FAREWELL TO THE CDT
CDT Day 146: 12 miles /17 km
CDT SOBO: Mile 2252.0 – 2264.0
Monday September 9, 2019
This trail was a challenge to the end. This morning we broke camp for the last time with a fair bit of energy and enthusiasm. It was time to bring this ship to shore. We were tired of being tired, frayed and frazzled. We were looking forward to some rest.
The sky was clear and the stars sparking. It was warm as we headed up the hill. Once we rounded the top, the guttural sound of owls hooting across the open space felt close and eerie. It was three owls calling to each other, we just happen to be in the way.
In the predawn twilight I could see that we were in a huge open pasture. The temperature started to plummet, and frost appeared on the ground. Soon shoes were wet from the frosty grass and a cold wind was blowing. It got so cold and then it got colder. I wondered if I would ever feel warm again. It seemed that sun would never rise this morning. Howling of coyotes replaced the sound of the owls. The wilderness was well and truly bidding us goodbye.
Once we got out of the pastures and into the forested section, it was a little warmer, especially when the sun reached the trail. But the wind remained cold right to the end.
It felt incredible and a bit surreal to arrive back to where we were nearly four months ago at Hopewell Lake. It made me sad to remember that feeling when we were here last, walking along this same highway in blizzard like conditions. By the side of the highway were two crosses marking a fatality which occurred just two days after we were here on May 20. It made me even sadder to think of such a sudden loss of life and of the desolation I felt when we were hitching in that blinding storm.
And to finish our wild wanderings we were privilege to receive an extraordinary act of trail angeling generosity. Our friend ‘Oregon Jim’ with whom we hiked on sections of the PCT in 2016 flew out from Oregon to meet us at the finish. It was so wonderful to meet up again. It made the finish all that more special and memorable.
We had to go to Chama to pick up a parcel from the post office. On the drive to Chama it was hard to reconcile the landscape with that of our last trip down this highway. Chama was so beautiful and warm and it started to feel real, we were done and don’t have to go back on trail. The reality of finishing this beast of a trail will take a few days to sink in.
We had lunch at the Boxcar Cafe and then it was onto Santa Fe where we stayed for the night.
After doing laundry and getting cleaned up we went out to dinner with Jim. Although we have kept in contact, there was so much more catching up to do. It was a most pleasant ending to our CDT adventure.
Congratulations on finishing the CDT! And how cool that Jim came out to get you at the end?! I just missed Jim and Laura in San Antonio as I was in Africa. So happy to follow along on another adventure. Are you returning to AU right away or staying in the States for a bit of tourism?
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Thank you Leslie. Having Jim meeting us at the end definitely made it extra special. We are humbled by his generosity. He mentioned that you were in Africa. Hope your trip went well. We have about 10 days before we go to Germany to run/walk the Berlin Marathon on Sept 29, and then fly home via San Francisco.
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I am so incredibly proud of the two of you. It was wonderful seeing you in Chama way back when. You will be on my mind as I am back on the trail putting in a few more miles before the snow shuts me out for the season. Life got in the way this year from completing the entire trail in one season but I will return next summer. Thank you for sharing your adventure and experience with us. You truly are amazing people.
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Oh Kirk that is so lovely. It was such a pleasure to finally meet in Chama. The time went way to quickly and we had hoped to see you on trail again. But you had so much going on so it’s great that you are able to get back for the test if the season. We had heard it has started snowing around Breckenridge at elevations above 9000 feet. Only a light dusting. Locals are excited for the return of winter. Good luck with the rest of the trail and we look forward to following your trek. Hope to meet up again soon.
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Congratulations well done,I felt your pain on this adventure.How lovely of Oregon Jim to meet you at the finish.Rest up before you run the Berlin Marathon on the 29th.Take care and look forward to seeing you when you get home.
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Thank you so much Judy. It was very generous of Jim to come all that way to meet us. It made the finish all that more memorable and special. Look forward to catching up on our return home.
