UNITED STATES
Continental Divide Trail
The 3,100-mile CDT is one of the “Triple Crown of Hiking” following the divide in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico through 20 National Forests, 13 BLM areas and four National Parks with a total elevation gain of 457,000 feet!
Sawatch Range Fourteeners, CO
In two weeks _ and with supreme weather – I scaled all 15 of the “Fourteeners” in the Sawatch Range of Colorado.
Colorado Trail
The monsoon couldn’t stop a trio of hikers from taking in this magnificent thru-hike.
CDT: Day 1, Chief Mountain to Cosley Lake, 9 miles (GNP)
From the border at Chief Mountain, it was a nine-mile walk off trail and through thunderstorms.
CDT: Day 2, Cosley Lake to Foot Elizabeth Lake, 4 miles (GNP)
Getting CDT permits was tricky and we had only a short hike to Elizabeth Lake, but it was stunning.
CDT: Day 3, Elizabeth Lake to Poia Lake, 10 miles (GNP)
I walked up my first pass at Red Gap strong and assured through wildflowers and one bit of snow.
CDT: Day 4, Poia to Many Glacier (GNP)
The hike was short, but surprisingly steep in forest and meadow, followed by a hot road walk.
CDT: Day 5, Many Glacier to Reynolds Creek, 15 miles (GNP)
The trail up to Piegan Pass was covered in snow over switchbacks and required careful crossing.
CDT: Day 6: Reynolds Creek to Head Red Eagle Lake, 15 miles (GNP)
The walk is hot through overgrowth, past spectacular falls and views to a burn area with no shade.
CDT: Day 7, Head Red Eagle Lake to Atlantic Creek, 12 miles (GNP)
I get an early start with shade all the way to final zigzags up Triple Divide Pass, then spend hours on top.
CDT: Day 8, Atlantic Creek to Two Medicine, 18 miles (GNP)
The CDT alternate over Dawson Pass is some of the finest ‘balcony walking’ of any trail.
CDT: Day 9, Two Medicine to East Glacier, 11 miles (GNP)
The final push out of Glacier is over Signal Mountain then through Blackfeet Nation land.
CDT: day 10, East Glacier to Summit Campground, 15 miles (Bob)
It’s a long, overgrown and buggy walk out of East Glacier towards the wilderness.
CDT: day 11, Summit Campground to Badger Station, 15 miles (Bob)
The start of ‘The Bob’ is a seven-mile stretch of blowdowns on PUDS or pointless up and downs.
CDT: day 12, Badger Station to Cox Creek, 18 miles (Bob)
The trail heads up a steep slope with views of snow-capped mountains, then into a fairy forest.
CDT: day 13, Cox Creek to Fools Creek, 20 miles (Bob)
It’s flat through a flower filled burn area then a balcony walk looking and climbing up and over dead fall.
CDT: day 14, Fools Creek to Mine Creek, 19 miles (Bob)
I take an alternate along the Sun River to avoid blowdowns and ride a horse across a ford.
CDT: Day 15, Miner’s Creek and out
I walk four miles with heavy feet, gasping for air as my heart races, then hit the SOS.
off trail
I’m “trail angeled” then head home on the Empire Builder to see a cardiologist and return to trail.
waiting
Moved by Simone Biles, I practice patience and open to nature’s wonders on a local hike.
grace
Two Bear Air Rescue sent me a reminder that every day is a gift and to never take it for granted.
Teton Crest Trail: Day 1, Leigh Lake to Upper Paintbrush, 7.2 miles
Feeling strong with a mostly “all-clear” from my cardiologist, I begin hiking the Teton Crest Trail.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 2: Upper Paintbrush to Upper Cascade, 4 miles
The Divide is short but steep to Lake Solitude where I nab the best site with its own resident moose.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 3: South Fork Cascade Canyon to Kit Lake, 7 miles
The trail traces Cascade Canyon to Avalanche Divide where an off-trail scramble takes me to a remote lake.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 4: Kit Lake to Alaska Basin, 7 miles
Switchbacks over Hurricane Pass take Blissful into the magical polished granite of Alaska Basin.
Teton Crest Trail, Day 5: Alaska Basin to Marion Lake, 6 miles
Sheep Steps leads to the “cobble stones” of Death Canyon Shelf and scrambling up Spearhead Peak.
Teton Trail Day 6: Lake Marion to random spot near Ski Lake, 10 miles
Thunder brings Blissful down from scrambling then tachycardia brings her down from a high alpine lake.
Teton Crest Trail Day 7: Ski Lake to Highway 22, 5 miles
A creature walking past my tent wakes me up before I head to Ski Lake and back to civilization.
on being with bears
Do bear bells work? Should I play dead? What about guns in bear country? Read more and stay safe.
WRHR, day 1: Green River Lakes to Peak Lake, 18 miles
It’s beautiful walking along azure lakes under the gaze of the Square Top, then 2,400 feet up Cube Pass.
WRHR, day 2: Peak Lake to Indian Basin: 10 miles
It’s big climbs over Knapsack Col into stunning Titcomb Basin then up towards Indian Pass.
WRHR, day 3: Indian Basin to Alpine Lakes: 6 miles?
The hardest day yet across Knifepoint Glacier, up Alpine Pass and Class 3 scrambling to a magical camp spot.
WRHR, day 4: Alpine Lakes to near Hay Pass, 11 miles
It’s a long day beginning with pouring rain, then passes, including Hay, and lakes in forest and above treeline.
WRHR day 5, near Hay Pass to Bonneville Lakes: 13 miles
Bog, rock ramps, gullies, talus and bushwhacking take us over one of the most stunning passes yet.
WRHR, day 6, Bonneville Lakes to Shadow Lake: 13 miles
It’s a big pass with big talus in wild wind to a magical camp behind the towers.
WRHR, day 7, Shadow Lake to Big Sandy Campground: 15 miles
The final day takes us over Texas Pass into the astounding Cirque of the Towers.
Pfiffner Traverse, CO (part I)
Paralleling the Continental Divide Trail, this high route traverses steep passes in Colorado’s Front Range.
Meet “The Old Lady on the Trail”
My heroine is 81-year old Mary Davison who called herself “The Old Lady on the Trail.”
Pre-hike: Albuquerque
Before hiking a CDT section, I visit Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta, Old Town, and to see old friends.
CDT: Grants to Mount Taylor, New Mexico
The start of the trail from desert is steep, but then levels off into ponderosa pine and aspen before beginning the ascent of 11,000-foot Mount Taylor.
CDT: Mount Taylor to Ranger Tank, New Mexico
After Mount Taylor, there’s a 24-mile dry stretch. I watch the eclipse from a mountain with an Hispanic rancher.
CDT: Ranger Tank to Los Indios, New Mexico
The trail continues on dusty road through wheatgrass and pinyon ending at a stunning canyon, golden in Autumn colors with a piped spring.
CDT: Los Indios to Ojo Frio, New Mexico
The trail winds through pinyon before a steep decent to desert, dotted with enormous volcanic vents and mesas.
CDT: Ojo Frio to Deadman Peaks, New Mexico
This is one of the most interesting and varied sections with whimsical hoodoos, massive dry washes, views for miles from ridges and two good water sources.
CDT: Deadman Peaks to Cuba, New Mexico
The final twenty miles included climbing up on several mesas made of different types of rock and all with amazing views including the last night’s sunset show.
