Colorado hiker takes train after storm

A Colorado Trail thru-hiker reached the Elk Park train stop early on her 25th day, after a short 9.5-mile morning hike. She was still shaken from a severe thunderstorm the previous night that she described as a near-death experience. She was glad she had not tried to move camp in the dark, as the morning trail was exposed. She also celebrated leaving the Continental Divide Trail and hitting trail mile 400.

She dried her soaked gear in the sun with two other thru-hikers, Bounce and Thor, while waiting for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The group performed a silly dance, reportedly a tradition to signal the train to stop. The open-air train ride provided stunning views of the river and mountains, an experience she said was exactly what she needed after her ordeal.

Arrival and Reset in Silverton

In Silverton, she reunited with another hiker named Cinder for lunch. She checked into The Wyman Hotel's bunk room, which she had to herself. A luxurious shower with provided Aesop toiletries and a stroll around the tourist-heavy town followed. Her mother treated her to a dinner of filet mignon and cheese curds, where she again met Bounce and Thor. Too exhausted from the trail, she postponed all town chores for her planned zero day.

A Zero Day with Trail Magic

Her zero day involved a late resupply trip and a special breakfast. Julianne, the owner and sewer of Wild Brush-the company that made her backpack-drove to Silverton with her dog, Indy, to provide trail magic. They explored a town market together, where the hiker purchased several pieces of jewelry.

The earrings she bought contained stones mined locally, including sugilite, opal, and Black Sierra. She noted the sugilite matched a ring she had acquired earlier in Salida. After visits to a gear shop, hardware store, and grocery store, she decided against doing laundry, citing laziness and the proximity to the trail's end.

Anxiety About the Return

Despite the relaxing day, which ended with a solo dinner of margarita, queso, and tacos at El Bandito and a cookies-and-cream milkshake in bed, anxiety set in. Her main concern was the next day's hike over a high pass approximately 11 miles from the trailhead. She feared this timing would force her to cross during peak afternoon thunderstorm hours, around 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., a prospect that deeply worried her after her recent storm experience.

She resolved to wake up early to hitchhike back to the trailhead at the first possible moment, hoping to clear the pass before storms developed. Her final night in Silverton was spent savoring the comfort before facing the trail again. This account was sourced from a personal blog on The Trek.