Journey Day 453 | CDT Day 116

Leonard and Laurie hike as storms gather in southern Colorado.

10/8/87

Lazy start to the day. First stop at the lodge-post office, Carl, Leonard and Laurie are there. Also postcard from A.T. friend Jake Blues, card from sister-in-law Kelli, another care package from A.T. friend Clark 165. But no food box. Bum, talk with others, decide to start hitching to town for supplies. No luck, down to the gas station. Try outside, come back in for coffee and end up waiting for a lonely woman named Judy. Relax, drink coffee, talk with pretty Tracy, Kelli the mechanic, who may go to Denver and Vail with Bill, the owner who's been up three days partying. Carl, Leonard and Laurie in and out of the zoo quickly. Hunters beginning to show for upcoming season.

Others go to the Crest restaurant. I end up driving to town with Judy and a little boy named William. Judy keeps coming on, I dodge, talk with her and William, who is Bill's child. I buy far too much at the grocery for a seven-day hike to Lake City, plus a pumpkin for William. Over to McDonald's, I eat first meal (other than coffee, donettes, beer at the gas station) while driving back.

Load pack, while Bill and Kelli watch, talk, take care of steady flow of business. Northern Michigander with truck trouble gives me a ride up to the pass, bid farewell to the gas station gang. Storm brewed, but never showed. At Crest, leave ride, check restaurant, then hike up ridge onto nice trail with views back to Shavano and the Sawatch, plus Ouray, Antero up ahead. One break with back-breaking pack, excellent views under funky skies, storm still threatening. Make camp in shelter the others left for me. Talk, cook, others head to tents, I set up shop in shelter, read before crashing.