Pippy and Zippy take on the Colorado Trail: Day 27 Salida to Foose Creek

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Mileage: 8 miles

Elevation: 8,900 ft to 11,000 ft

Continuing on to our adventure to the cute town of Salida, we were happily dropped off in the middle of the downtown and popped our head up out of the truck bed right next to a building with the words "Mountain Mail" on the side. Perfect! (we thought)....right next to the post office! Only thing is...it was 5:03 PM and they closed at 5 PM. Lucky for us, a staff member just walked out the door. Zippy caught sight of him and pleasingly asked if we could just pick up our resupply box. He looked kinda confused, but took Zippy inside anyway. Not but a minute later, Zippy walked out, half-smiling/ half-embarassed look. She ended up walking into to a group of typing writers who said "uhhhh....this is the local newspaper". So long story short, no post office or box there. We quickly left that building and walked the the two blocks to our accomodations for the night...."Simple Lodge Hostel". The word says it all...pretty simple. Kinda funky, but provided what we needed: bed, laundry, stove, and shower.

Only one room left! A family room! How perfect with mom, daughter, and newfound nephew. We piled up our clothes for the laundry and walked to the local pizza joint and Brewhouse to replenish our taste buds with real food.

Salida is a eclectic art town with beautiful murals, galleries, and monuments throughout the town.

Leisure morning breakfast with delicious, protein-packed....

Pancakes! Pippy's homemade pancakes on the left and pancake master Hobbit on the right.

After our short stay in Salida, we caught a ride from a "trail angel", a local girl from the area, who took us the 13 miles back to the trailhead. It seemed too easy....no hitchhiker thumb needed today. Arrived at the trail and began our long ascent uphill. Good thing was that it was a nice, gradual climb so we had the energy to strike some hiking poses.