Continental Divide Trail – Day 49

July 11, 2023
Miles Today/ Total: 6.8 / 819.8

I slept in a little this morning and didn’t get moving down the trail until about 7:00 am. I started out walking about 1.5 miles down highway 149. The good thing about a lot of OHV traffic (off-Highway Vehicles like 4 wheelers and side-by-sides) is when they aren’t allowed on public roads they usually create tracks along side the prohibited highways. Such was the case with Highway 149. I was able to walk on the OHV track and stay off the highway.

My route then turned off the highway on into Deep Creek Road that was a gravel county road with limited traffic. The road went by several housing developments lined up along the Rio Grande River with large lots and sweeping views of the mountains.

I crossed the Rio Grande on a road bridge and followed the OHV track into Creede. I planned to stay at John Lawley’s Hostel which is right off the road into Creede. I arrived about 9:30 and the place was already cleared out for the day. I selected a bunk, showered, and started my laundry.

I walked over to Opie’s and grabbed a breakfast burrito and coffee. Returning to the hostel I moved my clothes into the dryer and waited for them to dry.

I spent the day updating my social media post and taking care of my e-mails. I found out that my New Zealand visa has been approved for 6 months which gives me plenty of time to do the Te’ Aroara this winter (their summer) and even do some sightseeing afterwards.

In the afternoon I walked to the grocery store for a resupply and repackaged everything when I got back to the hostel. I was hoping to have some other hikers arrive in the afternoon, but by 6:00pm I was still there by myself.

It seems that all the restaurants on the south end of Creede where I was staying are closed on Tuesday to I walked up to the north end and had a great dinner at the Creede Hotel.

Back at the hostel, I packed up what I could and got ready to get a good nights sleep.