Will hold packages 30 days.

Subject: 6/29, day 64, 12 mi
Woo-hoo! Today was awesome! All hiking up to now was just preparation for today. Trail undefined with exposure. Five peaks over 13,000. We climbed to the peak of 4, and skirted the rocky top of the other. We came down to saddles between peaks until the last that was just a notch. That we rock climbed using hands and feet. I was amazed how strong my arms and legs were with a backpack on. Beautiful blue and white Ice Lake was below. Ken carried the camera because he knew Marcia couldn't climb and shoot.

Between the last 2 was a rocky notch. It was very steep going down, and a rock climb coming out.

Before the first peak we found a shallow dip out of the wind where we crouched down for "tea" of Gatorade and cookies from Janet. She and her mom both baked entries for the Alameda Co Fair and we had award winning molasses and award winning peanut butter. This is what powered us through the day!

Right after tea Ken lost the tip of his trekking pole in a rock scramble. We'll try to get it replaced, but he had to do the hardest day with a broken pole.

By mid afternoon the sun was crimson with dark horizontal bands from smoke. The dimmer light gave the day a strange feel. We hiked until almost 9:00 with two day hikers that we met on James Peak. Campsites found in the dark are lumpy.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 6/30, day 65, 20 mi, 12,200' elev
We don't have our guide for this section. We guessed at the mileage.

This morning started out with a search for trail indicated on our map. It was back to cross country after a waste of time and effort, but an easy traverse to Rollins Pass. A V-tail plane flew over at the pass! Where are Marta & Bert?

We can tell that we are farther north. Snow patches are larger and more frequent. Lots of water is running and we see more wild flowers.

Tonight ended with Trail, cairns, CDT emblems and signs, sometimes all visible at once. The strange part is that the trail didn't match what was indicated on our map. Oh, well, we just go and north is a good direction.

We are down low, 9300' and walked through forest on smooth trail beside a creek lined with flowers. Birds were singing and we couldn't believe the number of butterflies.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/1, day 66, 16 mi., 9200' elev
We came down to 8200' and the temperature and humidity climbed. We walked into Grand Lake after a brief hike in the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park.

We hiked along 3 lakes. Granby Reservoir was by far the biggest. Its level was down about 50 feet. Arapaho Bay, half mile by one mile, was completely dry. Monarch Lake and Shadow Mountain Lake looked clear full. Strangely both drain into Granby Res. We didn't hike by Grand Lake - it also looks full. The Colorado River flows thru Shadow Mountain and Granby Res. Maybe LA should start practicing water conservation.

The trails today were good for the most part. It was just a long, hot trip into Grand Lake (the town). We are 7 days ahead of our original schedule. The original schedule had us taking a day off here. Neither of us feels the need to stay an extra day. Guess we will be 8 days ahead.

Ken went to the PO up the hill. On the way back he saw a thermometer - it read about 94 degrees. Whew, this thick air at low altitude (8540 feet) sure is hot.

... Gottawalk