Posted by 9.6 miles
Today was town day. And you know what that means… a short nero day to Monarch Pass and a hitch into Salida, around 23 miles off trail.
It was here that I would reconnect with friends POD (Princess if Darkness) and Disco who I met on the Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand in 2015, more than 10 years ago. POD learned that I was hiking the CDT and reached out to alert me they lived in Salida just off trail where so many hikers resupply from and would happily host me for a couple of night. A break from trail is just what I need as it’s been playing on my mind if the CDT is for me. The last couple of days have been challenging to say the least – perhaps a solid rest is what I need to reassess where I’m at with this trail.
So I was away from camp by 6am with one thing on my mind initially, reach the store at Monarch Pass by 10am to enjoy a breakfast burrito before they shut off and coffee. I’ve been out of coffee for the last 4 days. I made it just after 9am.
Being a Friday and the start to a weekend, there were so many people out enjoying the trail, a mix of trail runners, CT hikers and bikers. The standard of trail was impeccable, wide and you could say groomed with most larger rocks out the way.
With second breakfast complete it was time to stick my thumb out and within 5 minutes I had a ride into town. A phone call later and POD arrived to pick me up.
Tomorrow will be a full zero day. There are plans for a screening of the world cup Australia vs USA. Should be fun.
Showered and naked, I weight myself. 149 pounds. That is 67 kilograms and a loss of 12 kilograms to date! Not a trend I can continue.
Mick Beckers 