Posted by 12.9 miles
A very easy and cruisy day into Steamboat Springs for my last resupply in Colorado. Wyoming here I come.
An hour from camp had me onto CO Hwy 114 and a further 9 mile along the bitumen had me at Hwy 40 into Steamboat Springs.
It was an easy hitch into town, this time with 74 year old Ed who was visiting Steamboat for the day from Saratoga. He was headed back to Saratoga later in the day and heading past Encampment, my next town stop. A retired accountant, I got a full run down of his life and family on the ride in. I keep saying it and will repeat it again, such genuine folk in the US.
In town by midday I had time to kill before checking into a motel. It’s 4th of July here and most accomodation is booked but I lucked out in scoring a room. My initial plan was to get in and out of Steamboat in the same day but it was one of the longest hitches between trail and town and with all the celebrations occurring things got the better of me and I grabbed a room.
With time on my hands before check in I basically just visited multiple eateries to load up on calories and got my food resupply sorted out.
I also spent time catching up on socials.
During this time I contacted friends and found out that since hosting me at Salida, POD had a major fall on her latest trip, fracturing 3 ribs and puncturing a lung. This was the trip she was headed to after dropping me off at Monarch Pass. Being remote she had to painfully and slowly walk out from camp back to her car. Her helmet probably saved her life. Despite her injuries and pretty much writing off the rest of summer adventures, she remains positive and is recovering well which is great to hear.
Laundry done at the hotel.
Pizza and beer for dinner with sufficient left overs to carry out on trail for lunch tomorrow.
It’s a busy Hwy with lots of tourists and not wanting to waste a bunch of time hitching out I put a call out on the CDT Trail Angel FB page securing a ride back to trail tomorrow morning with Steamboat Springs local Lara.
Mick Beckers 