It was a slower start to the day than I wanted, but that’s ok.   While I hoped to be out of the room around 8, it was more like 9:30.  Then we had to find our way back to the trail.  To save us the headache of hitching, I tried to use Uber.  However, apparently nobody wanted to drive all the way to Muddy Pass with little hope of a return fare.  I can’t blame them.  We ended up saving money by taking the free bus to the edge of town and then hitching from there.  For a while I didn’t think we’d have much luck, but then Norm came by.

Norm is a retired public defender who routinely drives the road between Muddy Pass and Steamboat Springs, looking for hikers who need a ride.  He seems to really enjoy meeting hikers and I know we hikers enjoy meeting him.  See, Beth, hitching isn’t so bad - look at all the interesting people you get to meet!

We had 2 miles to walk on Highway 40 before we got back to a trail, but it was fine.  Hiking the trail was fine, too.  The terrain was, thankfully, very forgiving, with gently graded uphills and downhills.  We were in the trees most of the day so the scenery wasn’t very epic.  Instead, it was more of a quiet beauty with plenty of wildflowers, lakes, and meadows to keep it interesting.  

The extra day of rest helped immensely and I hiked most of the day pain-free (I didn’t take any ibuprofen, either!).   I did start to feel a little something about a mile before camp, but I slowed down and made it just fine.  

As I made my way to where we planned to camp, I met Nick coming toward me on the trail.  He had found a campsite next to the water, but there were so many mosquitoes that he figured camping away from the water would help.

I don’t know what it’s like where he initially wanted to camp, but the mosquitoes here are pretty terrible.  Neither of us could get inside the tent fast enough, and now that we are safe in the tent I feel like a hostage - the mosquitoes aren’t going away at all and have instead swarmed the tent (it’s been 2 hours and they still think they can get in somehow).  This wouldn’t be a problem except I really have to pee.  I don’t want to open up the netting even a little bit lest they get inside our safe, mosquito free space, not to mention how I’ll get mobbed the second I go outside.  It’s fascinating to see so many mosquitoes around us and comforting to know they can’t get to us (well, until I break down and head outside to pee, that is).

There were also swarms of electric blue dragonflies next to Lake Elmo - it must be mating season for them because there were thousands upon thousands of them out there.  I attempted to take a video but it didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped.  It was very cool to see, though.  

Along the trail:

Camp (picture taken the next morning because the little monsters wouldn’t let us out of the tent until it was dark):