Will hold packages for 30 days.

Subject: 6/22, day 57, 11,340', 20 mi
It doesn't get any better than this: Morning sun filtered down through an aspen forest, highlighting a blue robin's egg shell on the black trail that is wet from the rain the night before. A nearby small creek has purple delphiniums growing on the bank and bird songs compete with the trickle of water.

However, we are afraid to mention compliments aloud because the trail will then evaporate or turn a corner and climb 2000' in a half mile. Of course, the backwards guidebook mentions none of this.

Yesterday we met a SoBo CT hiker, Chris, and traded stories at dinner and breakfast. His parents joined him at Twin Lakes for the weekend and his dad drove us back to the trailhead. Chris told us about Kearney Park which we reached in the late afternoon. It was completely flat and smooth, surrounded by trees and was as green as Oz.

At dinner we watched lightning and storm clouds play in the mountains.

It was a good day.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 6/23, day 58, 11,560', 22.8 mi
The CDT and CT share the same trail here so we are enjoying good trail and signage. We met 2 trail crew this evening and gave them our thanks and compliments. They invited us back to their camp at a campground (ride to and from) but we still had miles to do.

Hiking today included up to a rocky glacial cirque studded with snow patches and then down into the lush drainage. We are beginning to see more wild flowers. Warm today with no clouds, thunder or rain.. We're watching for sunset color.

This full moon is our third!

... Gottawalk

Subject: 6/24, day 59, 19 mi., 12,280'
Kokomo Pass was first on our list this morning followed by Elk Ridge then Searle Pass. The entire area looks like the setting of Heidi (wild flowers everywhere). In the midst of this beauty was Climax Molybdenum Mine that has altered the divide and consumed most of Bartlett Mtn. There were also huge areas of tailings and wastewater.

The race to Copper Mtn began as we came down. We followed a creek with terraced beaver dams. When we crossed a bridge there was a note enclosed in a baggie, weighted down by a small rock and addressed to us. Hikers Larry & Ann were taking the bus to Frisco for a 0 day. We, of course, ... Gottawalk.

Copper Mountain is nothing but big buildings of condominiums. It has a post office right on the trail. That is its main attraction for us. We had lots of time to spare before the PO closed at 3 pm and went back to the trail.

We are on the boggiest mountain (lots of water and mud) but bog produces lush varied plants and flowers. We played cat & mouse with rain and camped early. We even saw an elk this evening. It was the first one in a while.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 6/25, day 59, 16 miles, 11,900 elev
We continued our walk on the Gore Range Trail. The trail climbs for a bit, then levels out. It makes for an easy, enjoyable climb.

Just before we reached Uneva Pass this morning 4 elk posed at the top of the pass - 2 bulls with velveted antlers and 2 cows. As always by the time the camera was ready the elk were gone. The elk seem to have the timing down pat.

Then Ken disturbed 7 marmots feasting on the lush plants. They ran to the rocky ledge and scolded him...we got their pictures.

We were still hiking on the boggy, wet mountain. Sloshing through a wet spot, we missed the junction, realized that something was wrong and took a GPS waypoint, plotted it on the map an were right where we were supposed to be but no trail was visible. With effort we figured out that that we were 140' too high, directly over a vertical drop to the trail.

We hiked into Silverthorne this afternoon. A runner offered us a ride, but understood why we couldn't accept his kind offer. We ate at McDonalds. A kind family watched us. When we called Holiday Inn Express to get a room they offered us a ride to their motel - Comfort Suites. It is nice; we got a discount; and the desk clerk put us across from the laundry room. Ahh, the life of a thru-hiker.

... Gottawalk