Stats

Start: Bucks Lake – Mile 1,263.5
End: Williams Cabin Site – Mile 1,292.7
Elevation Max: 7,449
Elevation Min: 2,911
Elevation Change: 4,147 up & 5,927 down
Walking Time: 7 hrs 57 minutes
Date: 7/5/2022

The Walk

I woke up in the backyard thinking about a cup of hot coffee. I knew Donny would already have it brewing. I hopped out of my tent and walked over to the house. Sure enough, Donny was moving around and had mugs set out for us. I sat down in the recliner to enjoy one more relaxed morning. Back to trail today!

Quest and Gushers made breakfast. We felt like part of Donny’s family and were so appreciative that he opened his heart and home to us. Around 11 am we were back on trail and walking again.

My legs were happy. They fell right back into the daily hiking routine and felt strong. My mind was a different story. It was cloudy. 7 days off trail surrounded by people at the festival was overstimulating. It felt weird to be in the backcountry.

I popped in my AirPods and the miles flew by. We did a 1,300 foot climb out of town then the trail leveled out. Then we entered a huge burn area. Burnt trees were everywhere as far as I could see.

I didn’t mind it too much. I was happy to be back on trail. In the afternoon we had a multiple hour descent into Belden. Lots of switchbacks down about 4-5k feet (the knees hate it).

Belden wasn’t much of a town. A bed and breakfast with a lot of hikers and a few construction workers. I stopped in for a burger but didn’t want to stay in town. I needed to be out in the woods again. Leaving Belden was the start of one of the biggest climbs of the trail. A 5,000 foot climb. I had already done 20 miles, but wanted to knock out part of that climb.

I ate the burger and kept walking. The evening miles felt great. I knocked out 1,200 feet and 6 miles to a campsite. There weren’t many flat spots, but we made it work.

I’m feeling good. Let’s see what the trail holds tomorrow.

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