Well it had to happen eventually… Now its warning up and the snow is melting, the mosquitos are becoming a problem :( means we have to sit around the campfire in full waterproofs until they go to bed.

No idea why you’d build one this big, I assume each person who’s used it has added to it over the years. Alas it wasn’t past 7pm, our stopping cut off time, so we couldn’t give it a go…

This section of the CDT seems a total let down in comparison to the San Juans we’ve just come across. It’s low down, generally in trees and on two track, not even any snow for our margaritas! Good opportunity to get our heads down a do some milage though.

This was the first 14 thousander we pass by on the CDT, should of been an easy climb from the pass, but we decided to give it a miss because of the forecast thunder storms. Ended up being a good call as they started up soon after we descended down into the tree line.

Meet Andrew Skurka a legend in the backpacking world and a guy who completed the CDT as part of the 6785 mile Great Western Loop. We used his site before we left as a great source of information. Check out www.andrewskurka.com.

Andrew passed us on the trail yesterday whilst competing in the San Juan Solstice 50 mile run. This is a super tough endurance run through the high San Juan mountains and Andrew finished in a fantastic 4th place with a time of less than 10 hours. I spoke to Andrew this morning after the awards ceremony and he gave us some great information on the trail ahead so cheers Andrew it was a pleasure speaking with you.

There was something I found sadistically appealing about endurance running so may be looking into that when I get back! Running 50 miles in the mountains? Piece of cake! – Paul.

Lake City seems a pretty hard place to find a good steak… Just have to make do with this 16 inch pizza instead :)

This section of the CDT through the San Juan mountains was by far the best section of the trail so far. What makes it even more rewarding is that out of all the other hikers we have met on the trail we were the only ones to take on this challenge.

There is something great about being the first people to make tracks in the snow but it does mean that you have to be constantly alert to where your are and where your heading. There are no foot prints to follow and more often than not the trail is buried beneath a few feet of snow. With no GPS and only a map and compass at hand our navigational skills were put to the test. For anyone that follows us were sorry! We often bushwhack following compass bearings that do not follow the trail but we get there in the end. I would advise that unless you have crampons and do not mind a few hair raising traverses and descents then I would probably double check your map before following our footsteps! Good luck! Paul

We nailed 20 miles by 3 o’clock today, couldn’t quite believe it, surprising what a thirst for beer can make you do! Not quite as impressive as a bunch of runners who overtook us doing a 50 mile race through the mountains though…

We were eager to get to Lake City for a beer and steak so set off at 5am this morning! Good job we had crampons because the early morning snow was rock hard.