Arrived at Spring Creek Pass - Heart of the San Juans Next

After a 5-day hike from Monarch Pass, I arrived at Spring Creek Pass, and I am now resting and re-supplying here in Creede, Colorado, which is an old mining town from back in the day.  It is hard to believe that this small town used to have 10,000-people living here back in 1892 before the Silver Panic of 1893.

The trail from Monarch Pass to here had variety.  I started out hiking through the southern end of the Sawatch Range, passing by Ouray Peak.  The trail then went through the Cochetopa Hills, which reminded me of the monotonous hiking on the AT in Virgina.  The CDT then dipped down into a low valley, before climbing again into the San Juan Mountains.  On October 1st, I climbed my fourth 14,000-foot peak (San Luis Peak) on this CDT hike.  It was awesome.  The trail continued through some rugged territory here in the San Juans, undulating through the headwaters of Mineral Creek, before traversing a long plateau known at Snow Mesa.



I am leaving for the southern San Juans tomorrow, and I am hoping the weather continues to remain "good" for the San Juans.  Lately I have been experiencing temperatures in the teens at night, and the winds have been kicking up.  I think there will be some snow in the San Juans over the next six days, but I think it will be manageable... at least I hope.  I have good maps in case I need to bail, but I do not anticipate that happening.