Why the Colorado Trail?
When I tell people that I’m going to hike 485 miles across Colorado solo I receive a wide spectrum of responses but they almost always end in the same question—why? My responses change and are often muddled because the truth is there is no one reason; dozens of factors have influenced my decision to attempt this thru hike. Last spring my dad and I planned to climb a semi-technical snow route, but after the ten-mile approach hike my dad developed knee pain so we turned around at the base of the climb. As we made the decision to turn back, my dad looked me in the eye and told me do the things I desire to do while I’m still young. Those words of wisdom took root and as we hiked the ten miles back down the mountain I thought about the adventures I want to embark upon during my lifetime. I haven't created a tangible list per-say but certain adventures seemed to solidify in my mind. For as long as I can remember my parents have had a large, glossy, coffee table book with pictures taken on the Colorado Trail (CT). I recall looking through those pages as a kid thinking how absurd it must be for a person to hike 500 miles! Before I started high school my dad and I hiked one of the 28 sections of the trail, and I managed to loose a big toe nail due to poor fitting boots and at the time I could not even comprehend how physically and psychologically demanding the entire trail would be. Lately my perspective of the CT has changed. Over the last 18 months due to a professional roadblock and detour I focused most of my attention on my outdoor adventures and as a result I have never been as physically fit as I am now. At this point in my life 500 miles in five weeks seems feasible and my current circumstances have provided me the opportunity to take five weeks off from life to go hike through the state I will forever call home. I may never again have this opportunity and I am uncertain how my cerebral palsy will affect my physical abilities as I age. Even now I’m not sure my cerebral palsy will allow me to complete this hike, but there is only one way to find out!