My last day on the GCL for this year. I started with the intent to hike to Aspen. I quickly made it to the trailhead and then hiked a couple miles down the road to where I picked up another trail. I took that west and up to the Government Trail that headed east to Aspen. The problem was it became apparent that following the trail all the way to Aspen would make it very difficult to get to the Post Office before it closed. If I didn't get to the post office to pick up my package I would have to stay overnight in Aspen. That called into question whether I'd be able to get to Glenwood Springs and pick up the train to Denver that same day or whether I'd have to overnight in Glenwood Springs. Not wanting to risk it I hiked down a ski run after a couple of miles on the Government Trail.

So I've ended what turned out to be a section hike of the Great Colorado Loop. Denver to Durango to Snowmass isn't a bad summer's hike so I'm not too disappointed. After all it is the journey not the destination that makes thruhiking so appealing and it won't be too hard to hike the remaining 260 miles next year. See you then!