Tuesday, June 8, 2021
I arose not long after the opening time of The Silver Llama, which the previous evening I'd decided would be a good place to take breakfast. After a small walk and a large breakfast burrito, I then returned to Room 13 of the Delaware Hotel and spent a while exploring Googlemaps, trying to decide where to go next.
This exploration and decision making process took longer than the day's ride.
At 23.1 miles, including riding around Leadville to pick up camping vittles, I suspect I’ve never had a shorter tour leg.
I arose not long after the opening time of The Silver Llama, which the previous evening I'd decided would be a good place to take breakfast. After a small walk and a large breakfast burrito, I then returned to Room 13 of the Delaware Hotel and spent a while exploring Googlemaps, trying to decide where to go next.
This exploration and decision making process took longer than the day's ride.
At 23.1 miles, including riding around Leadville to pick up camping vittles, I suspect I’ve never had a shorter tour leg.
Brenda the campground host directed me toward the loops where first-come, first-served campsites were available, and suggested which had the best views.
I had a hard time deciding between two of them but finally settled on G3.
Hammock view:
I had a hard time deciding between two of them but finally settled on G3.
Hammock view:
On Brenda's next drive-through I booked the site for two nights.
I spent most of the day in the hammock, nibbling snacks and sipping Jameson in between lengthy naps.
Later in the evening after making ramen noodles, I realized I was pretty low on water, having arrived with nothing but a canteen and my thermos I’d filled with tap water back at the Delaware.
Brenda had informed me that in contrast to what I'd read on the website that morning, the hand pumps were all out of service; there was no water available at this campground. But she said I could get water farther down the hill.
She might have been more specific than I was attentive.
Though the camp had no water, it did have an excellent cell signal. I examined Googlemaps and saw "The Colorado Trail" passed right next to my site.
I converted my tank bag to a knapsack and loaded it with my canteen, thermos, and the empty Nalgene collapsible 4 liter container I always keep in my saddlebag when riding out West.
After just a few steps down the hill I picked up a well-trodden footpath and followed it toward the lake where I presumed I’d be able to find a functional pump.
Later in the evening after making ramen noodles, I realized I was pretty low on water, having arrived with nothing but a canteen and my thermos I’d filled with tap water back at the Delaware.
Brenda had informed me that in contrast to what I'd read on the website that morning, the hand pumps were all out of service; there was no water available at this campground. But she said I could get water farther down the hill.
She might have been more specific than I was attentive.
Though the camp had no water, it did have an excellent cell signal. I examined Googlemaps and saw "The Colorado Trail" passed right next to my site.
I converted my tank bag to a knapsack and loaded it with my canteen, thermos, and the empty Nalgene collapsible 4 liter container I always keep in my saddlebag when riding out West.
After just a few steps down the hill I picked up a well-trodden footpath and followed it toward the lake where I presumed I’d be able to find a functional pump.
Even when starting the hike I’d worried about how little water I had left, and the possibility I might not find any more and then would have to climb back uphill – maybe in the dark. While on the trail I realized I’d left my flashlight in my saddlebag, and relying on my phone for light was problematic as it was already low on power and there was no way to recharge it at this camp.
It was a fine trail that made for a nice hike, and the scenery was awesome, but the walk wasn't as enjoyable as it would have been without water anxiety. I was glad the sun had set.
No water was to be found at the lower campground.
I might have gone on to the lake to collect some, knowing I could boil it back at camp, or perhaps I could have walked down the road another mile or so to the "village" of Twin Lakes. But doing either of those things would further stretch the trek into potential darkness.
Mission not accomplished I headed back to camp, reassuring myself that I was well acclimatized to the altitude and had always been able to stretch my water rations while in the desert.
And indeed, I arrived at camp without having hit my meager reserves at all. I lowered myself into my hammock and took a careful swig, holding it in my mouth for a long time, letting it slowly trickle down my throat to maximize thirst-quenching effect.
I turned in early and slept remarkably well. Wearing only shorts and a T-shirt inside my sleeping bag I wondered if at 9400 feet elevation I’d need to put on more layers. I guessed just sliding on my thick wool socks would be enough, but didn't even need to do that. I was totally comfortable all night.
The stars were brilliant in the utterly cloudless and very dark sky.
It was a fine trail that made for a nice hike, and the scenery was awesome, but the walk wasn't as enjoyable as it would have been without water anxiety. I was glad the sun had set.
No water was to be found at the lower campground.
I might have gone on to the lake to collect some, knowing I could boil it back at camp, or perhaps I could have walked down the road another mile or so to the "village" of Twin Lakes. But doing either of those things would further stretch the trek into potential darkness.
Mission not accomplished I headed back to camp, reassuring myself that I was well acclimatized to the altitude and had always been able to stretch my water rations while in the desert.
And indeed, I arrived at camp without having hit my meager reserves at all. I lowered myself into my hammock and took a careful swig, holding it in my mouth for a long time, letting it slowly trickle down my throat to maximize thirst-quenching effect.
I turned in early and slept remarkably well. Wearing only shorts and a T-shirt inside my sleeping bag I wondered if at 9400 feet elevation I’d need to put on more layers. I guessed just sliding on my thick wool socks would be enough, but didn't even need to do that. I was totally comfortable all night.
The stars were brilliant in the utterly cloudless and very dark sky.
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