Trail Journal Analysis 12/6/2019

Tic's 2019
Colorado Trail Journal

Off the Trail

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Destination: CR 126

Start Location:

Today's Miles: 0

Trip Miles: 23.30

CT Day 3

We were up early.  The tent was covered with rain and dew from last night.

Berkeley was slightly better, but unsteady on her feet.  She was eating, drinking and voiding well.   Her breathing and panting had returned to normal.  

We fixed breakfast and heard from Sag Wagon Amy, who would meet us at the fire station at noon.  We rested up a bit, broke camp and walked to the fire station.  Amy arrived shortly thereafter.  Lucky resupplied his pack.

I considered many alternatives on how to get black on the trail, but none were encouraging.  The last thing I wanted to do would be to put Berkeley in any more distress.  And I sure don’t want to have to carry her off the trail from who knows where.

Disappointing, absolutely!   I had planned this hike for a long time.  I was really looking forward to hiking with Lucky, and especially the ground support from Sag Wagon.   Not to mention the 5 weeks of trail food I had prepared😜😜

My brain told me this hike was over Tuesday evening, my heart will probably come to this conclusion in a week or so.

But, as I’ve told others who have had to abandon their hikes:  the mountains aren’t going anywhere, they will still be there for a long time.  Hopefully, I’ll be there again soon.

Life is Good!

Tic & Berk🐾

Description

            This entry followed the reactions and emotions of a person, Tic, who had to end his time on the Colorado Trail earlier than planned because it seems that his dog, Berkeley was not feeling well, and he decided that it would be best for her sake, to stop the hike. Tic states, “My brain told me this hike was over Tuesday evening, my heart will probably come to this conclusion in a week or so.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the passion and love that Tic feels for the Colorado trail, and for the act of hiking in and of itself. For Tic, and probably so many others, hiking is more than walking up paths and trekking dangerous mountains- hiking is an activity of the soul, a relationship between one’s heart and the earth beneath one’s feet. A love that lasts.