Leaving Monday the 28th 2010

Even though this isn't an unsupported trip, I will be still attempting a self supporting one. I am taking all my food to start with for the entire 500 miles. I have about 25-28 days of food depending on how I do with supplementation. I am taking into consideration about 20-25 lbs lost so I need to stay in touch with how my body does under these conditions. This is a test run as I know if something happens this time I have help. My food is of the most basic type. I have oatmeal/brown sugar/raisin/protein powder for breakfast. Trail-mix and other dried foods for snacks and lunch. 2 400 calorie protein bars for dinner. My plan at this point is to hope to supplement with some fish and berries among other things along the way. This may turn out bad for me but I have to try. I absolutely know I can make it in 25 days but since I am traveling with two others that may pose the issue, as I really can't/don't want to go longer than 28 days. My training is done and I have to leave it to my body to get me through this and have to put on my game face. I know that mental preparedness is 90% of facing any challenge. Facing the unknown willingly isn't for everybody but has always been for me. I will try to post to facebook as I can via my cell.

Day 1 from journal

Day 1
John's (aka the professor) mom gave us a ride to Waterton Canyon. Stopping for a giant morning burrito before the journey, I (aka eric longshadow) savored every bite. I knew the next 30 days of eating oatmeal and power bars would take its toll. We get to the trail head at about 10am. Little later than we should have but its the first day. Kathy walked with us for about 2 miles. I could tell she was a little bummed she couldn't go. After wishing us well Kathy turns back leaving the next 5 days to John and I. My pack is heavy that's all I can say, but manageable.

Stopping at the turn off to the dam for a break, about 6 in we eat and loosen up. My shoulders and hip flexers are a little pissed right now. About 1.2 miles up is the Colorado trail start. We are shooting for a decent day at about 12 to 15 miles as we ease into the trail.











Getting to lennys rest we take a break, not the most scenic but not boring either. We
were talkative the way I'd imagined all unknowing CT thru hike first timers would have. We quickly realize how serious we feel about camping near water. Needing water to wash, eat, and simply rehydrate from the heat and hike of the day. Still having some desire to get the goal mileage we move on.






Along they way we begin to look for a good place to camp we come upon Allen (more about him later). We chatted for a few minutes. Learned he was thru hiking to leadville. The proffessor wanted to continue on and I agreed so we said "Maybe we'll see ya later! He waved and said " I hope so!" smiling and we headed off. Our book said a small seasonal stream at one point but was dry when we got there and the next option was 2 miles to the Platte canyon. Its approaching dark but you have no choice at that point and with brewing blisters you go. Finally we get to the river and all indications are no camping. "What!?" I said, "Thats Bullshit!". "I am finding a spot and stopping". I was completely happy with 15 but 16.8 was closer so I didn't complain after a short time later finding this spot, man my dog's were killing me. Nice spot for my hammock nice spot for his tent. We did have some difficulties getting our food bags high enough so we climbed them up the rock wall of the canyon and stuffed them in a crag. Being this close to water made sleeping a little damp though.

Day 2 from the journal

A great spot to wake up to. The sound of the river with an early morning sun. Little did we know how much we were going to miss that "early morning sun". I am still slow getting up from being in the restaurant industry I am used to staying up late. The professor was getting ready to get water and a kid comes running down the trail from where we were going. Just a small backpack and a half day till he was out he asked if we could pump some water for him. "Sure!" said the professor so stumbling out of my hammock we all went down to the river. He tells us he hiked in with his friend who is doing the whole thing to Durango a few miles ahead. After spending the night with him he was heading back now. "Really!, maybe we'll meet him". "Whats his name?" asked the professor. "Jason, or Jay". "Right on" I say. He heads off running back from where we came.

