South Fork Williams Fork River to Berthoud Pass 23 mi :: 1095 mi :: :: Cloudy morning, sunny afternoon I wake up to a dark, cloudy sky. I don’t feel like walking. I know Ann is expecting me this afternoon, though, so I get started. I climb to a treeless ridge in sporadic rain. The…

Silverthorne to South Fork Williams Fork River 10 mi :: 1072 mi :: :: Afternoon rainstorms Breakfast and packing the car take all morning, so we’re around for one more lunch with my dad and Sarah. I continue to pile in all the calories I can. Once again we’re on I-70, through the Eisenhower Tunnel,…

Indian Hills 0 mi :: 1062 mi :: :: Sunny, hot The day fills up with endless things to do. Consuming many calories is an enjoyable task. My dad takes us to lunch, and I catch Jezze and Pete for a short visit. The rest of the time gets eaten by many organizational tasks. For…

Gutter Creek to Silverthorne 25 mi :: 1062 mi :: :: Sunny An encounter with an animal drives me from my tent during night. I hear some sniffing around outside my tent, but at first ignore it as harmless. Then it starts brushing up against the tent. I rouse myself to look, and see the…

Bear Lake Trailhead to Gutter Creek 26 mi :: 1037 mi :: 56,800 steps :: Sunny It’s a wet morning, but just from dew. The big storm I worried about last night didn’t materialize. By now I’ve learned that it never becomes comfortable to get out of bed on such mornings, so I force myself…

Twin Lakes to Bear Lake Trailhead 23 mi :: 1011 mi :: 46,650 :: Afternoon and evening thunder showers This morning is the first morning since we’ve been in Colorado that it felt warm enough to change clothes without hurrying. Ann puts on her summer dress. It’s glorious. After a good breakfast Ann takes me…

Big Willis Gulch to Twin Lakes 3 mi :: 988 mi :: 8,900 steps :: Sunny, afternoon clouds I wait for the sun to hit me before getting going today, since I don’t have far to go. Once I’m going I’m excited to see what I’ll find in Twin Lakes. I try the most direct…

Cottonwood Road to Willis Gulch 25 mi :: 985 mi :: 48,750 steps :: Hazy Since I’m at the car, I make breakfast with cereal, coffee, bread, cream cheese, and hard boiled eggs before getting on the trail. I feel good when I get going. I chat with a few climbers headed for Ice Mountain…

Upper North Fork Chalk Creek to Cottonwood Road 19 mi :: 35,200 steps :: 960 mi :: Sunny, some afternoon clouds I figure it won’t be a long day, so I don’t get started too early. Fitzpatrick Peak looks like it should be an easy climb, but my energy level is nothing like it was…