Creede

I made it to Creede yesterday. I am using the Chamber of Commerce computer right now. I went through a beautiful part of the trail yesterday. My favorite conditions: high, open, windy and cool. The views were so expansive I could see two hikers a mile in front of me and one a mile behind me sometimes. I remember the open parts from 2009 so much better than the parts of the trail that go through forest. One "long green tunnel" looks a lot like the other to me, but I can remember expansive views.

Another thing I prefer about the high, open hiking is I can see my progress. The trail is marked with posts above tree line (as opposed to markers nailed to trees below tree line) and depending on the terrain the posts may be visible for a mile or more. I can see a post come into view and the pretty soon I reach it.

The only bad side to hiking above tree line is the storms. This has been a particularly rainy, stormy year, and it's not good to be above tree line when a thunderstorm hits. I will just have to be sure and start hiking early, keep an eye on the sky, and be ready to seek shelter if I see a storm building.

I should arrive in Silverton in four days. I will stay in Silverton a day, and then it will take me about five days to get to Durango. I should be in Durango no later than August 4. I plan to fly to Denver August 6. My husband Mike and son Danny will have driven out, my son Jon will be flying in that same day, and we will all meet up and go up to Estes Park, where they will then do some hiking and attempt to summit Long's Peak, a 14'er (over 14,000 feet elevation).

I have met many interesting people on the trail and in the towns. I don't have time to write about them now, but I will when I get to Durango or back to Spring field.