Today’s trek to Lujan Creek was one for the books. First, it rained for HOURS last night. Second night in a row. Around midnight I put my cooking pot outside to collect water, since I was low. But despite the fact that it was raining hard, little went in the pot. For a while I held the rain fly to the pot to make a little chute of sorts. Then I gave up.
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Leaving Sargents Mesa Trailhead Behind
This morning, everything was soaked: the tent, my quilt, my pillow, etc. But I packed it up and hit the trail by 8 a.m. Much to my surprise, I ran into Bubbles about a mile up the trail. She bailed on trying to make it to Baldy Lake. We hiked together for a while, which was a nice diversion. She’s also a really nice young lady (just 18 years old!).
There were many more hills today than I thought the app indicated. And I shouldn’t say hills – really steep, rocky climbs. It’s just so hard. I reminded myself to drink more often, since I knew I was dehydrated.
Much to my dismay, the creek 8 miles in (12.9 km) where I’d planned to fill up on water was barely moving and tiny. The water was also filled with dirt/sediment. I was worried it would clog my filter, but I had no other choice.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
I was about to enjoy lunch after filtering, when it began to rain. I covered up my backpack and grabbed my raincoat, and then it POURED. Luckily I was passing an evergreen tree and noticed I was barely getting wet. So I tucked into the tree for 15 minutes until the rain let up.
During that time, a mountain biker named Grizel biked up and vented about how the rain was ridiculous. She was on day 12 of biking the Colorado Trail and only had had two dry days.
I struck out once the rain died down and Bubbles soon caught up with me (she’d detoured to Baldy Lake). But she wanted to push on due to the rain, so she zipped ahead.
Two hikers passed me and told me there was trail magic at the creek. I 
wasn’t sure if it would be water in a cooler or a big cook-out. Either sounded good to me!
The trail now had two massive, rocky climbs, which was disheartening. When I was getting close to the creek, it rained again. Once again, I tucked into an evergreen. After making the final, difficult climb for the day, I was psyched to find the several-mile downhill was a soft, packed, dirt road. So I was able to make great time.
Trail Magic Rocks!
The set-up here is amazing! Two people were making food – burritos and hot dogs. There was plenty of fruit, chips, water, tea and beer. The burrito guy, Jolly Rancher, has a heated old shuttle bus tricked out as a living space. He said I could lay out my wet quilt, clothes, etc., to dry out. Nice!
So I inhaled a burrito, lots of chips and am sipping a beer while my stuff dries in the shuttle. My tent is SOAKED and not drying out, because I got here later when the sun was setting and the temps were cool. At least I’ll have some dry stuff for tonight and tomorrow!
But, gosh, there is NO WAY I am going to hit 22 miles (35.4 km) on Sunday. This trail is just too difficult, coupled with frequent storms and the elevation. Rats. I’ll only have one day in Lake City and will have paid for two nights in a cabin.
16.6 miles
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 16.6 (26.7 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 523 (841.7 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 2,577 (4,147.3 km)
