forgotten trail story
When sharing my Colorado Trail thru-hike experience with you, I forgot a humorous moment and want to offer you a little giggle now that I recall the moment.
TAJ battling wind and fog on San Luis Peak during our second attempt (and successful).
If you missed my suffer fest of a thru-hike along the Colorado Trail, then you can peruse that comedy of errors in the Colorado Trail Woes post. As for this tale, it will be a short addition to that lengthy saga. Sit back and relax and let me share with you the time TAJ missed the turn along the trail and led us up a 14er…
When I hike with others I’m the follower. Mostly. At times I orienteer tricky areas or help navigate but you would be surprised to find how rare those times occur. Since I struggled (my feet, my energy, my mental status) behind TAJ for at least the first half of the CO Trail, on this particular day I chugged slowly behind. We reached a saddle and needed to determine our way forward. Straight? Or to our right?
It seemed obvious and I’d follow TAJ anywhere. A few switchbacks up the rocky scree, I notified TAJ that I needed a break. He lamented that I had already indulged in second breakfast. My response? Yeah, I don’t understand it either but I really really need third breakfast right now for some energy. He takes the moment to study the map. Then, looks at me. Shakes his head. Lifts his arms wide and simply states, “No wonder.”
He points and starts heading back down the way we came. Slow to stand back up, I look after him quizzically. Did he just lead us up San Luis Peak with full, heavy thru-hike packs on? And give me a hard time for wanting more food to get myself AND MY HEAVY PACK up beyond 13,000 feet of elevation?!? Yes. He did indeed. Hindsight 20/20, the right turn to go down the other side of the saddle really was the more obvious choice. Side eye to you, TAJ.
The following year we decided to attempt as many 14ers as possible and you can read about that excursion in my 14ers post. Did we re-attempt San Luis Peak? Of course we did. We didn’t quite top out after all. It’s a bit of a hike in from the closest trailhead so TAJ and I had time to reminisce. As we entered the big open bowl to cross the meadow to the start of the climb, TAJ asks whether I recall this from our thru-hike.
How could I forget? Every bit is etched into my memory. Although I think he’s referring specifically to the herd of big horn sheep running directly in front of us in this exact spot along the trail, I also consider his mishap. I scowl. Then, I giggle. However, annoyed at the time we both were at the situation and/or each other, that moment is a raw representation of TAJ & Sprite adventures and I adore every bit of the mishaps that become stories, that become the parts of ourselves we share.