​by T. Duren Jones
​

Almost Done
I am just one 20-mile segment short of finishing the whole Colorado Trail (CT). And what an adventure it has been.
 PictureWith trail buddy Diane on CT Segment 17
Imagine hiking nearly 500 miles, from Denver to Durango. Imagine boot blisters the size of fried eggs, lost toenails, sunburn, bug bites, and exhaustion at the end of a day so great you just want to hug and kiss your SUV at the trail section end—and calling that fun. I imagined it, and I’m close to completing the dream. I am just one 20-mile segment short of finishing the whole Colorado Trail (CT). And what an adventure it has been.

It was a story covering 486 miles, most of it at an elevation above 10,000 feet, and it took us years to complete. It is divided up into 28 segments, and is a tale that we will relive, in parts, over and over again. The challenge took my wife, Diane, my brother-in-law, Kevin, and me trekking across the state, passing through eight mountain ranges, six National Forests, six designated wilderness areas, along five river systems, and through what is considered to be some of Colorado’s most beautiful country. You can’t see this wondrous landscape from your car; if you could, it sure would have been a whole lot easier.

Diane—bless her heart—was a great trail companion, polishing off more than 350 miles of the mountainous ups and downs before her knees gave out (hopefully not because of the CT!). This wasn’t necessarily her thing (her adventure preference being more shopping for bargains) but she knows how much I enjoy the outdoors, and she wanted to accompany me on this wild escapade.

I’m making plans now to schedule the date this summer for that final segment. Maybe at some point I’ll have a chance to share some tales from the magnificent Colorado Trail.

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