Waymaker on the Colorado Trail - Day 18




 Sunday, August 10, 2025

Mile 250.5 - End of Segment 14

Isaiah 35 - 36

I’m laying in a comfortable bunk right now at the Simple Hostel in Salida Colorado.  Today was a relatively short hike to the Monarch pass, where I caught a ride into town.  Although mostly uneventful, I did have one unexpected encounter.  As I was rounding a bend in the trail, I looked up to see a large animal standing with his back to me just a few feet away.  My initial thought was that I had come up on a bear, or possibly a moose, and I pulled up short. Then he turned his head back toward me, and I saw it was a cow. Right on the trail.  And there were two of them.  They meandered back into the adjacent meadow and ignored me.

Pushing on, I covered the ten or so miles to the pass, where I hitched a ride to the hostel.  After dropping my gear, I headed off for some Mexican food.  My stomach full, I checked into the hostel, showered, and went out to do some shopping.  After an unfortunate clothing malfunction related to trying to climb my way over a fallen tree on the trail, it had become necessary to replace my hiking pants.  Fortunately, they had an adequate replacement at the local outfitters and I’m once again good to go.

Tomorrow I will get a ride back to the pass and commence the 2nd half of my journey.  Some of the best sights (and epic climbs) are still ahead, so keep praying.

Until next time…


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