Last hard day in Colorado (hopefully!)

Day 70

Date: 10.07.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 1'407.5

Miles hiked: 23 miles / 36.8 km

Elevation: 7'090 feet ascent (2'162 m Aufstieg) / 5'741 feet descent (Abstieg 1'751 m)

Camping at: 10'453 feet / 3'188 m

Today is gonna be, no matter what, a hell of a day again. This, due to water, and gain in elevation. There is one stream coming up in 2 miles, then no water for 11 miles but two big climbs and again no water for like 10 miles. That also defines how far we gonna hike today, either 13 or 23 miles! Well not much of a choice there! And while we have a huuuge climb all morning, the afternoon was more like a rollercoaster. Steep up and downs all the way. I started a new audiobook and put myself into auto-hike-mode in the afternoon till camp🤣 and of course is started to rain in the afternoon again. How could it be different?! We mostly cruised in the forest, still got some views but for the hight meters we have done, the views were okay-ish. Ducky and Vista arrived around 1.5-2.5 hours later to camp and we all think that this day is one of the top three thoughest day so far on trail.

Luckily, tomorrow is easy, pfff not really! We plan on a 28.4 miles day to get into the town of Steamboat Springs in order to resupply for the next stretch. However, it is not that much uphill. I need to be in Encampment, Wymoning by Friday evening (112.4 miles!) as the Post Office only opens from 8.30am to 9.00am on Saturday. I need these 30 minutes to get rid off all the warm gear (gloves, jumper, thick long johns, warm sleepingbag, bearbag, etc.). I will not really need them in the Great Divide Basin, being super hot there again - back in the desert - and as lighter my back is the better! That is also why we are in such a rush!

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