Sooo windy!

Day 44

Date: 14.06.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 977.3

Miles hiked: 16.1 miles / 28.8 km

Elevation: ascent 4'718 feet (Aufstieg 1'438 m) / descent 3'593 feet (Abstieg 1'095 m)

Camping at: 12'028 feet / 3'666 m

We got up early today and started hiking around 6.30am. The first uphill climb of today was actually quite pleasant. It was not as steep as we expected it to be. Reaching the mesa, the wind picked up. But luckily the smoke has gone. For a couple of miles we have a nice, flat hike along the mesa, just the wind was bothering. Then the climbs start. They are just one line, without any switchbacks, up the hill. Brutal. I hate them. It takes me forever to climb them. And the wind is insane. Sometimes I just have to stop and try to keep on my feet without the wind blowing me off. I wonder where we will camp tonight. So far, there was no wind protected site visible.

We can climb Saint Louis, one of Colorado's 14'ers, which is only a 1.3 mile off trail hike from the CDT. But climbing up a mountain over 14'000 feet in these winds will be super hard and can also be dangerous. So we decided to camp 2 miles before the saddle and to climb Saint Louis tomorrow morning. All of us are very tired, as the winds and the steep uphill climbs are draining energy a lot. Bed time already at around 6.30pm!