Colorado Trail 2024 – Path of Solitude – Day 3
Little Scraggy Trailhead to border of Lost Creek Wilderness

Distance hiked: 25,7 km/16 mi
Elevation gain: no measurement today
Highest point: 2680 m/8793 ft
(data from my GPS watch, may be different from the official measurements)

Waking up in this open forest, maybe half a mile before Little Scraggy Trailhead, I felt well-rested after a good night’s sleep. What surprised me most was the silence. I had expected some night birds or little animals rustling in the undergrowth. But most of the time? Absolute stillness. Strange, yes – but I absolutely enjoyed it.

I got up at six and left at 7:45 – already a small improvement compared to yesterday. Greg had taken off a bit earlier, and we leapfrogged a few times throughout the day.

The summer heat was already building as I approached the trailhead, but the trail stayed mostly in the woods today – a welcome relief.

I enjoyed the presence of more water on this section. I filled up my bottles at several little creeks along the way. While most of the trail passed through pine forests, each water source seemed to come with its own micro-oasis: aspen trees, blooming wildflowers, lush green grass. A refreshing contrast to the dry, exposed stretch the day before.

At one point, I paused to watch a woodpecker hammering away on a small aspen tree. Each time it flew off, a hummingbird zipped in to lick the fresh sap. Then the woodpecker returned, undeterred, and kept drilling. This went on for a while – and honestly, it was hilarious. Like a perfectly choreographed forest routine.

The trail itself was smooth and easy to follow. Being a Friday, there were only a handful of mountain bikers out, and not many hikers either. The first half of the day was a pleasant rhythm of gentle climbs and descents, with the occasional glimpse of peculiar granite rock formations peeking out around the hills – whenever the forest opened up enough to reveal them.

After crossing Buffalo Creek, there was a more serious climb ahead. In the early afternoon and with the heat, I took a longer break in the shade of a large rock. Just lying there, cooling down, watching the stillness around me – it felt good. Afterward, I continued the ascent and eventually reached a little creek near Rolling Creek Trailhead. There were already a few hikers setting up camp there, so I decided to move on and stay by myself for the night.

I hiked another 2 kilometers – maybe 1.5 miles – and found a quiet spot to set up my tent just outside the boundary of the Lost Creek Wilderness. A beautiful, peaceful little clearing.

It was the first night I was truly by myself out here in the woods. I made sure to stash my bear canister at a safe distance – standard procedure. Other than that, I wasn’t too tense about wildlife. After a relaxed evening around the tent, scribbling some notes into my journal and munching on snacks, I had another deep and restful night.

So, all in all, this section wasn’t particularly spectacular. But it was just what I needed. After the long, hot day before, this part of the trail gently nudged me into a steady hiking flow. My body felt good, my mood was up – and I was quietly proud of my progress.

Tips, experiences, lessons learned

Another segment for a weekday, could get crowded on weekends.

A segment that invites for contemplation. Look at the little things, enjoy the rock formations, the changes in the vegetation, watch the birds and butterflies or whatever draws your attention. And just let it sink that you are doing this awesome journey. Whatever comes up, you have mastered two demanding first days (in case you are SoBo of course…). And don’t worry – there will be most spectacular experiences in the next days and weeks. For now, relax your mind and don’t rush this moment.

Slide show