It feels so good to be back on the trail - if I ever start to feel disenchanted with this hike or like this is a job again, someone please hit me over the head and remind me how much I hated being unable to hike.  There is nothing like not being able to do something to show you just how much you really appreciate that something.  

Candice lovingly drove us back to Berthoud Pass this morning.  Along the way we stopped for some coffee, for some supplemental snacks (Nick ate all of his trail snacks these past 4 days), and for some sandwiches for dinner.  While ideally it would only take us 2.5 days to hike back to Grand Lake, we decided to err on the side of caution and reduce our mileage, which means it will take us an extra day to get there. (Hence the sandwiches for dinner.)

The reduced mileage plan is a good one (although I already know I will want to do more if I can to make up the time we lost). I was able to hike the 9 miles we hiked today without too much issue, but I’m still wary and hiking tentatively.  The last thing I want is to make things worse just when they were starting to get better.  I’m just taking my time, happy to be out here again.  I don’t even care that we hiked in the rain all afternoon - it’s just wonderful to be out here.

On the way up to Mt Flora, I passed Nature, who I haven’t seen since Doc Campbells.  She told me that Mr. Fabulous was waiting for her at the top, and indeed, he was.  It was great to see them both again!!!

On the way down from Mt. Flora it started to rain and thunder, but since we were going down into the trees I wasn’t too worried.  I was more worried about the pain returning as I made my way downhill.  The new brace I have is great, though, and even though I was passed by everyone I don’t think I made anything worse.  It’s a little sore, maybe, but I managed ok.

I stopped at Fall River for water just before heading up to camp.  Nick, who had already been scoping out the camping spots ahead, walked over and said we were going to be camping by Nature and Mr. Fabulous and, as he put it, “some other hikers we know but I don’t remember their names”.  

Intrigued, I put my now full water bottles into my pack and walked to the campsite, where I was elated to see that the “other hikers we know” were Master Chef and Fuego.  I ran up to them and hugged them as soon as I saw them.  We spent some time catching up before finally retreating to our tents to change out of our wet hiking clothes.

Since we are camping next to other hikers, we decided to be social and join them outside for dinner.  We had already eaten our Subway sandwiches, but it was nice getting to know everyone a little better, particularly Nature.  

Tomorrow we are summiting James Peak, which I believe is the last 13er we’ll summit in Colorado.  Crazy!  

Along the trail (I didn’t take too many pictures because I was too focused on how my body was feeling):

Camp: