3 Highlights:
1. Watching the moon set over the mountains.
2. Stumbling into the famed Melanzana shop.
3. Tacos that might just change your life.
Daily Summary:
– Distance hiked: 12 km
– Starting point: Km 2897
– Ending point: Highway Km 2909
– Weather conditions: Sunny but deceptively chilly
Daily Reflections (challenges, insights, musings):
It began beautifully. I woke up to the moon setting in a majestic display. That magical moment was soon ruined when I realized my toes and fingers had turned to popsicles, courtesy of the freezing morning. In a moment of misplaced optimism, I thought starting a fire might warm me up. However, after a few unsuccessful attempts that nearly saw me sacrificing my dignity (and fingers), I gave up, cursing under my breath as I packed up the tent.
Lanski, having slept through the fire fiasco, woke up cheerful, which did nothing to ease my grumpiness. We exchanged a few heated words — something about her “beauty sleep” and my “Eskimo toes,” and then she took off ahead. I followed shortly after, silently rehearsing an apology (though not just yet).
I spent the next three hours hiking in circles, utterly convinced I’d either lost her or that she was up ahead with a bear gnawing on her. Turns out neither of those was true. Just as I was contemplating whether to adopt a new trail name (something like “Lost and Annoyed”), I received a Garmin message. She was in Leadville. Having coffee. Meanwhile, I was still by the highway, miserably eating leftover scraps.
By sheer luck, a Texan named Kolton gave me a lift into town. He worked nights at a hospital in Vail, and in exchange for the ride, I bought him a coffee and a pastry. We then reunited at the post office, where Lanski was far more excited than I was to open some new gear.
Leadville, it turns out, has this little gem of a store called Melanzana. You can’t just walk in and shop there—you need a “reservation” (and waiting times are currently 9 months). But being CDT hikers (and generally disheveled), we were allowed to walk in and buy “one” item. I went for the hoodie, which I’m convinced will make me look slightly less homeless.
Post-gear shopping, we headed to our Airbnb where we encountered a guitar (a tiny one, mind you), birthday cake preparations, and an overwhelming sense of coziness. After a much-needed shower (and let’s be honest, some life-altering Mexican food from a nearby truck – Sabor Guaxaceño), I curled up with my Netflix account for the first time since June.
All in all, a day full of moments where things went wrong, but turned out just fine—just like any good adventure.
Good night!
