Halfway Done and Moving Along

The summit of Monarch Pass marked the halfway point on SAVED’s Colorado Trail expedition. She caught a ride with one of her hiking companions (Tiny) that she had met on the trail, and they joined Clouds, Pages and Breaker for pizza and cold beer in Silida. Finishing 260 miles is a big accomplishment! One most of us will never experience. She said it has been one of the hardest things she has ever done in life but also the most rewarding.

“Thru hikers you meet on the trail are amazing,” she said. “They are not judgmental and very interesting people, coming to the trail from countless directions.” Clouds is from Florida, living in Flagstaff and working on his master’s degree. Pages, and his 12-year son Breaker, are from Wisconsin; flew into Denver and started hiking that same day. Tiny recently moved to Gunnison, Colorado and was hiking the Collegiate Loop trail. They all meet along the trail, spend some time together hiking and camping in the same spot, and then go their separate ways. Then the process starts all over once again.

After a much-needed two-day break, she is off again, rejoining the main trail at segment 15. We will resupply her at the end of segment 17 that crosses Highway 114. Via her Garmin she has requested a travel size toothpaste and some boxed wine; one red, the other white. Hmmm….. wondering who she has met on the trail now. Can’t wait too hear. We are also taking a cooler of water, fresh fruit, and some sweet snacks to whomever may be crossing the trail. Apparently, the term for this service is Trail Angel.