August 26th, 2024
Mike Marker: 1566.9
Miles Hiked: 19
We woke up around 6:30 AM and I was mentally wanting to zero. Physically, I knew I felt fine and we wanted to get to Winter Park Saturday to meet family. So I put it aside and we proceeded with getting things ready to leave.
We grabbed breakfast at a place called Freshies and as soon as we walked in I noticed these fat cinnamon rolls sitting in a glass case and read this sign:
Okay, we definitely came to the right place. I ordered pancakes, eggs, and sausage plus their homemade legendary cinnamon roll.
I’ll say, Steamboat Springs knows how to breakfast, without a doubt! It was all some of the best breakfast I had and the cinnamon roll is tied for first. Just so dang good!
We then headed to the post office since we needed to pick up a resupply box and Journey’s new shoes.
We walked back to the hotel, asked for an extended check out, organized the food from our boxes, and figured out what left we needed to purchase at the store and made moves.
We were cutting it close to our extended checkout but we got through the store quick and checked out of our hotel at 11.
Journey and I walked past the gear shop and out walked Whatever, Captain, and later Aster. We spent a good chunk of time catching up and chatting. It made me feel better that they were all equally struggling with the question: what are we doing out here and what else could we be doing with our money. They told me about a couple others who have gotten off trail.
Okay, so it’s not just me. Whew. 😅 We continued on since the pull to make it to Winter Park is strong.
We said Adios to the tramily and headed out. We walked along a greenway for a while then came out to the edge of town to hitch. Steamboat Springs is a gorgeous town!
After about 10 minutes a red jeep pulls over and a man tells us to hop in. The man lives nearby and has for the last 6 years, claiming to love this area. He said that he has been following someone on YouTube who is making great content as they hike south on the CDT. It’s what makes him willing to pull over and pick up strange hikers. We were thankful.
We chatted for the whole duration of the ride and wished each other well when dropped off.
Then we had about 9 miles on pavement and the rest on a gravel road. Little did I know this was what we were going to be walking on today. I’m not complaining because it was a very easy hiking day but I do wish the CDT was more official with only trail and less road walking.
The road had its own beauty and not terrible traffic. It was joyful seeing so many people wave back to us as they passed.
Once we turned on the gravel road I felt better and more relieved since I wasn’t stuck to only a sliver of road plus we knew there was likely to be zero traffic.
We walked past a ton of cows and got water from sketchy water sources but such is the CDT.
We made it to camp around 7:45 and grabbed water from a nearby source. A source mind you that was not listed on our app. I know I keep harping about how frustrating it is that the app is not as accurate on this trail, but goodnessss, this was a clear water source!
Anywho, trying to be better at reframing…so grateful the water source is here regardless! 😅
It’s was dark as we ate our dinner and we were quick to get into our sleeping bags as tonight is chilly and will get into the low 40s, EEK! It will be a true test of our sleep system and if it can keep me warm for Colorado.
So thankful for no rain. Hoping it holds out and we get sunshine this week!
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 