
Taylor Lake
There were two summits over 12,000 feet. Both were steep climbs with rock and stone fields. I reached the second summit and descended to Taylor Lake.

There were two summits over 12,000 feet. Both were steep climbs with rock and stone fields. I reached the second summit and descended to Taylor Lake.

I hiked a little longer than usual, and finally found a campsite at 5:30. Only 40 miles to the end of the trail and Durango!

I’m stoked for the last push to the finish line of the CT. A little after 9 AM this morning, Mike, who works at the Avon Hotel, gave me a ride to the trailhead.

Today is the second of two zero days and the first day at the Avon Hotel in Silverton. I probably shouldn’t have taken the second day.

I arrived at a trailhead around 2 PM. At the trailhead is the highway that leads to Silverton. My reservation at the Avon Hotel is for July 30 & 31

Then I reached something I had read about – an avalanche debris field. Hundreds of trees were knocked over and covering the trail – a natural obstacle course.

The trail may go up or down several hundred feet, but not below 12,000 feet for any length of time. I definitely need to get to a lower altitude.

The trail is still going up and today it hit the trail high point on the entire Colorado Trail. Coney Summit in the San Juan Mountains rises to 13,271 feet.

Luck was with me this morning. I caught a ride just a little ways from the cabin. It was 11:20 AM when I started hiking southbound on the trail again.

Tucked in the San Juan Mountains along the Continental Divide is one of Colorado’s hidden gems: Lake City. The mountain community is less than a square mile…