Waymaker on the Colorado Trail - Day 8

 


Thursday July 31, 2025

Isaiah 15 - 16

Mile 102.4 - End of segment 6

Another noteworthy day.  I started out very early, with the coldest weather yet.  My morning included one long climb, but mostly level or downhill grades.  I cruised along all morning, eventually passing a trail made sign indicating 100 miles completed.  My first milestone of the day.  It was a gorgeous morning, with beautiful weather, sublime views, and crossing paths again with several hikers I had met over the past several days. 

Late in the afternoon, with only a few downhill miles to go, it started to cloud up suddenly and get windy.  As the rain started to fall, I pulled out my sun (now rain) umbrella and prepared to fight the wind and rain the rest of the way.  Suddenly, my umbrella started to sound like I was popping popcorn on the top of it. In front of me was pea sized hail, dropping from the sky and shattering in tiny explosions at my feet.  As it was my first time hiking in hail, I wasn’t sure what was to come, so I sped up and raced down to the crossroad that my hostel was on.  Covering the last mile in under 4 minutes (at least it felt that way), I reached the free Frisco/Breckenridge bus stop and caught the bus to the hostel.

Once there, the very nice hostel host gave me a plush robe  and took my wet clothes to wash.  I took the time for a luxurious shower, and by the time I was cleaned up and refreshed, my clothes were done.  The hostel is very nice, and will be a restful sleep tonight.

I then took the shuttle again into Breckenridge and had a dinner of Salmon BLT and green chili fries. Wonderful!  I’m now back at the hostel and getting ready for bed.  Tomorrow after a hostel supplied breakfast, I will hit the trail again.  I’m a day behind my plan, but still with room to make it up.  Probably won’t gain any ground tomorrow, as I start the day with a 10 mile climb up 3200 feet to the highest point yet at 12,600 feet.  Pray for me.

Until next time…




















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