September 19th, 2024
Mile Marker: Creede Alternate
Miles Hiked: 17
I spent majority of last night tossing and turning thinking about camping tonight and going through the San Juan’s. I just wasn’t up for it.
When we woke up, I checked the weather report and saw that there was still a heavy snow storm coming Saturday and rain following the next few days. I just didn’t want to endure the frigid temperatures and rain/snow above 12,000 feet.
We went to breakfast and I had a knot in my stomach. Afterwards Journey and I went back to the hotel and I sat outside exploring my options with Maddie. I found myself pretty set on not going out.
A conversation Journey and I had the other day was about this being a vacation, time off being together and how do we enjoy this. For me, it was skipping the San Juan’s. I wanted to go through it when there is nice weather and I’m in a better mental space with altitude.
Journey came out to explore options and we decided we would do the Creede Alternate instead of trying to get to Silverton and then hitching to Pagosa to get around the snow. It made more sense to try and snag a ride from Lake City where people are so friendly.
I couldn’t stop the tears, but Journey reassured me that it was okay, that it was just hiking. I felt relief wash over me. It was time to move in a new direction.
We packed up and headed out to the hiker center for the noon shuttle. We asked the volunteers if someone could take us to Creede and were lucky that someone said they would be able to.
So we rode with Whatever and Aster back to the pass and wished them well and to have a safe trip. It was sad to split up, but we needed to do what was best for us.
Journey and I continued on and were in awe of the aspens changing color. Sometimes there was amazing contrasting colors too with the yellow, green, and blue sky.
We made it to the road junction, thanked the volunteer, and headed down a gravel road we didn’t know much about. And it was warm! Ahhhhh. So warm that I ended up changing back to my shorts! I was happy.
While at a privy, a woman walked up who goes by Lucy. I had definitely seen her at the beginning in East Glacier but we have never hiked around her.
We ended up chatting for a while then hiking together for a little before splitting up. She was a ball of energy and we loved it. She also let us know Ace was behind us, as she just got into Creede, among a few other CDTers. It’s always nice to know we aren’t alone in our thinking patterns.
Lucy admitted to struggling with the altitude and didn’t seem it necessary to do the San Juan’s. I was thankful to hear similar thoughts.
We hiked along the gradual uphill climb. Enjoying the changing color of the leaves. Towards the end of the climb, it became steep and we moved slow. My pack felt ridiculously heavy with the extra cold weather gear.
At the top we passed some cows then eventually Journey told me to stop. The 3 dark spots ahead of us were not cows but moose! My eyes aren’t as good as Journey’s so I was lucky he spotted them. They did their usual stare at us but didn’t seem concerned.
As we got a little closer we could see that there was a bull moose and cow moose and calf. We needed to be careful. We yelled at them but they just stared so we cut across a meadow to avoid them charging us.
Lucy had caught back up to us then, which we were thankful as we didn’t want her to not notice them and get too close.
Us three then walked the rest of the afternoon together, getting to know one another. Lucy is another one of those hikers who has traveled the world and seen amazing places. She lifted our spirits and made me feel so satisfied with our decision. It’s the CDT, there are many alternates, that’s supposed to be the highlights, you pick which route is best for you there is no one way.
We hiked along and came into some amazing aspens and views. Even though we were in the trees for most of it, this was incredible.
We hiked into the dark a little looking for a camp spot and were very lucky to come out onto an opening that we could fit both our tents. I was glad Lucy was joining us for the night.
We ate dinner with our headlamps then got in our tents a little after 9.
I found myself trying to have grace with myself and not get overly worked up that I let people or myself down. I think it’s okay to change directions. Obviously the high altitude wasn’t working for me and after trying so hard for so long, it’s fine to change directions, to try something different.
There is still a few days worth of high elevation hiking to do. But at least we won’t be sleeping high above 12,000 feet. It genuinely made my head feel weird and I despised it. I needed to make a change and I’m lucky Journey was willing to join.
We are looking forward for what’s to come.
Hopefully I can get some sleep tonight.
Goodnight,
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 