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We are currently on another long distance hike, and the third leg of our "triple crown", the Continental Divide Trail (the "CDT"). Come along with us if you can - if not in person then by following our grand adventure via our "posts from the trail".  Check out our Flickr Photos, which we'll update periodically, and see it through our eyes!

Our Credo...

"Success: To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Archive: CDT 2009 Daily Journals

Journal July 24 Our Turn

The morning sun rose through a gap in the mountains and warmed the tent, so we arose to walk. A ridge walk along the divide, skirting the highes peaks by contouring high on their flanks. Endless views abound, with more mountains in all directions.

We came around a bend high on the divide and were within 50 to 60 yards of a herd of Elk. Mostly cows and alot of young calves, laying down in the grass soaking up the warm early morning sun. It took them a while to notice us but when they did they took off, some seeming reluctant to give up their prime location.

The ridgewalking was …

Journal July 23 Popular Trail

After breakfast we walked to the far end of town in order to be best positioned to get a ride, and within minutes we were picked up by a local man going up to the mountains to pick up family from their own backpack trip. We were On the trail by 11:30 and heading up from Wolf Creek pass with loads heavy from 7 days of food. Still the packs were lighter than in NM where we carried fewer days food but also had to leave town with 2 gallons of water each.

Lots of people on the trail: an overnight backpacker from Boston, day hikers, horse riders out for …

Journal July 21 Sun Flowers and Rain Showers

Rising in the cold morning air, before the sun has hit the pass where we are camped, we get the start we know we will need to get to Wolf Creek pass 19 miles away.

The trail never strayed more than a few hundred yards from the actual divide from our camp south of Elwood Pass to Wolf Creek pass, so we were walking on the crest or contouring on high slopes all day.

We continue to see more amazing wildflowers, vibrant colors, clinging to unlikely places, thriving in talus slopes or wind blasted slopes. Sunflowers dominate the scene. The way that light is attracted to the talus abundant sunflowers …

Journal July 20 – Marmot Spirits

The day begins with a contour from the creek we had camped at to another high, headwater creek followed by a series of climbing and crossing ridges and dropping into other high headwater creeks.

We have breakfast on top of the first divide and hear coyotes howling, whooping and hollering as if they had just gained the top of a ridge as well.

There are three long climbs over ridges dividing the glacial valleys which spawn major headwater streams for the Conejos river. It’s a vertical morning and afternoon, with thigh burning climbs, standing in contrast to the rolling grasslands we crossed yesterday.

It was cloudy from the first today and …

Journal July 19 – High in the Colorado Rockies

In the morning cows were moving around the high altitude shallow basin in which we were camped. Is there anywhere they aren’t to be found? So far almost every day of this trip we have come across cows or their droppings. Even here, camped at 11,700 feet, high in the South San Juan wilderness, in country so wild and remote that some people believe a small remnant population of grizzlies might be surviving, we find bovinus alpinus.

Our walk continues across rolling plateaus, criss-crossing minor divides and climbing back on the continental divide. A few shallow basins are dotted with small ponds and lakes. The sparse trees are mostly some stunted …

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Clicking on any of these photos will take you to that specific photo on our Flickr Stream, where you can view these and many, many more photos from our latest adventure....or use this shortcut to all photos.....we hope you enjoy them!

People Shots

CDT20101_NMWCWMCDT2010_TheTrailCDT2010_NMWC-1Carrot After a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #3,768Carrot on the Trail stillCarrot takes a Trail BathCarrot Stream Crossing #5.875Carrot on the TrailCliff Dwelling SignCarrot takes a PhotoCarrot Stream Crossing # 2,115

Scenic Shots

CDT2010-valleyCDT2010_yellowflowersCarrot on the Trail 3ScenicPotty BreakScenicCliff Dwelling Stream Vast DesertPrickly Pear 2Prickly PearPlateau at Sunset

Flora & Fauna

CDT2010_treesCDT2010_yellowflowersCDT2010-purpleflowersAngry MarmotFlora 3FloraBeaverButterfly 2FloraButterfly