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 10 and 11 (9/4-6):
This was it! I was going to try to make it to Denver in a single push. I headed down, across the road, and up through the subdivision before reentering the mountains. The mountain bikers were out in force on Labor Day. 

Travel started out fairly smooth. I encountered Melinda and Doug again. I focused on eating enough to ward off bonking. The top of Georgia Pass particularly exciting as it represented the last notable climb of the trip. I cruised down toward Jefferson as darkness fell. I started listening to music to keep me going. I took a 20 min nap as I approached Kenosha Pass to ensure I remained sufficiently grounded in reality. Kenosha represented the beginning of the end in my mind, so it was an exciting waypoint to reach. From there I continued on toward the Lost Creek Wilderness. At one point, I found myself surrounded by eyes. Unsure what was real, I turned my headlamp to max power and discovered that I was in the middle of a herd of elk. 

Near the Rock Creek trailhead, I paused for another 20 minute nap just as Melinda and Doug passed by. I continued on and the sun began to rise. An early morning oncoming hiker identified himself as Michael attempting a westbound unsupported FKT. We wished each other good luck and continued on. I caught up to Melinda and Doug, but then bonked hard during the final climb over to the North Fork of Lost Creek and was left lying on the ground to recover.

The final gentle climb over the hump led to a welcome 3,200 ft descent. I headed down past the trailhead at a rapid pace and onto the trails leading to Little Scraggy. While near Denver, these were new trails for me. I appreciated that they were smooth and easy going. I began leap frogging Melinda and Doug as darkness fell.

Little Scraggy was familiar territory. But the trail beyond and the South Platte River was not. The trail felt incoherent as it wound around Raleigh Peak and then began the steep plunge down to the South Platte. I struggled with the sleep deprivation and felt unfounded feelings of déjà vu. Eventually I decided I had to stop for a 10 minute nap. Melinda and Doug passed by just as I was lying down. I woke up, looked at my watch, and to my horror realized that three hours had passed by. I leapt up and flew down the rest of the trail to the river. 

As I reached the river I could see headlamps climbing up the far side. At the river I paused to fill up on water a mix some liquid calories. I then began the final climb as the sun rose. I struggled to stay awake and maintain momentum during the climb. Reaching the top was exciting. 

However I then realized I was still many miles from the top of Waterton Canyon, which was a bitter disappointment. I was absolutely fed up with the unexpectedly rocky trails. My low spirits were not lifted when I did in fact twist an ankle. Limping along, I finally reached Larrys Rest and the descent into Waterton.

I paused to eat every single remaining solid calorie I had along with Gu and drink mix. The entire trip I had been fixated on the possibility of running Waterton Canyon. I headed down the switchbacks mixing running and walking. At the start of the road, I ran into a women struggling up the hill who asked how far it was to the bighorn sheep. I said I did not know and continued. Several hundred feet later I passed her abandoned e-bike and the herd of big horns. 

Once on gravel road, I was relieved to discover I could maintain steady 13 min/mile pace down the canyon. The mile posts passed painfully slowly and passing bikers gave me odd looks. Most of the way down the canyon I took a sip from my Befree filter and felt air bubbling through. I stopped to quickly check that the filter had in fact failed. Disgusted, I dumped my remaining water and continued onward.

Eventually the end of the canyon and the Colorado Trail sign came into view. I stopped my watch as I reached it and collapsed into the neatly mown grass. This was the end. I limped over to the water dispenser and then back under the shade of a tree. I was done. 

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Nathaniel G

Colorado Trail Days 10 and 11

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