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I can’t remember having so little snow here this time of year. We still have February and March…but no significant snow is projected in the forecast yet.

Thank you! I’m excited to get started!

Good question! That is definitely an option, but I’ve been wanting to improve my grip strength. Holding the 15-20 pound weights for the duration is a good way to do that. I do use my fully weighted pack on all my outdoor hikes though.😊

Hopefully, they’ll help me be well prepared!😊

@ Beast Mode!!

@ ❤️

It’s at least 9 inches thick. There were a few people out skating across the lake!

@HikeLikeaGirl Wow, 9"! That's thick!

I have my daughter to thank for that core routine!

@ that’s awesome

Love your channel Michelle! Looking forward to your videos of the CDT!

I appreciate it. I’m pretty excited to get started! Thank you for sharing your experience on the AT. I think my love for backpacking was “born” when I was a young girl listening to my mom talk about her dream to one day hike the AT😊

Thank you! I will😊

Thanks for following along! Maybe I’ll run into ya’ll on trail one day!😊

You're welcome! Maybe! We love the San Juans. 💞

Nice to meet you! I was actually a little bummed at first to not be doing the CDT as a continuous thru hike, but now I’m really excited! I realized I would enjoy it so much more if I didn’t have to sacrifice so much time away from my family. Plus, since I won’t be “racing” my way north, I’ll have time for some side adventures along the way!

I’m excited to share them😊

Thank you! I’m looking forward to it!😊

@ I’m glad you got to move to Durango! That’s so exciting! I’m somewhat envious since I grew up there! So many awesome places to hike near there! God bless your journeys and time in the mountains!!

@@bartrice8278 we love living here. It’s so beautiful, and for the 1st time in my life, I get to experience all 4 seasons!

@ ❤️

@@AnnetteKovar I can’t wait to share them!

I’m getting excited! Since I won’t be so time crunched, I’ll have more time for side excursions (like climbing 14ers) along the way😊

@@HikeLikeaGirl That sounds awesome.

Yeah. We had a pretty good amount early in November that melted off, then nothing for over a month. We finally got a few more inches, but it’s melting fast!

@@HikeLikeaGirl Praying The Lord will bring some soon! The whole region is so dry! 🙏🏼❄️

@ me, too!❤️

Definitely a game changer for winter/icy hiking. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have been able to get down and back up most of that trail without them. That short section, the ice was so smooth, hard, and convex that the spikes were just barely getting a bite…It was definitely easier going uphill though!

Thanks for watching!

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it😊

Thank you so much!!

@@HikeLikeaGirl is the Lime Mesa trailhead at the end of the Missionary ridge road? Did you go by Ruby, pear, Webb or emerald lakes? I’m super interested in going that way to the Chicago Basin sometime after watching this video! So cool!

Actually you answered my questions in your video. If you get the chance to go back, all of the lakes have (had) great fish in them! Good camping spots in the trees too!

@@bartrice8278yes, you can access the trailhead at the end of Missionary Ridge Road for a much shorter hike than I did. I started just north of Lemon Reservoir and hiked up to Lime Mesa on the Burnt Timber Trail before joining Lime Mesa. I hiked to the overlook of Ruby and Emerald, but I didn’t drop down to them because some weather moved in. I’m heading back up there tomorrow though so I can explore around the lakes!

@@HikeLikeaGirl that’s awesome! That sounds like a great hike! How many miles to the overlook from where you started?

I think this is my new favorite trail!

It’s amazing how many beautiful trails there are! Since many of them are so remote, I rarely see other people on the trails…so it’s always a true wilderness experience!

Me, too! I’m glad our interaction went the way it did! It was a beautiful bear though!

The thought crossed my mind. …that and that sometimes God has to slow me down to get me to listen!😊

Feeling much better now!

What a neat first job to have! I bet that was hard but rewarding work!

@@HikeLikeaGirl it was hard and fun at the same time! Got spend a lot time out in the mountains as we packed in and stayed for the week and came out of Friday afternoon! Great time!

Thank you! I think I just overdid it that first day….and I know better😂

It was really beautiful! I loved the views climbing up to Kennebec Pass. I’m glad the videos bring back good memories for you😊

Thank you! It’s such a beautiful area. The videos only catch a glimpse of how awesome it looks in person, but I try my best😊

Thanks for watching!

The climb back up from the lake was a struggle…but it was sure beautiful!

@@HikeLikeaGirl we went out on the Missionary ridge route. It seems like the hike went on forever!

@@bartrice8278 wow! That is a long route! I bet that was quite the adventure…especially for a 10 year old!

@@HikeLikeaGirl I’d love to go back up there! Your video brought back many great memories! I love that whole area! I also went on a backpacking trip from Vallecito to Purgatory when I was 14 with our youth group! It rained the whole time! It was still fun!

Maybe one day we’ll pass each other on the trail!

That is a lot of missing people. I will do my best!

Have fun! It’s a pretty good climb up to Emerald but has some great views along the way. Emerald is such a beautiful lake.

It was beautiful! Well worth the effort!😊

I really appreciate that😊

@@HikeLikeaGirl I love your channel’s description! God’s creation is amazing!

Chicago Basin is beautiful! It’s so great being able to share experiences like that with our kids!

@@HikeLikeaGirl ❤️

@@HikeLikeaGirl so true!!! I grew up in Durango and hadn’t been up there till 2 weeks ago! Did you grow up in Durango?

@@bartrice8278 no, but I’ve been visiting the area every summer and most winters for 22 years….and I’m about to be a full time resident!

@@HikeLikeaGirl Durango and Silverton are so addicting! Lake City too!

Thanks for watching!

I think the Weminuche Wilderness is my favorite part of Colorado❤️

@@HikeLikeaGirl I’d agree!!

Thank you! I was pretty bummed about having to bail, but I’m glad I did, too.

Thank you!😊

Very amazing country! I’ll be in the Chicago Basin this coming week! So looking forward to it! Great video!

@@bartrice8278 have a great time! I love Chicago Basin! Can’t wait to get back!

I know not everyone can get out and personally experience some of these remote places, so I’m happy to share what I can. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Colorado is a beautiful state! Thanks for watching!😊

It’s such a beautiful part of the country! I’m glad you enjoyed it and had a chance to reminisce on your own adventures! 😊

That is great! I’m sure they’ll love it!

We saw signs of elk, but no elk this trip. We did see quite a few mule deer though.

@@HikeLikeaGirl Nice, You have the perfect workout for the CDT.

This was early July, but I was able to cross the creek at that same place 2 weeks earlier in mid June. At that point, it was just barely doable. I’m 5’8” and the water was above my waist and flowing fast from snowmelt. This time, the water was at least 2 feet higher from recent heavy rain runoff. It really just depends on snow levels and rain.

@@HikeLikeaGirl Thanks. Looks like a great trip. I’ve been to those areas a few times and the solitude is awesome, I bet the river height kept the crowds down. That’s a lot of mileage for each day and some rough terrain/elevation.