We eat and pack and get going by 9 or so. Uphill ... then Uphill ... grueling downhill ... Uphill etc... This is by far the worst of the trail. Not that it isn't beautiful and the Buffalo Creek burn an eerie landscape but the desire to get to water is overwhelming when your getting low. It was hot and no shade. Approximately 15 miles of no water. LESSON- Stop and refill at fire-station. It would have been only been 12 had we. Blisters were getting worse and the socks I am wearing are too warm. the professors knee was was hurting and we both struggled. The highlight of the day was when we finally came upon water, the camp area was one of the coolest. We head right to the water but as we do we see a young guy sitting by his tent in this little hollow next to a very large granite rock. We filled our bottles and walked back up to the hollow to meet the young man. I knew right away it was the kid that the runner from the Platte had hiked in with. Jay? Yep Jason.

We asked if we could join his site and he welcomed us. Once setup and got food in my stomach we hung out and talked. He was getting a job in the middle of August in Buena Vista I think and was basically trekking there from Denver via Durango, then he shared we shared and then there was Hashnarnia. A great way to end the night. It was a rough day.




Our camp night two.

Day 3 From Journal

After camping in that hollow I didn't want to get out of my hammock. The canopy of trees makes it hard for the sun to come in and warm me up. John didn't want to wait so he and Jason (decided to hike with us) went ahead. I didn't mind as my pace is considerably faster at this point so catching up wasn't an issue. I am trying not to be competitive, I just envision where I am going then I just go whether its a camping spot, a water spot etc. I guess I don't want to be hiking any longer than I have to.

It amazes me how dependent on water we are. Approx 3 days and you start to have big problems. Also, why is the one element we are so attached to taste like basically nothing. I can't imagine how tough it was for the pioneers trying to navigate these (or any for that matter)mountains without having a book like us telling us how far to the next stream, spring, river.

About 100yds into the 4th segment we came upon a faucet just a little bit south of the trail. Wow! It felt SO GOOD! Washed my head and upper body. I would soon miss the heat that made dousing my body with frigid water feel so good. Water will become my sole source of survival and also my biggest enemy.

John's knee was hurting so his pace was very slow to start and Jason is having issues with his heel. Allen, he's 58 and has been leapfrogging with us and is staying with us. He has done other hikes like the Long Trail in Vermont and has climbed Mt Whitney. After another 5 miles we stop at this awesome watering hole. I really nice spot to stop as I can tell it would benefit John and Jason's injuries but everyone else decided to keep going. Well about 3 more miles and we come to a dry spring. So once again we are at the same spot. No water to camp with. I had saved my water so I had enough to get me through but John and Jason didn't. Allen decided to continue to the next water. He even volunteered to bring water back to us and I just said "you don't have to do that". He replied with " I know". I should have just said no but felt like he wanted to so I said "If its not too far". He continues on and John and Jason do some looking around for any possible water sources with no luck. After setting up they decided to hike down to the next creek while I gathered wood and got the fire started. After all was said and done we logged close to 15 miles without counting the 2 they did for water. 

My biggest issue right now is my right hip. I am still pretty concerned John will over do it. I can only finish if I can get a ride from Durango. The other issue has been blisteres and hot spots on my feet. The heavy weight must be the difference since I have worn these shoes and no they didn't cause them on their own.

Hint of rain in the air tonight so tarping again. It was pretty nice overall upper 70's sunny. Food is going as scheduled so my only issue is taking longer than 30 days. I worry if it does.

Day 4 from the Journal

Up early and left at about 7am. I need to get myself used to getting up early. The morning was a blur with a grueling uphill that could turn most away. It wasn't necessarily the uphill as much as the trail itself. An old logging road with big rocks and loose little rocks. Then you'd hit areas of bogs where the melt has run across the trail turning it to mud. Early season I guess. We finished segment 3 and continued to a pretty big valley where the stream coming down used to have beaver ponds but not this spring. I believe this is lost wilderness campground. Note to self: A great place to camp locally where you can drive in. The stream is




surrounded by this beautiful grass near the bridge and lying there felt so good. I wanted to cool my sore legs so I sat in the stream. Ummm submerged my hips and legs and oh it felt good!

