Today was another tough day…6000’ of climbing and 90% was over 11,000’ of elevation. I did get lucky again with the weather: thunder and dark clouds danced around me but somehow I stayed dry.

This morning’s sunrise.

Surprisingly, the first Columbine of the trip (the Colorado state flower).

Mid-day siesta selfie.

Some of the climbs today were steeper than I’ve come to expect you n the CT, but at least the views are worth the effort.

This was an impressive scree field going up the mountain. The trail was skillfully constructed across the middle.

Home for the night is Hunt Lake. 30 mins after this picture the clouds rolled in and completely obscured the mountains.

Since I’m a bit ahead of schedule, tomorrow will be a short (~9 mile) day to Monarch Pass where I can hitch a ride into Salida for some R&R as well as a shower and laundry.

The climbing started pretty much right out of camp. There was a lot of climbing today but the weather held out even with all of the storm clouds in the vicinity.

Lake Ann just before creating the Pass.

The final approach of Lake Ann Pass with my shadow in foreground. Some years the snowfield can have a tricky cornice to navigate well into late July. This year it was a non factor as the trail skirted just above it.

The view to the West with Taylor Park reservoir in the distance.

The normally elusive Pika held still just long enough for this pic. Not sure why this one obliged …typically they are darting around diving into the rocks.

Storm clouds to the North were getting kind of close.

There are actually two moose in this lake… a couple hundred feet below the trail.

The trail spent a good portion of the afternoon above tree line following the ridge (the Continental Divide).

A family of Marmots.

This was today’s elevation profile. The 7000’ of climb was extra tough since most of it was above 11,000’ (the dark black line) and there were a lot of stretches over 12,000’.

Home for the night at 11,900’.