AZ on the AT: Week 3 (Pics 8/2

2 207.9 road walk out of town around the interlaken fire from a few months ago. Lower elevation overall, and I pushed for a campsite with a toilet.

8/3 231.8 It was a hot day for low elevation road walks. The trail left the mountains to pass by the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs. I got a slice of pizza, a drink, and was able to charge my battery a little at a gas station. A lot of people stared at me from trucks as I walked by the side of the road. Camped above town, near Mt. Antero.

8/4 250.6 stayed at the Butterfly House hostel. Met up with a bunch of other hikers.

8/5 zero at the Butterfly house, with a trip to salida to resupply. Great hostel.

8/6 277.6 started at the monarch crest trailhead. Mild rain today. Went to Headwater Hill. The peak is a triple divide between Colorado, Rio Grande, and Mississippi watersheds. I went off trail to stand on the top. Camped with other hikers at a good water source.

8/7 303.4 Got to hike in some cow fields today. There was a rumour that all the water sources would taste terrible, and it would be a 30 mile water carry. Not my experience, although there was a 10 mile carry to start, and tomorrow. I ate dinner under a tree in the rain. It turns out I was right next to a nest full of baby robins. After the rain had died down a little, I pitched my tent in a drizzle.

8/8 333.3 long day of mostly sunny walking on flat dirt roads. Forded a stream flowing fast from the past few days rain. It started raining for my last 5 miles, and I had another tent pitch in the rain. Luckily two other hikers I camped near, Sticky and Mauve, helped me cover my tent. All the rain reminds me of the Appalachian Trail.

8/9 341.5 still drizzling in the morning, but I was headed into town so spirits were still high. Wet socks, shoes, and pants are a great motivation to start hiking and warm up. A short side trail down from the San Luis pass took me to an ATV road. I got a hitch on the back of an ATV to take me into Creede! Holding on tightly, I rode down a narrow road surrounded by old mining camp remains, a creek with waterfalls, and vertical rock faces. Got a shower and laundry at an outfitter/bar with friendly dogs roaming around. Maybe because of how remote it is, Creede was an outstandingly hiker friendly town. I heard from a local that hikers can sleep in their baseball field dugout, and I did!