Physically today my middle back (rumbiods)friggin killing me! Blister on right foot second toe popped up. Hips still hurts but not as bad today. Ankle acting up will have to go easy. Rainy more and that is a concern. I am vulnerable to hypothermia so I must be careful. I hope we get a few dry days so I can sleep open air. Set up is time consuming.

We find a really nice spot to camp and after a couple hours our buddy Allen shows up. He camps with us and we get to know him a little better. We lost Jason early on as he wanted to stay at the campsite longer and was going into bailey to get a few things. I figured we lost him. We had made 17 miles this day and where only 12 miles from Konosha pass. John is a trooper today.

Day 5 from the journal

Day 5 friday

1/4 of the way done. Reached Kenosha Pass at about 3pm. Started at about 8:30 knowing we only had 13 miles to hike today. I started off slow. My back is pretty uncomfortable and have tried every position to help relieve it with no success. The sun was more brutal on me today without sunscreen. My tan has burned off in spots on my arms and have decided to start using sunscreen now. In a short time I was ahead of john as he slowed to favor the knee. In the lead I was about a 1/4 mile in front so alone. I sense something and as I flinch I hear a loud hawk cry as I swung my head around just as it struck me in the back of the head. Almost knocking off my hat. Startled I realize what just happened and begin laughing to myself. Never been dive bombed by a hawk before. I watched her/him as it flew up to the highest pine and yelled at me. A little later the clouds closed in and I heard the rumble of thunder. "Crap!" I thought. It was pretty cool too so I thought "if it rains I will use my tarp". Of course it started raining. I got my tarp set up and as soon as I was done the professor comes by. "You wanna sit here?" I yell. "No, I am soaked anyway". "My bladder broke in my bag and everything is wet". I yelled "That sucks!" "Ya, I know" says the professor and continues walking. He seemed ok nonetheless. After about a half hour the rain stops and I repack and head out. We came to nice patch of land where we re-up'd on water and took a break. There were no beaver ponds here either, bummer!

The second half of the hike was more brutal with a steep uphill and a minefield for a trail. One wrong step and your journey is done. Camp Lesson ... need a larger sized tarp. Probably an 8 by 10 would work the best. Have decided that excessive mountain bike usage really ruins the trails and makes it dangerous for hikers. This is really apparent at and around Kenosha pass. Most have been very friendly with a couple exceptions but that's always the rule.
 Physical: Middle back problems still persist but that is the only thing right now.




Now as we approached hwy 285, I could see a large vehicle parked at the trailhead and from where I was it looked like a delicious yummy fatty roach coach. My mouth started watering and I suddenly realized how hungry I was. I had many thoughts like cheese burgers, fries, hot dogs, ice cream, soda, chips among many more items I am pretty sure no roach coach in the country carries. Like a mirage in the desert I kept asking the professor " Is that a roach coach?" "is It?" "Man looks like one doesn't it?" Profess says "I don't think so but I can't tell". As we get closer it doesn't disappear so its not a mirage. I begin to recall seeing that kind of truck on the sides of the roads in Colorado selling jerky. "That's it!" " A jerky truck! " Almost as good I think. I get there as fast as I can and quickly get in line ... (there is no one in front of me). "Howdy!" I say as the guy from inside says "hey, hey!" An older guy and super friendly. He lets me sample a few pieces. I don't think I could taste it as it ran down my throat to feed my sore muscles. First meat in 5 days. I wish I had taken a picture. The professor and I decide to stay at the pay camping. We walk in and the couple running the site are out front. He comes up and asks " You staying with us tonight?" "Yes" we reply. " I have one site left, its right here." as he points across the dirt road. Perfect I thought. He only charges us half price and the wife gives us some iced tea ... ummm ... god thats good! We get settled and professor gets a ride to Bailey by the manager. Awesome place. They take him there and back. When he rreturns he says, " Cirque (Carl) will be here today". "Right on!" I say. That means we can get a good day in tomorrow I hope. Well rains coming.