Hope Pass Post Giardia & Bleeding

August 16, 2024

Mile 168.2-10.4 miles into Collegiate West (24.2 miles)

The alarm went off at 7. I felt so comfy and could've easily slept 3 more hours but forced myself to get up, get dressed and pack. We ate breakfast of cereal and fruit in the quiet hostel kitchen, were hitching by 8:30 and back at the trailhead by 9:30. We were lucky to get two hitches really quickly. The first was a car full of college guys going out to climb a 14er who drove us to the turnoff from the main road. A few minutes later a van pulled over and a guy around our age told us to hop in. I shoved open the sliding door, crawled over a bean bag chair and climbed in. He told me to make myself comfortable on his bed so I settled back for the winding drive the rest of the way to the trailhead.

I felt better starting out than I thought I would. Of course I was out of breath on climbs but Henry found one of those oxygen cannisters in a hiker box and... damn that thing really works. One puff when you're gasping for air and you're recovered.

I felt good the whole way to Twin Lakes where we took a shortcut through the Leadville 100 course to get to the base of Hope Pass. The climb was four miles and steep as fuck. We took a break about a mile in by a creek, dried our sweaty clothes and wet shoes, ate snacks and pushed on.

The climb killed my spirit. The only positive was we did get to see llamas near the summit. They carry everything needed for an aide station up the mountain and then are free to graze in the sun.

I was almost to the top when I had a breakdown and started crying because it was just so hard and this is the first day of my period and I was tired. Reaching the top felt good but soon realized the descent was almost as bad. It was slippery scree and small rocks. I fell once and slid constantly, jarring my back in an attempt to keep myself off the ground. It was so steep every muscle in my legs had to be activated to stay upright.

By the time we reached the bottom my legs were shaking and felt like lead. We camped shortly after in a nice clearing just off the trail. I had all of my trail chores done before dark, sent a message to Mom and Gagoo on the Zoleo satellite and went to bed early.