Section 15 is 117 miles long and runs from Monarch Pass to Tennessee Pass. Part 1 is 38.2 miles long from Monarch Pass to NOBO Marker 1115.3. September 18th - 19th.
Day 87, 15.3 miles to NOBO marker 1092.4 (1685.4 overall)
I was hiking as the sun was rising and I made quick work of the two miles to Monarch Pass. I kept hearing helicopters and wondered where they were and what they were doing. I passed a south bounder who said they were helicopter logging some of the ski runs…I never knew that was a thing! I got a breakfast sandwich from the tourist shop, dug through the hiker box, took some photos, and then hitchhiked down to the town of Salida. I enjoyed second breakfast at a cafe, picked up my food resupply at Walmart, and hitched back up the pass to resume hiking. I again loved walking past all of the skiing trail signs with the blue squares or black diamonds and the view from the top was quite amazing. There were ponds of deep blue snow melt, numerous intersecting ridgelines, and endless puffy clouds hanging in the sky. I ate my sub that I packed out from town as I soaked in the scene and then continued on down the mountain. I passed some old mines at the Boss Lake Reservoir, crossed the Middle Fork of the South Arkansas River, and began the climb up Chalk Creek Pass. Right as dusk began to fall I set up camp next to a small stream.
Good morning, cell towers.
CDT route through Colorado. Map at the Monarch Crest Store.
Most drive up to Monarch Pass but I hiked up.
I love that there is such a thing as helicopter logging AND that they tied rocks to this sawhorse to keep it from blowing away.
My view during dinner.
Watch your step! Old mine out next to Boss Lake Reservoir.
Old cabin to house some pumps for the dam.
Nice bridge to cross the South Arkansas River.
Day 88, 22.9 miles to NOBO marker 1115.3 (1708.3 overall)
After a great night's rest (aside from a curious elk snorting around camp) I was up early and cruised up the rest of Chalk Creek Pass. I heard a lot of pikas squeeking at me and managed to grab a decent shot of one of the little furry fellas. There was a great view from the top of the pass, some more cabin ruins further down, and then the trailhead for The Alpine Tunnel. I wasn't sure what that was but soon found an information placard explaining how this trail follows a railroad bed that was notoriously dangerous. At one point they invented a giant corkscrew mounted to the front of the train engine to clear boulders from the rails. I caught up with the Captain, a friend from the PCT, and we hiked together for a few miles, catching up, and then parted ways since he was taking the high route because it had better access to Buena Vista where he was meeting friends. I was taking the low route because it had more tree coverage for my hammock. I made it up Tin Cup Pass, saw some mountain goats, was passed by a dozen ATVs, and took a break at Mirror Lake. Some car campers were there and gave me some water so I didn't have to filter the lake water which I’m sure had tons of oil runoff. We chatted for a bit and then I blasted a few more miles to camp. I made a nice fire, enjoyed my dinner, and once again was lulled to sleep by the rustling water of Sanford Creek.
Pika.
Hancock Lake as seen from Chalk Creek Pass.
Would you poop in it? 😂
See where the “Alpine Tunnel” got it’s name?
Towards the end of the Alpine Tunnel.
Heading up Tin Cup Pass.
Some mountain goats on Emma Burr Mountain.