FKT - 10 Canyon Traverse

Colorado Trail Days 10 and 11

Colorado Trail Day 9

Colorado Trail Day 8

Colorado Trail Day 7

Unsupported FKT. Northbound via Collegiate West. 

Day 6 (8/31):
I quickly reached Monarch Pass and headed up the trail. It followed the edge of the Monarch Ski Resort and then continued across the ridge. The wind began picking up and a steady stream of well-bundled oncoming thru-hikers appeared. It was relatively warm, so I remained in shorts and t-shirt, to the amusement of many of the other hikers. However, by the time a reached Bald Mountain, the wind had picked up to the point that I had to lean into it to remain standing. I donned a shell and gratefully began the descent to Hunt Lake.

From there, I had the long ascent up to Chalk Creek Pass. From the top, I dropped to Hancock Lake. I had previously worked the High Lonesome 100 aid station here, but had never seen it during daylight hours. The trail wrapped around oddly. Eventually I realized that it dropped onto an abandoned railroad grade. It was a very level section of trail and impressive bit of construction. From there I crossed a series of alpine passes before taking the most impressively constructed section of trail on the entire CT down to the valley. At the bottom, now in darkness, I paused at a stream to address my feet. My blister situation had deteriorated further.

I climbed up to begin an extended exposed alpine stretch. The nearly full moon provided a muted sense of the impressive scenery. My throat was sore – I was not yet sure why. The sections of crushed rock along the trail were exceptionally painful given the condition of my feet. I paused to take several 20 minute naps. I stopped for the night atop the Sanford Saddle. The weather was very clear, so an extremely high (12,759 ft) and exposed bivy site was not unreasonable.

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Nathaniel G

Colorado Trail Day 6

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FKT - 10 Canyon Traverse

Colorado Trail Days 10 and 11

Colorado Trail Day 9

Colorado Trail Day 8

Colorado Trail Day 7

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