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Dear Stef & Mike…. a herculean effort!!!! Congratulations on completing the trail. Reading your blogs became addictive and wow at times I could not comprehend the brutality of the trail and the punishment you endured. Your tenaciousness was tested time and time again but you courageously continued your journey. I have enjoyed being part of your amazing journey and loved all the beautiful photos. Stay safe and enjoy some well earned downtime. Look forward to seeing you back home after the marathon.
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Thank you so much for sticking with us Deanna. It has been a huge challenge which underestimated somewhat. In glad we made the decision to flip-flop this year. We got to see each state in the best light. So glad you enjoyed following the highs and the lows. Looking forward to catching up when we return
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Its been a great journey. Thanks for taking us along.
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Thank you Oldmac52 for following.
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Well done guys an incredible feat, thanks for all the Blogs great narration of your adventure, and of course fantastic photos. Is Hammer keeping the beard so he can be Santa at Christmas????. Look forward to seeing you both again soon. Take Care and safe journey home. Terry
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Thank you for flowing our journey. So pleased you enjoyed the photos. Hammer has already lost the beard, thank goodness. I’ll post a before/after picture 😁. We’ll see you soon for a lap of the lake.
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Congratulations on yet another fabulous accomplishment! It’s been such a pleasure and a delight to the eye to read and see your wonderful photos! Wishing you a happy journey home and a wonderful deserved rest!!
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That’s so nice Andi, thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog and photos.
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What a fantastic journey. Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I can’t wait for the next one.
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Thank you John. It certainly has had some highs and lows. The triple crowns calls 😁.
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Wow so fantastic. Big congrats!
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Thank you Anna. It has been a trial for sure.
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Congratulations, and thank you for sharing it on your blog. While I was reading each update I usually had three tabs with different maps open. Fantastic stuff.
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Thank you Rod. So good to hear from you. I had planned to include a map of each leg but it all got too hard.
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Well congratulations to your both, so very, very proud of you – thank you for sharing your journey – I enjoyed every minute and felt for you so many times as it was a tough road – enjoy your well deserved rest and good luck in Germany and look forward to catching up when you return home – cheers Maree xx
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Thank you for staying the course Maree. So happy to finish and have a bit of time to spare between trips. Look forward to sharing a chocolate milkshake when we return.
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EPIC! Well done Mike and Stef.
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Thank you for following our trek Chris. It was tough at times and we ate pleased to have finished. It has started to snow in Colorado.
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Hello, Stefanica and Mike. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
I am amazed and filled with admiration and great respect for you both. I’ve followed and taken delight in your accounts this adventure from the beginnings in SF and then on the road through Prescott and Gerome and to NM, etc. Two years ago I van camped through many of these lolcals and so I was right there with you, re-living vicariously. No equivalent in my experience of the many, many travails you endured in your noble quest to explore, though. You are truly people of this Earth and know nature and human resilience more intimately than all but a handful of us. I’m in awe.
Thank you so much for sharing your adventure! Comment and photos are superb.
I’ve always thought that the central wilderness of the USA was for-bodding and so filled with some wretched history, but also rich in natural wonder. Your hike has born my suspicion out. Thank you! 😉
I have not commented before now because I have followed you on my desktop (better monitor) and it only allows “blogger ” feedback w/o comment. Very recently I opened one of your email posts on my laptop and I see the ability to comment, so, here I am. I have a lot of catching up to do as my last reading was “Magic Montana.” I regret that I was not able to post my many appreciative responses to your many earlier posts in my moments of inspiration, but know that they were a thrill. there will be many more as I continue following this adventure.
Contact me if you are in the Santa Cruz area on your way back home and perhaps we can meet.
Thank God you are off the trail with great success. Enjoy all the comforts to come; you deserve it, Stefanica and Mike!
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BTW, my very large National Geographic atlas has dominated my desk for 3 or 4 months now, and will continue to until I catch up to present time.
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Hi Lawrence
So nice to hear from you. We are humbled by your generous praise and your kind words. It has been a much more challenging trail then the PCT in so many ways. We are so happy to have persevered when it would have been easier to quit. When it was good it was sublime and it made everything else worthwhile. It will take a while for it all to sink in. We are flying out through San Francisco this time so won’t have an opportunity to visit. Maybe next time.
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