Colorado Trail Unsupported - August 2006

The Colorado Trail (CT) extends 482 miles between Denver and Durango. It passes thorugh many of Colorado's most impressive and most infrequently traveled wild lands, notably those along the Continental Divide and in the San Juan mountains. Its remoteness, rugged terrain, high elevations, and extreme weather conditions make the CT one of the most challenging -- and, not coincidentally, most rewarding -- long-distance trails in the country.

After finishing the Colorado Trail for the second time in early-August I tried to do it again two weeks later, this time unsupported, i.e. carrying all my food and gear from start to finish with no help whatsover. My goal was to finish in 11 days or less, and I was actually on sub-10 day pace after hiking 197 miles in 4 days (with 9 to 11 days of food on my back)! Unfortuantely, my IT band went out on me and that was the beginning of the end...