Journey Day 459 | CDT Day 122
The snowy trail offered amazing panoramas.
10/14/87
More snow, some big flakes as I awaken. But I'm virtually shielded except for my tent entrance. Pack in tent, not too cold, exit finally at a lull, taking down tent and starting down the trail. Nearly out to trailhead, do final stretch in the rain, pass private ranch, trail passes trailhead, another ranch, under two fences.
Out to road, beautiful Cebolla Canyon. But weather's iffy, with some nice sun. One car passes the other way. Enjoying walk, but expecting to catch a ride. Rain turns to snow, bigger and bigger snowflakes. Hunters stop, but keep driving the other way. Getting very heavy snow, when a pick-up with two young guys pulls up and takes me to Lake City. One of the guys, Jim Bebout, sets me up in an apartment for $20. Hit the shower, then head to laundry, talk with a lady about Boston. Box and Grama's letter, but nothing else in the mail.
Over to gift shop with excellent book selection. Buy Irving Stone's About the West, spend time browsing, talking with middle-aged woman, the smell of marijuana in the air. She shows me a detailed map she and her husband have done.
Onward. Two futile store stops for boots or repair goo. Down, look for others reportedly in town. No note at the post office, hit grocery a second time. Expensive to eat. Also call Mom, to call Bob who'll be in town for Bruce's wedding. Big feast, burger and broccoli, stuff on it, plus grapefruit juice. Update, so I can send journal home from Lake City. Good talk with Bob after a short visit with the other Bebout boy. Also talk with a deputy sheriff on the mountains, current events. Nice folks in Lake City. Write Grama a letter, getting sleepy, I may crash...
On the back of a post card of sunset over Mt. Elbert, I wrote to Sandi Howell, our indefatigable support person from two years earlier on the PCT about hiking through her home state, New Mexico, the last in my three-year Triple Crown Odyssey.
“It’s been quite a trek, arduous and enjoyable. Amazing scenery, wildlife of all types, excellent weather until day before yesterday and great people along the way. I’m in Lake City, CO, near where Alfred E. Packer ate 5 Democratic friends who just happened to be the last edible things around during a storm. Unless I get caught up in some stormy weather, I’ll be in NM in a week and would love to get together.”
