I’m baaaaack! Yesterday, Ed and I flew into Denver and drove to Encampment, where I had booked us a room at the lovely Pine Lodge.
I’d initially planned to have Ed drive me up to Bridger Peak (about 4 miles / 6.4 km), then hike back down to knock off a few miles, since we arrived so early. But I freaked out at the supposedly driveable road to the peak, despite having rented a Jeep, so I just hiked the half-mile between the start of the trail to Bridger Peak and the Battle Pass Trailhead, where I ended last year.
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Clicking Off the Miles
Today Ed dropped me off at the trail to Bridger Peak, named after James Bridger, a premiere guide for the U.S. Army in the 1850s. Then he headed over to the Deep Jack Trailhead and hiked in to meet me.
The first 4 or so miles (6.4 km) were all uphill and pretty steep. The temps were in the low 50s F (10s C) and it was super windy and cloudy. At the top it was even colder.
I thought it would be all downhill from there, but I should have checked my app. There were still a lot of climbs before Ed and I met around noon.
We had lunch, then reached the Trailhead around 2:45 (and after missing a turn – rats).
Things Sour in the Afternoon
Since we reached the Trailhead early, we decided Ed would move the car to the trail’s intersection with Sage Creek Road, then hike in to meet me. Then, we’d camp. Again, I didn’t check the app and thought it would be flat or downhill, since I know a lot of flat trail lies ahead.
Once again I was SO WRONG. I faced many steep climbs and was in alpine terrain. Ed 
was suffering from altitude sickness and wanted to stop. But he had my battery and my phone was dying.
Long story short, we soldiered on until we met one another around 6:45 p.m. We were both beat!
But we found a sweet campsite and are looking forward to the rest of the hike, which should be much easier.
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 19.2 (30.9 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 1,137.4 (1,830.5 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 1,962.6 (3,158.5 km)
