August 20th
Today was going to be big. I’d leave the Basin and resume walking along the high points of the Continental Divide.
First, I had a cold, steep climb up from Fish Creek. Then after crossing “Truckdrivers Creek” I did turn and get back in to forest.
I could feel the climbing muscles get to work. Mostly, the trail was well markd, but there were a few patches with blowdowns where creativity was important.
At the top of one peak, I came across a sobering sight. Someone had placed an etched stone memorializing a loved one who lived from 1962 to 2010. A modest, understated monument to someone who died at 48 years. It was touching to me because that was the year I was born and 2010 could’ve been the year I died if I had not changed several things in my life (work, smoking, not exercising, etc.) I concluded that I was thankful I did make those changes and had a family that supported me. Tio be able to hike the CDT and ponder what might have been was sobering but also made me grateful.
backpacking over the hill 