Trip Report: Collegiate Loop CO
The plan was to complete the collegiate loop in 8-9 days. Aim for 20 miles / day- starting at Avalanche TH outside of Buena Vista and going clockwise for the full 160 miles and 33k feet of climbing. Hard deadline to be back to IL by Aug 12.
Worked a full week in IL hospital and clocked out Aug 1 around 730p, and I hit the road immediately. I was packed ...and eager. Slept in Hiawatha, KS at a nice roadside motel that smelled like Indian food.
Arrived Aug 2 about an hour before sundown and ran to the first creek past the busy avalanche TH area where families were set up with big tents and heavy gear. 3 miles down and a text to let the family know I arrived and set up first camp at S Cottonwood Creek in just over an hour. "I got this," I thought. The excitement, adrenaline, and fresh legs gave me false hope. 43 lb pack starting weight without water. I seriously over packed on food.
Aug 3- I set out after breaking down camp at 730a. I was tired from the drive and the work week, cut me some slack. I had on brand new altra trail runners which were rubbing both heels raw. I knew that was a bad sign, but assumed it was from the hustle of making to camp the night prior. I didn't know it yet, but I had them laced way too tight despite buying a full size and a half too big, on purpose.
Just before I started the road walk around Mt Princeton Hot Spring, I ran into a pair of guys hiking. They were sitting down next to a small creek and one of the guys was bleeding from his forehead. He had creamed a log while getting water and stood up and whacked it. His buddy was bandaging him, eager to use his first aid kit for the first time. They were from the Denver area and nice to chat with for 10 mins while I got water. We parted ways but I caught them on the road walk, despite taking an hour lunch at the lower Mt Princeton TH. We walked together for about the last mile up the gravel road approaching chalk creek. They were just finishing their 4 day hike and asked if I needed anything that I may have forgotten, I said no. The right answer would have been sunscreen.
Now seems like a good time to mention that I had been having diarrhea for the drive to CO and the entirety of day 1. Not fun. It was also 90 deg out. We said our goodbyes and I was eager to hit my 20 mile goal. I took a rest at the creek, in the shade, trying to cool down some as I had just power hiked the 5 mile road walk to get out of the sun faster.
I ran into a privy maybe a quarter mile from the creek with the intention of going another 5 miles. I let out what I needed out and thought I was going to puke, started dry heaving in the privy while trying (successfully) to keep it down. Made the decision to sleep in the established campsite instead as I needed to pace myself. Plus I had scored an extra 3 miles the night prior on arrival. Still doable, I thought, and I had the campsite on the bluff above the creek to myself.
Total: 14.95 mi, 1.4k' up, 2k' down. 1.6 mph pace.
Aug 4- camp broken and hiking at 750am. I spent 30 mins in the privy again before heading out. I remember passing browns creek, yesterdays original destination goal, way later in the day than I thought I should have. My pace was noticably slower than expected and I was struggling. Blisters worse and sweating like it was my damn job. I remember the descent into the Angel of Shavano TH area was brutal on my feet. I felt wrecked and was taking a lot of breaks this early into the hike. Had a hard time finding a good campsite near the creek and didn't want to bother asking the host of the established campsite if I could stay like I had read on Far Out. Plus I was irritable. I noted in my tracking app that I felt really tired and weak, with multiple long breaks. I set up my tent in a bad spot and tore it down after scouting something better about .1 mi away. That pissed me off for being stupid and wasting the energy setting up twice.
Total: 16.22 mi 2.9k' up, 2k' down. 1.5 mph pace.
Aug 5 - hiking by 725a, and I knew I had a climb right out the gate this morning. Knocked it out without issue, though nearly stepped on a snake, and saw a buck near the top. I had intentions of making up lost time today despite such late starts. Finally loosened my shoes wayyyyy up and felt better about it. Added a second pair of socks, and folded the bottom layer of sock in half for 3 layers total.
The road walk up to Fooses Creek TH was LONG but I felt good during the climb. Slow and steady without stopping, my style. A nice lady offered me a ride to the TH, which I declined. The sun was burning the backs of my knees, in the pit. That would later escalate. Near the summit of the road, I finally ate my first ramen noodle with beef jerky mixed in. Some of the food I brought was repulsive to me, I assumed from feeling sick the previous 2 days. I felt stronger after the salt. Fooses Creek trail was in my opinion, the best hiking yet. So beautiful and a gradual incline. I camped maybe 2 miles before the CDT junction near last water, on a beautiful little flat spot surrounded by steep mountain side. Mountain bikers complimented by spot. 😎 I still felt super exhausted.
Totals: 14.06 mi 2.6k' up, 1k' down. 1.2 mph pace. I realized at this point I wasn't going to make the full loop.
Aug 6 - hiking by 535a, as I had read you want to be off the high points before afternoon storms. The climb to the CDT junction was a hard one, even though I started early. My blisters peaked in pain this day. I added tape under my 3 layers of socks.
This was my hardest day, by far. I took a long break just before hitting the Monarch Crest shop, which was dumb. I had phone service. I was also so excited to get soda at the shop, my usual trail craving. The area between the CDT junction the shop are really beautiful.
