On our way to the Grand Canyon, we had to stop at Bears Ears National Monument, one of the newest in the country. It’s full of trails, amazing rock formations, and archeological treasures. So what’s not to like?
On our way out of Colorado, I agreed to join Rusty for one more adventure and attempt to summit Mount Elbert with him. But, the prospect of climbing the Rockies’ highest peak was daunting, to say the least.
One of the things we love about vanlife is the ability to be spontaneous and adjust our plans when a novel adventure comes our way.
People often ask us how we decide on our next adventure. Usually, it’s a hike, but not always. We love our history, so sometimes it’s a day (or more) spent at a museum or a battlefield. Sometimes it’s a paddle or exploring a deep spring. But how do we decide?… well, that’s complicated.
The second half of my Collegiate Loop adventure would take me back south, along the Western Route and cross the Continental Divide several times. I would also travel elevations a thousand feet higher than anything on the Eastern Route, much of it above the tree line and through a truly alpine environment.
Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest peak at 4,784 feet above sea level, and we were eager to hike just about anything once the Covid lockdown eased.
Ever since we started hiking segments of the Colorado Trail last year, I’ve had my eye on the Collegiate Loop, a 160.2-mile loop that encircles the vast Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Central Colorado.
This year we’re fortunate to be back in the Colorado Mountains and we’re eager to do some more segments of the beautiful, but grueling, Colorado Trail.
Even with fires raging in Carson National Forest, the nearby Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and its trails and campgrounds, was open. Lucky us.
Sugarite Canyon State Park was a convenient stopover with water and hot showers to boot, a real treat for us.
We are Girl Hobo and Rusty (Ren and Troy), two greys who met on the Appalachian Trail. We started a life together, converted a van to travel and hike across the country, and we like to eat well. Now, we’re sharing what we’re learning on the road, and we’d love you to join us!