3 Highlights:
- Hitchhiking with Bernie, Mark, and Timothy—three characters straight out of a Coen Brothers film.
- Double Bitch Burger (yes, it’s as intense as it sounds).
- Shower—because there’s nothing like removing the layers of sweat, dirt, and desperation.
Daily Summary:
- Distance hiked: 10 km
- Starting point: Saddle Junction
- Ending point: Rollins Pass / Winter Park
- Weather conditions: Mixed (as if Colorado can’t decide whether to rain, shine, or blow us off a mountain).
Daily Reflections (challenges, insights, musings):
Slept in today—probably because I’m still trying to recover from the mental gymnastics of yesterday’s bear-canister debacle. Anyway, we hiked up to Rollins Pass, and just as I was ready to start despairing over road walking, two absolute legends, Bernie and Mark, picked us up. Not only did we score a ride, but they were genuinely lovely people, not at all the murderous hitchhikers I’ve come to expect.
We checked into the Viking Lodge, where the price is right, and the décor is a mix of Viking myth and 1970s wood paneling. First stop: The Ditch restaurant for a Double Bitch Burger. Why double? I assume because it’s twice the regret later. Delicious but not for the faint-hearted.
Then came the moment of truth: showers. Glorious, hot water running down, rinsing away the grime that had practically fossilized into my skin. It was enough to make me feel like a new person—until reality hit again. We needed to resupply, which involved not only spending a ridiculous $250 on food and random hiker necessities (pepper spray, knife), but also a completely dysfunctional Amazon order that haunted me all day. I can’t escape it, this black hole of online shopping hell.
We got lucky hitchhiking back in the dark (because what’s a town visit without a touch of drama?), and by the time we were done with dinner—roasted chicken, no less—it was midnight. I tried to wrestle with Amazon for hours, to no avail. People outside were partying like it’s the last night on earth, and insomnia hit hard. Now, with less than half a night of sleep under my belt, I’m writing this. Tomorrow’s going to be… an adventure.
Not a bad place to start your day
The old train bridge. As seen from a car during our generous encounter with Bernie and Mark
Also seen from the car while going down the mountain – bare bones!
Burgler…time to get new glasses…