The shop sucked. I guess I got there between breakfast and lunch and the staff acted like I was inconveniencing them. I didn't realize the burritos were grab n go and I had asked for a sausage burrito. They mentioned lunch wasn't for another 20 mins, no biggie. The lady mentioned the root beer was almost out, but served me a diluted cup anyway. I didn't complain and drank it, and bought a coffee too, which was super weak, and I'm no coffee snob. Spent 20 dollars for a crap deal and spent over an hour here, half in the restroom. I also bought a 8$ 30spf travel size sunscreen, all that was available.
The hike between the shop and the ski resort on monarch was brutal. The sun was roasting me something fierce. My knee pits were blistering. Took an hour long break again at the top of the ski resort. After leaving monarch ski resort, there's a sign that reads no easy terrain ahead as you enter into no name basin. That was accurate. I struggled so badly on the portion where the ancient people hunted using the rock walls to ambush herding animals. I was frying in the sun and the climbs kept coming. I was exhausted and not having fun. The scramble along the backside of bald mountain, along the scree was the final straw for me. I made it down and camped right next to the little alpine pond at its base. Beautiful campsite all to myself. I also jumped into the alpine pond but left my socks on as I was worried the tape would come off and I used a majority of it on my heels. Felt amazing on my sunburn.
Totals: 17.73 mi 2.9k' up, 1.7k' down. 1.4 mph pace.
Aug 7- hiking by 540am. The area between the base of bald mountain and the Boss Lake TH was also a highlight for me. I got caught by a lady using a cat hole, I was so embarrassed but she was super nice about it. I thought I was hidden but I was right next to a TH lol.
The climb out of Boss Lake TH was hard, but not physically. I shed some tears because of real life stuff. I needed it though, and I was physically exhausted which I guess made me emotional.
Next came the climb to Chalk Creek Pass. Absolutely beautiful but a tough, tough climb. I was doing ok until about 1.5 mi from the pass. I was trying to hurry because of clouds and sprinkling rain. I took a nice long break on the backside of the pass and watched a family fly fishing in Hancock Lake and was literally right next to a family of marmots. Met a guy from Sweden who was nice but I only understood every other word he was saying, he reported as doing the CO trail. The rest of the day was hard because I never recovered from my extended break. Energy was low. Saw a buck and a mom deer protecting their fawn. I talked to them for 2 mins before I realized they are deer and I should probably continue on.
I made it halfway up the Alpine Tunnel railbed which was nicely graded. I was hiking fast and ran into 2 couples hiking the opposite direction on the CO trail. It boosted my morale to eat dinner with them and I camped on the edge of the mountainside. Not many options. They headed to Hancock Lake which was 5 miles and it was almost dark, seemed dumb to me, but to each their own! They were lovely to talk to. She was a nurse and he worked for the NPS in Zion. Great people, they also gifted me some electrolyte mixes (which for whatever reason I can't bring myself to use).
Totals: 15.27 mi 2.2k' up, 2.8k' down. 1.1 mph pace.
Aug 8- this was my favorite day of hiking, I felt finally somewhat adjusted to the elevation. I have never been above 9k feet before this. The rest of the alpine tunnel railbed was beautiful and easy hiking. A lot of elevation today but everything was beautiful and I was pacing myself well. Slow on the ups, fast on the downs. I flew down the descent into the North Fork Chalk Creek and took an hour break getting water and eating lunch. The climb out of there was long but wasn't hard until the last mile. My God, it was steep once you get above treeline and never ended but it was beautiful. Cloudy, which I was grateful for. The sun really makes it much harder. Ate some ramen while trying to block the wind from my stove, successfully, but took real effort.
A long while later I made it to near Mt Kreutzer where i ate dinner with a group of about ten 60 year olds who were retired EPA bureaucrats. I enjoyed them, and they were fun to talk to. I left them and made camp about a half mile up trail next to a small creek. I slept horribly this night knowing I was getting off trail tomorrow and I was excited to sleep in a real bed. My air mattress kept slowly deflating and was hurting my hip bones while sleeping the last several nights. I really hadn't gotten good sleep several consecutive nights at this point, dew was also soaking me and making me cold and uncomfortable.
Totals: 14.95 mi, 3.4k' up, 2.7k' down. 1.3 mph pace.
Aug 9 - hiking by 0615, though my goal was 0400 🤣. I was anxious about my first hitchhike back to my truck. I flew to Cottonwood pass and did 8.5 mi and 2k' up in just under 4 hours without stopping, 2.2mph pace. Got a hitch in the first 5 mins of being there from a retired landman / geologist. Saw a lot of families day hiking. I got in my truck to flew to the nearest McDonald's for a large fry and 2 dr peppers, 80 miles away. It was delightful. I'm writing this from the comfort of my hotel in Colorado Springs and feeling good and eating everything in sight.
Trip totals: 94.3 miles and 19k' elevation. Beautiful country here in CO. An awesome opportunity to appreciate God's art.