Editor’s Note: Bill Powell is sharing his “hike for literacy” adventures with the Journal. This is the third submission we have received from Powell as he makes his way along his route. As I entered the Collegiate West I knew I was entering the most remote segments of the Colorado Trail.
The Collegiate West is known for spectacular views, fewer re-supply options and subject to menacing weather. But, the remoteness appealed to me. Within the first five miles I had my first close-up wildlife encounter when I surprised a rather large bear which stood no more than fifteen feet from me.
He seemed to be as surprised as I was, and luckily not interested in getting to know me better. He ran off one way and I quickly went another. Other animal encounters were not nearly as exciting, but still fun as I had frequent close sightings of mule deer, marmots, picas and other various species.
The Collegiate West can best be described as a series of mountain passes requiring long difficult climbs followed by knee testing descents. Hope Pass was the first test with an elevation change of more than three-thousand feet. This pass was followed by Lake Ann Pass which also had immense boulder fields to cross.
Boulders as big as cars to football sized rocks required some significant scrambling and a severe test for my ankles and knees. Of all my memories of the Collegiate West the one that will forever be imprinted in my brain is the weather. It stormed every day.
..EVERY DAY.
Storms in such a r.