Windy South San Juans

I arrived at Cumbres Pass on October 13th, and I am staying with Leprechaun (PCT '03) and his wife Laura.  It is good to be off the CDT, since it was snowing and quite cold when I got off the trail.

The trail from Wolf Creek Pass to Cumbres Pass was, for the most part, tough and brutal.  The first day out of Pagosa Springs was great, although windy.  I slept at Elwood Pass, where two former CDT hikers Puff Puff and Snappy (CDT 2007) had parked their truck, and were providing trail magic.  It was awesome!

On October 11th, I left camp to hike some of the slowest miles I have ever hiked on any trail.  There was so much snow on the the trail, that I could only hike 5.3-miles in four hours.  Winds were also terrible, as they gusted to 40 mph, blowing stinging snow in my eyes and face.  I was hiking through a beautiful area of the South San Juans, with great views of Montezuma and Summit Peaks.  Unfortunately, it was hard to appreciate the views because of the weather.

The group I was hiking with decided to bail on the CDT at Adams Fork in favor of a lower route.  I ascended back to the CDT on October 12th at Blue Lake, and thankfully, the winds had died down, and the snow was melting due to warmer temperatures.  I hiked to Rio De Los Pinos Creek camp, where I met up with Puff Puff and Snappy, who were waiting with hot dogs, chips, and soda pop.  I went to bed that night, and was awakened in the middle of the night by snow, hail, and rain.  Will the weather ever let up?

I spent my last night in Colorado, and when I head back up to the trail on October 15th, I have a mere 4-miles to hike before I leave Colorado, and I say "Good riddance!"  Ever since Tennessee Pass, the weather in Colorado has been horrible.  I am hoping that conditions will be better in New Mexico.  The altitude in New Mexico is lower, which means that there should be less snow.  I am keeping my fingers crossed.