Journey Day 430 | CDT Day 93

From Steamboat Springs, I headed south alone again .

9/15/87

From our room at the Rabbit Ears, Laurie's up first. Leonard and I follow her to the early bird breakfast special, where we meet an outfitter into dogsledding. Back to room, do laundry. I melt Laurie's sock. Write letters while waiting. Back, pack, leave gear in the hotel's passageway. Leonard talks of back problems.

To town tasks. No luck with t-shirt, end up buying a cut rate Steamboat old-timers shirt, but the pretty women make shopping fun. Also look fruitlessly for new socks. Buy candy bars, book from a beauty.

Lunch on a big veggie salad. Then more buying. Get back to pack, move to park where Leonard's experimenting with his pack and back pain. Kick back, talk, snow seal. Leonard and Carl go to the Clinic. As I head to make a call, Leonard and Carl back. No luck. They'll wait, so I'm solo again. Call Bruce and solidify plans for meeting. Over to the post office, letter from Jeff (Sauer, PCT hiker?), long-bearded postal clerk offers me a ride in an hour, so I read and relax.

Back to the post office, he takes me to Buffalo Pass. Deadhead, we talk of Steamboat, hiking, etc. When he drops me, I get herbal offering of farewell I notice on the floor board. Hike flat, forested divide past a reservoir to Long Lake, where I pitch by the edge and enjoy the privy.

Mt. Elwell, above Long Lake.

Long Lake, Sept. 15, 1987