multi-day backpack trip, and thus also had the pleasant task of deciding where I wanted to go. The mountains of the Front Range and the rest of Colorado are very beautiful. They are big, broad-shouldered Read More …