I tried it again, but this time I checked ahead with the trail foundation on the snow levels and there was none where I was heading.   I decided to do Segment 17 and most of Segment 18 as an “out and back” to a creek to see if it was passable for the trail foundation.

Tracy and the dogs hiked the first 4 miles with me.  It was a reasonably flat segment with nice weather.

The trail followed a lot of dirt roads and rolling hills.  The weather couldn’t have been better.

This is the creek I went to check on.  While you definitely get wet crossing it, the water wasn’t moving that fast.

This was my campsite the 2nd night.  The temperature in the morning in the tent was a pleasant 40 degrees but the first night it was 26 degrees.  I was never cold, my new sleeping bag kept me cozy.

Tracy met me at the trailhead and we went to our cabin in Lake City.  We spent a lazy day around town.  Here are the dogs enjoying the Gunnison River.

After the river we had a long lunch at a local diner named after a famous madam and poker player in Colorado.

Tomorrow we are all setting off on the trail.  We are hiking 10 miles to a yurt for the night.  I checked with the trail foundation and supposedly the trail is clear.  The following day I’m going back with Tracy since the next part of the trail is over 13,000 feet and there is no way I can make the mileage I need to in the snow.