Summer of Colorado, Week #6 + #7

On Tuesday I finished my first through hike ever! I've been backpacking for more than 30 years but never had the time to venture out on a through hike on account of being a working schlep for thirty years. BTW, I think a through hike is a bit like an ultra marathon in that there is no set distance but it's commonly acknowledged to be long, grueling and not for everyone! I finished the Colorado Trail (CT) in the northbound direction (Durango to Denver) in 26 days of hiking. I highlight the northbound (or NoBo as we say on the trail) aspect as I was truly a rare breed out there as I only encountered five other NoBo hikers compared to hundreds of SoBo hikers. Most people go SoBo as that's what the CT guide recommends as you start at lower elevations and the first hundred miles are fairly gradual in the southbound direction. On my second to last day on the CT, I met a NoBo couple (Washer and Pocket Snacks) who was also finishing up the CT so we hiked together for the final fort...