I took off a few days to get up to Colorado before the summer's over...usually I've already been there 2 or 3 times by this point. I didn't have much of a plan, I just knew that I wanted to do a lot of hiking. I spent my first night outside of Durango, trying to get up to Kennebec Pass which is part of the Colorado Trail. I'd seen pictures on Facebook of the wildflowers in the area and figured I'd try it out. However, the road got a little sketchy several miles in, and I got a little nervous being so isolated and alone. There's always the looming possibility of breaking something on my car or getting stuck and having no cell reception...not a good predicament to be in. However, there was an excellent campsite up there and the sunrise was lovely, so it was worth checking out.
I didn't really get any sleep that night because I was FREEZING. I guess that after Canada, I underestimated how cold it gets at night at high altitudes. I got breakfast in town and then hit up the Humane Society for blankets and a hoodie for the remainder of my trip.
Then I drove up towards Silverton and stopped at Coal Bank Pass. There was a parking area and restrooms but I had no idea where the trails went...it just seemed like a good spot to explore. I got my pack all set up and hit the trail.
