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| My trip through the Gore Range turned out a bit different than I imagined. The snowy weather at the start slowed me down a bit and I never found the energy to push myself into the heart of the range. Instead, I primarily followed the Gore Range Trail on the range's eastern shoulder. I switched my sandals for my boots to better cope with the snow. 9/8/01 My friend Nathan and I had planned a kayak trip in Gore Canyon for the day, but the snow scared us off. Much better hiking weather! Nathan dropped me off at the northern end of the range and I began my tour in 6 inches of snow. Squalls throwing down even more snow circled around as I headed south down the Elliot Ridge at near 12,000'. I made a short descent into the trees on the east side to make camp. I wrote in my journal in pencil--my pen froze up! 9/9/01 Huddled in the bottom of my sleeping bag, I awaited sun hit at the campsite. Then I huddled and waited some more for it to warm up a bit. Cooked oatmeal and tea from my bag, ate, and huddled some more. Finally got going, back up to the Elliot Ridge and on south to Meridian Peak. Excellent vantage of Powell Peak, the highest summit in the range. Headed east skirting the summits to Mirror Lake on a slushy, wet trail. A warming wind and the sun melted much of the snow below tree line under bluebird skies. Found a dry spot to camp on an elevated, mossy slab of rock. 9/10/01 Continued east past Cataract Lake and across Black Creek, then south to Lost Lake to camp. 9/11/01 Southeast across Slate Creek to camp on Harrigan Creek. Lots of hunters/hunter's camps. A friendly lot; some interested to hear what wild life I'd seen and which way it had run, some passed silently with only a nod and a smile. 9/12/01 South to Boulder Creek. Encountered a bull and two cow moose along the way. Lightened my pack and went for a day hike through an enchanted forest in upper Boulder Creek. Continued southeast to camp on North Willow Creek. 9/13/01 South and west over Eccles Pass. Nice to climb above tree line. Across North Tenmile Creek to camp in a meadow in its upper basin. Heavy rain moves in. I set up my tarp for the first time since my first night out. Its been such beautiful weather I haven't bothered. Primo stargazing! 9/14/01 Up to Uneva Peak for a last look north into the range, then south along the ridge (traffic on I-70 rumbling below me to the west). A stop at Wheeler Lakes. I chatted with two ladies from Vail, having lunch on the shore. They realize I've been out for a while and tell me of the tradgedy in New York. I guess I believed them. I could imagine it perfectly--Hollywood has trained me well. How come Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwartzeneger didn't stop them? I didn't want to believe it. Were these ladies just taking advantage of me, an out of touch woodsman, seeing how outrageous a story they could get me to believe? Somehow I knew it was true; a bombing had been attempted before. But I never thought it would really happen. I'd noticed a marked decrease in air traffic. I figured perhaps they directed most planes away from I-70, the most densley populated east-west corridor in Colorado (minimize noise and the threat of falling planes/parts?). I didn't want to leave the woods. I was afraid, confused, numbed. How different would I find the world I'd left? Would the roads be empty, everything closed? I imagined a land of zombies (such as I had become). Down the last few miles to the Conoco station at Copper Mountain. Checked the papers. It was true. Called Mom and Dad. Hitched a ride towards Aspen with a guy on his way to New Mexico. We talked a lot and shared deep feelings even though we were complete strangers. He grew up on the east coast and knew many people directly affected. I could hear the pain, despair, and confusion so clearly in his voice. When he dropped me off at the highway to Independence Pass, I thanked him for helping me adjust to the state of the Union. Two more rides and I was home. |
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