Very beautiful hike today. I'm going to let me pics do the talking and only write a little. The first 7 miles was high altitude trekking with little elevation change. After the CT split from the CDT the trail descended for 9 miles along Elk Creek. It was spectacular. Now that is a mountain trail! Glad I was going down and not up and that the weather stayed okay. Elk Creek empties into the Animas River which I am camped out at next to the bridge. The tracks of the Silverton and Durango train are nearby. I wonder if I will get to see it tomorrow.