I spent the night in a cabin at Twin Lakes. I have the cabin for two nights and it’s a few miles from the trailhead for Hope Pass, which will be my second hike in two days.
On Saturday morning I was still recovering from the 10 mile hike in RMNP from yesterday and getting used to elevation. Twin Lakes sits at 9,600 ft and today my plan is to finally get to Hope Pass, 12,600 feet, after two Leadville 100 DNFs.
I found a restaurant that was open with a breakfast buffet. Similarly to how I felt last year the morning of my Grinnell Glacier hike, I needed eggs and coffee to get in the right mindset for the hike. The breakfast in Twin Lakes was okay but the eggs were a bit gross with tomatoes in them. The best part was the coffee and the pastry. Regardless, it gave me what I needed to get going.
I drove to the Willis Gulch Trailhead and started hiking. Two years ago I started this but didn’t go much farther than the CDT Trail.
I hiked to the CD Trail and headed south to Hope Pass.
A little way in I saw two bearded men hiking towards me with full packs. I got a bit choked up because I was so impressed that they were doing this super long trail; I wished I could be doing it, too. They wore a CDT badge on their shoulder strap. I asked them how long they’ve been on the trail and they said it’s been so long they lost count. They smiled, clearly happy to be on the trail.
I kept on and hiked slowly like yesterday. I kept thinking “what was I thinking” – when training for Leadville 100 and living at sea-level. I remember what I felt like at mile 38 during the 100 mile race and I couldn’t imagine running this trail to Hope Pass over and back in order to finish. I just never made it this far to know what I as in for. Today when saw runners heading up the Pass, I was in awe.
Hope Pass was fantastic. It wasn’t what it looked like in any the Leadville pictures but loved being there.
I headed down after a break and only wore a jacket to protect my skin. It was perfect hiking weather and only one patch of snow to cross.
I passed many heading up: hikers, runners, kids, dogs. All so happy to be out on the this gorgeous Saturday.
I had to pay attention and look for the sharp left turn to Willis Gulch Trail from the CDT. And it was a mile back to my car.
I was thrilled to make it to the top, and altitude sickness/headache subsided after getting down. The elevation is no joke and 3,330 feet of elevation gain.
I got back to my cabin and didn’t want to stay another night. I booked a hotel closer to the airport so I showered and packed up the car to head back to Denver.
I drove through Leadville and saw all the happy finishers who stuck around town after the Heavy Half Marathon and the Full Marathon race. I remembered when I did my best Leadville Marathon finish in 2019. I loved that year so much.
As I drove through the town, of which I dreamed about for years, I thought how much I loved the town, the race, and training for HARD RACES. I just don’t think I’m that athlete anymore. The athlete who can train hard and do these hard races. And just thinking that I’m done with it all makes me so sad. And writing it for this blog makes it so real.
I was so glad to be in Colorado and hike two big mountains/passes in two days. This trip has been so good for me, and is helping me face reality that maybe I’m more a hiker than an ultrarunner anymore.
Driving to Denver on Interstate 70 I thought how progressive Colorado is compared to Tennessee. Grocery stores in Colorado don’t use plastic bags and so many people have solar panels on their homes. I miss living in Colorado.
I got to my hotel and relaxed for a bit before heading out to find my last dinner in Colorado.
In the morning I ate a $35 breakfast at Elways at the airport. The meal was very pricey but I did enjoy the coffee and little bottle of jam for my biscuit.
As I waited for my flight, and trying to get some steps in, I saw this lighted advertisement at each gate in the terminal. It was a healthcare ad but I found it so true and inspiring for me. Here’s the close up of it – and here’s my sign to what’s next:
On Saturday morning I was still recovering from the 10 mile hike in RMNP from yesterday and getting used to elevation. Twin Lakes sits at 9,600 ft and today my plan is to finally get to Hope Pass, 12,600 feet, after two Leadville 100 DNFs.
I found a restaurant that was open with a breakfast buffet. Similarly to how I felt last year the morning of my Grinnell Glacier hike, I needed eggs and coffee to get in the right mindset for the hike. The breakfast in Twin Lakes was okay but the eggs were a bit gross with tomatoes in them. The best part was the coffee and the pastry. Regardless, it gave me what I needed to get going.
I drove to the Willis Gulch Trailhead and started hiking. Two years ago I started this but didn’t go much farther than the CDT Trail.
I hiked to the CD Trail and headed south to Hope Pass.
A little way in I saw two bearded men hiking towards me with full packs. I got a bit choked up because I was so impressed that they were doing this super long trail; I wished I could be doing it, too. They wore a CDT badge on their shoulder strap. I asked them how long they’ve been on the trail and they said it’s been so long they lost count. They smiled, clearly happy to be on the trail.
I kept on and hiked slowly like yesterday. I kept thinking “what was I thinking” – when training for Leadville 100 and living at sea-level. I remember what I felt like at mile 38 during the 100 mile race and I couldn’t imagine running this trail to Hope Pass over and back in order to finish. I just never made it this far to know what I as in for. Today when saw runners heading up the Pass, I was in awe.
Hope Pass was fantastic. It wasn’t what it looked like in any the Leadville pictures but loved being there.
I headed down after a break and only wore a jacket to protect my skin. It was perfect hiking weather and only one patch of snow to cross.
I passed many heading up: hikers, runners, kids, dogs. All so happy to be out on the this gorgeous Saturday.
I had to pay attention and look for the sharp left turn to Willis Gulch Trail from the CDT. And it was a mile back to my car.
I was thrilled to make it to the top, and altitude sickness/headache subsided after getting down. The elevation is no joke and 3,330 feet of elevation gain.
I got back to my cabin and didn’t want to stay another night. I booked a hotel closer to the airport so I showered and packed up the car to head back to Denver.
I drove through Leadville and saw all the happy finishers who stuck around town after the Heavy Half Marathon and the Full Marathon race. I remembered when I did my best Leadville Marathon finish in 2019. I loved that year so much.
As I drove through the town, of which I dreamed about for years, I thought how much I loved the town, the race, and training for HARD RACES. I just don’t think I’m that athlete anymore. The athlete who can train hard and do these hard races. And just thinking that I’m done with it all makes me so sad. And writing it for this blog makes it so real.
I was so glad to be in Colorado and hike two big mountains/passes in two days. This trip has been so good for me, and is helping me face reality that maybe I’m more a hiker than an ultrarunner anymore.
Driving to Denver on Interstate 70 I thought how progressive Colorado is compared to Tennessee. Grocery stores in Colorado don’t use plastic bags and so many people have solar panels on their homes. I miss living in Colorado.
I got to my hotel and relaxed for a bit before heading out to find my last dinner in Colorado.
In the morning I ate a $35 breakfast at Elways at the airport. The meal was very pricey but I did enjoy the coffee and little bottle of jam for my biscuit.
As I waited for my flight, and trying to get some steps in, I saw this lighted advertisement at each gate in the terminal. It was a healthcare ad but I found it so true and inspiring for me. Here’s the close up of it – and here’s my sign to what’s next: