Day 67, Mile 1455 to Rabbit Ears Pass/Steamboat Springs

Because we didn't have a plan in place, we decided to leave camp earlier than usual this morning. We had about 16 miles to walk before reaching Rabbit Ears Pass. That's where we expected we would try to hitch a ride into town.

After we said goodbye to Cot and wished him well on his journey north, the three of us left together at 6:20 a.m. I was determined to depart with them today.

We walked mostly downhill for nearly the whole distance. Starting at 10,784 feet in elevation, we only had a couple of modest climbs before ending at 9,500 feet.

The trail was wet in places, but there wasn't as much snow today as yesterday. The snow that was there was easy to cross.

We knew plenty of water would be available today. Several ponds and a couple of lakes were near the trail along the way. The first few ponds looked stagnant and unappealing, but as we got farther, the water looked nicer.

We stopped at the first opportunity to get clear water because we didn't have any available near our campsite last night.

The trail mostly remained in pine forests, but there were also a couple of large meadows.

We still had to cross small patches of snow halfway into our hike. By this time, though, the snow was only found where tall pine trees stood to provide shade.

Farther down the trail, other obstacles replaced the snow. These were downed trees, and it didn't look like anyone was in a rush to clear them.

Instead of cutting out sections of the trees to clear a path, logs were piled on both sides, making a ramp over the downed trees. Mountain bikers made these so they wouldn't have to walk their bikes over the downed trees.

We stopped for lunch at Base Camp Trailhead and realized while sitting there that today was the start of a weekend. Knowing that Steamboat Springs was a tourist town, we decided it was at least worth a try to make a motel reservation.

We made some calls and checked websites but found no rooms were available. Even the KOA campground had no vacancies.

As a last resort, I tried the Holiday Inn, one of the most expensive hotels in town. A room was available and we were out of options by now, so we grabbed it. That wasn't the best possible luck, but it was luck nonetheless.

Soon, our luck got better. We met two women who were out for a day hike while their husbands were fishing in Dumont Lake near Rabbit Ears Pass. After striking up a conversation with them, we managed to yogi a ride into town.

When we arrived at the parking area at the lake, which was near the highway at Rabbit Ears Pass, Karen and Susan's husbands were paddling to the shore. They loaded their boats on a trailer, then we all climbed into their truck. It was a little crowded with the addition of three smelly hikers, but no one complained.

After being dropped off at the Holiday Inn, we were able to shower and do our laundry in a short amount of time.

We decided to put off shopping for our resupply until tomorrow but went into town for dinner.

Though the hotel was on the south end of town, we didn't have far to walk to catch a free bus. When we arrived at the bus stop, however, we remembered masks were required to ride public transportation because of COVID-19. I forgot to bring one. Fortunately, a local man waiting for the bus told me a motel next door gave away free masks.

I dashed to the motel lobby and got a mask. Top O' and OldTimer stalled to board the bus when it arrived, which gave me just enough time to get back before it left.

We figured we would have a long wait to eat dinner, but somehow we managed to get a table right away at The Back Door Grill. And as if a large burger, fries, and a couple of beers weren't filling enough, we stopped for ice cream on the way back to the bus stop.

Although we didn't have a clue what the day would be like before it started, it turned out well. Funny enough, I should have known by now that's the way all town days seem to go. It doesn't matter whether I have made plans or not. The trail provides.