CDT – Day 51 – Road Side Knob to Middle Fork Arapahoe Creek

6/14/15 Day 51

Road Side Knob to Middle Fork Arapahoe Creek M1592.7 10,535′

Tent – Nights Spent Alone: 7

23.4, 958.8 Trip Miles

Mostly Sunny w/ done sprinkles

Day’s of Snow: 7 – Day’s of Rain: 16

# of Zero days: 5

7 am to 6:55 pm

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Tick Count: 4 (3 more crawling on me)

Critter Count

17 Chipmunks

17 Ground Squirrels

8 Elk

3 Pronghorn

1 Deer

1 Coyote

Totals

530 Pronghorn*

119 Lizards

116 Wild Horses

90 Chipmunks

88 Elk

61 Deer**

37 Cotton Tail Rabbits

32 Ground Squirrels

26 Squirrels

22 Horny Roads

19 Prairie Dogs

17 Jack Rabbit***

8 Snakes

4 Coyotes

4 Moles

3 Marmot****

2 Rattle Snakes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

1 Weasel

1 Porcupine

*181 from car, **3 from car, ***1 from car, ****2 from car

Another long day with a heavy pack. I’m so tired. Not getting s complete zero in Steamboat hurt. I feel like I just hike 50 miles not less than half that amount.

We started on the pavement then it was dirt road followed by snow. We topped out at 11,482′. The final descent was all north facing so it was covered with snow. I actually used my snow shoes. I was glad to have them.

Me protecting myself from alien mind probes.

The day was uneventful for the most part. I did lose a Croc though. I’m pretty bummed about the loss as my shoes were soaked when I got to camp. To be able to put on dry socks and have warm feet would have been nice.

Not sure what these are but they were beautiful.

My state is one where I’m so tired I get easily frustrated. I got mad at the snow. At the loss of my Croc. My tent was the next victim. This one I feel I had the right to be upset. This tent needs a perfect flat spot or it sets up poorly. By poorly I mean you lose interior space. It is a major design flaw in my opinion.

I’ve said it before many times but this trail is a monster. You’d think walking this much road would be easy. It’s not!  I’m always tired and something is sore. The last two days it was my back, right between the shoulders in the middle of my back.

The snow at the end of the day.

It’s already cold and it’s still light out. I have a feeling it’s going to be a cold night.

I was so tired during this section.  Being so tired takes away from the experience.  The memories don’t stick with you as much during these times.  While you’re out there you just block most everything out and put your head down in an effort to get to camp.

Another reason I was mad at my tent was I caught my foot on a guide line which ripped the opposite corner out and sent the stake flying into the brush.  I looked for it twice then gave up.  By chance I found it while doing something else.

Back to Day 50, Forward to Day 52

Scatman

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Get out there!