Missoula,MT

So I finished up the Colorado Trail about 3 weeks ago, and decided to help friends move out to Missoula, Montana. The Colorado Trail was amazing, magnificent views everyday it seemed, Beautiful warm days, frigid nights, and abundant wildlife. I finished the trip in the Durango, Co an amazing college town at the foot of the San Juan Mountains. After returning to Portland, Or I moved in with a former Co-worker and friend from Ski-bowl who was moving to Missoula, Mt. I am now enjoying my last days in Missoula. Thursday I leave for Portland to return to work and figure out the next chapter of Life. This summer has been been unforgettable, some of my highest highs and the lowest lows of my life were experienced.

Salida, Colorado

More than half way there. 253 miles in from Denver, and the prettiest part of the trail is yet to come. So many things on this hike have been a challenge. From the physical, lately I feel weak, its hard to put miles down, and today I feel like I'm coming down with something. To the mental, overwhelming thoughts have flooded my brain as I began and end this journey alone. With all the obstacles ahead and behind me, In the end I'm glad I have chosen to pursue another long-distance hike, setting that goal, and hopefully two weeks from now succeeding. Today I am in Salida, a small town of about 5,000 or so in south central Colorado. Great Trail Angels, Kevin and Megan, From the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, have put me up for the night and I'm so thankful of the hospitality. Tomorrow I head out to take on the San Juan Mountain Range. No resupply for 100 miles from here. The next half of this trip will be tough, but some of the most rewarding views and terrain are up ahead. Hopefully more updates will come as I finish out my Journey through the incredible Colorado Rockies.

Buena. Vista,CO

216 miles in on this 500 mile Journey. Started hiking with Cloudbuster out of Leadville, we climbed Mt. Elbert highest mountain in Colorado last week. Leaving town this morning after camping out last night. Rain in forecast for today, but most days are brutally hot, then turn very cold once the sun drops. Found ice in my tent two mornings ago. Headin south to Salida. Onward I trek. What am I doing.

Breckenridge, Co.

105 miles in on the C.T. Crossed over Georgia Pass yesterday, first real expierence with the alpine. Yesterday was the first day of the trip it did not rain on me while hiking. It has been super wet since I started, with some thunderstorms lasting all day. Managed to pull off 28 miles yesterday, could barely walk this morning when I woke up. The Rockies are very wild and rugged and hiking the last 65 miles completely alone was an amazing expierence. Hoping to meet up with cloudbuster next week in Leadville. 380 miles till the Finish in Durango. No wildlife encounters yet, sent my bear rope home, now I use my foodbag as a pillow.

Longmont, Colorado

Arrived in C.O last night after a beautiful drive through rain, rainbows, meadows and mountains. Staying with fatkid(David) and Zen(Gavin) from the A.T and got some micro brew at Oskar Blues in Lyons for the start of Rocky Grass Bluegrass Festival. Great music but sorry Oskar, Portland has got you beat on brew!

Colorado, Colorado, Colorado!

Its official in 3 hours I leave for Colorado, to attempt the 500 mile long Colorado Trail. It's been almost a year since I last blogged, but I hope to post as much as possible throughout the trip to and from Colorado. I was super fortunate to stay busy with landscaping work after finishing the ski season on Mt. Hood last winter, helping me frugally hike this trail. Its been almost two years since I hiked a long distance, and I'm proud to say I am once again "Hiker Trash". Happy Trails. Updates to Follow.... TOOTHPICK....

www.coloradotrail.org

Early Fall in Oregon

Wow its the beginning of September already, and fall is rolling in. I have officially been in Portland, Oregon now for 2months and 5days. What an amazing city to call my new home, but I've spent the majority of my time here exploring the Dormant Volcanoes of the Cascade Range or Spinning my way to the Coast in search for salt water. August 15Th I embarked with three other people, to complete the famous Timberline Trail. 41 miles of unbelievably gorgeous but extreme terrain. Passing in and out of alpine meadows on our way around the mountain. Wildflowers in peak bloom and the bugs, slowly making me loose my mind. I opted not to bring shelter this trip as my steady checks with the weather called for warm sunny days and pleasant nights in the upper 40s. One thing that did not go through my head was the high activity of gnats, flies, mosquito's, etc. flying around my head as I lay there our first night under the stars at the base of bald mountain. Thanks to our fifteen sticks of Nag Champa and the coolness of the night settling in, the bugs did die down and I managed to sleep soundly next to three other tents, exposed to the night. The following day I awoke to blue skies and a sore body, as we tramped our way further into the Mt.Hood Wilderness, and towards the infamous Elliot glacier washout. Officially the trail is closed at Elliot Glacier due to a major slide that washed out the entire canyon, but we manage to form a plan to the top of the ridge and slide down the glacier and bushwhack our way through the canyon. The endeavour took over two hours to safely traverse the canyon filled with rapidly melting snow and loose rock, "Dangerous". We make to the other side of the canyon and quickly decide to call it a day, making camp under the stars that evening, sunsetting over the distant sister mountains of Rainier, St.Helen's, and Jefferson miles away. Day Three completed our loop around the mountain hiking through exposed glaciers and alpine meadows as we made it back to the Timberline Lodge and Bar Bound for some burgers, just as a thunderstorm was in the works over the horizon. More updates of the Oregon Coastal Bike Tour to come stay tuned.