3 Highlights:
1. Wildlife extravaganza—deer, six moose, a small snake, and more deer caught in my headlamp at night.
2. Stunning views along the trail.
3. Staying connected with Lansky and friends.
Daily Summary:
• Distance hiked: 50 km
• Starting point: km 3196
• Ending point: km 3246, East Mineral Creek
• Weather conditions: Sunny
Daily Reflections:
Woke up at 6:30 and already felt a bit behind schedule, though the others were still packing up. I headed out first, crossing paths with them a few times during the day, including at a river crossing where I, in my infinite wisdom, decided to take off my shoes and then attempted to puncture my blister—unsuccessfully, of course. That was around 18 km in, and I haven’t seen them since. I’m now 50 km in and sure I’ll run into them again when we reach town tomorrow.
I just realized it’s 190 km to go, not 160 as I originally thought, so it’s looking like a five-day trek—because let’s be honest, banging out 50 km days through the San Juans isn’t exactly easy.
The day was brilliant—sunshine, plentiful water sources, and a whole lot of wildlife. It kicked off with a herd of antelope (or some sort of deer) early in the morning, then four younger moose followed by a really big mama moose and her calf. A small snake wriggled its way across my path later, and hiking down to my campsite at dark, I saw more deer and heard coyotes barking like dogs.
Now, let’s talk about my campsite—it sucks. It’s not even remotely ideal, but I didn’t want to hike another hour in the dark. It’s 9 pm, and I’ve got to resupply, recharge, and then head back out tomorrow. I also need to check the weather for the next five days, because, let’s face it, the San Juans aren’t known for their predictable skies. Again, my campsite sucks and it would be wise to pack up and leave in the dark as it will not let me sleep. Will I?
Good night.
