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Southern Colorado

The only trail magic on the entire Continental Divide Trail in Colorado, a cooler filled with ice-cold sodas at a location "somewhere" in the Cochetopa Hills.

San Luis, another 14-er and the gateway to the San Juan's for CDT hikers.

Two other thru-hikers, NITRO and Jug, climbing out of Cochetopa Creek towards the saddle below San Luis Peak.

With my buddy NITRO, who was on her way to finishing up her last trail in her Triple Crown attempt.

Spring Creek basin, just west of San Luis. From San Luis saddle, the CDT stays above treeline almost full-time to Cumbres Pass, about 200 miles.

San Luis and its crumbly mountainsides poke above everything else.

The view from the climb on the west side of San Luis Pass.

The CDT through the San Juan's is one of the worst places to get caught in bad weather -- there is just no natural protection from the wind, cold rain, hail, or snow. Unfortunately, bad weather is an almost inherent part of the San Juan experience.

Snow Mesa, the absolutely worst place to get caught in bad weather -- it's at 12,500 feet, is 3.5 miles long, and completely bare of protective vegetation.

A reflective pond on Snow Mesa.

I got lucky: the bad weather began to clear by 5pm, when I stepped out onto Snow Mesa.

From Snow Mesa

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