Before Cameron Pass

This is the head of a canyon just before reaching the top of Cameron Pass.

I am trying a new approach with this post. I want to let you join with me in the visual feast that I enjoyed today, so here are lots of pictures.

Uphill Harness

Leaving Jackson County, CO over Cameron Pass

Near the headwaters of the Poudre River at Cameron Pass

Poudre Falls and Campsite in Poudre Canyon

About 1300 feet of vertical climb today to get over Cameron Pass, elevation 10,279 feet, covered 24 miles.

Rocky Mountains

I really feel more like a tourist than a homeless person. I am walking through spectacular mountain scenery in Colorado. The picture is actually taken from Tuesday, but I wanted to show why they call these the Rocky Mountains. Today, Monday, I walked 24 miles from Walden, Colorado to Aspen Campground which is about one mile off Colorado Highway 14.

Video of the Rocky Mountains around Walden, Colorado

Rabbit Ears Pass

I went over Rabbit Ears Pass named after the prominence in this photo. A few miles south of Steamboat Springs, U.S. 40 climbs steadily with a 5-6% grade. It was a bit of work pushing my cart and myself up 3000 feet of vertical. It was a big deal for me, because it put me over the Continental Divide. It is all downhill from here to Missouri. Well, almost. One 9,400 foot pass down and a 10,300 foot pass ahead.

Jackson County

Wow! Look at that sign for Jackson County! I must be making better time than I thought. Okay, so Colorado and Missouri both have a Jackson County.

I made the 59 miles from Steamboat Springs to Walden, Colorado in 3 days with mileage of about 12, 24 and 23 miles. Remember, that 3000 foot vertical was in the first day. Walden, Colorado has a population 870 and an elevation of 8,100 feet. I am resting on Sunday, so I went to a non-denominational community church in Walden. Nice people!

Steamboat Springs

When the town was being established, they said that the sound of this warm spring reminded them of the sound of a steamboat, so they named the town Steamboat Springs. This is a picture of the real steamboat springs. It is easy to take a walking tour when you are already walking. I feel like a tourist walking through Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Walked 18 miles today.

Some beautiful country following the Yampa River along U.S. 40. I walked 27 miles on Monday, going east towards Steamboat Springs to get to this campsite.

Yampa River near Maybell, Colorado

I walked 37 miles on Wednesday, going from Massadona to Maybell. Maybell was the next town with any services, a store and a park. Thursday I walked 20 miles. I saw my first coyote on the trip. Coyotes are not often spotted in my outdoor experiences. I saw maybe 20 or more antelope.

Friday, I only had ten miles to walk to Craig and I have stayed here for three days. I think my legs are rested up. The land is gradually getting greener and more fertile as I have walked east this week.

Video the morning after a rainy night near Craig, Colorado.

Blue Mountain, Colorado appears to have about 4 families living there. Human habitations are miles apart, usually with no services available to the traveler. There is a stark beauty in this semi-arid land. I walked 20 miles today from Dinosaur to Massadona. There is a small restaurant in Massadona, and I enjoyed a meal there. They let me camp on their property at no charge. Thank you!

Green River in Utah

This spot is near the entrance to Dinosaur National Monument. The mountain beyond the river shows light colored rock that is distinctive for the monument. If I recall correctly from a previous visit to the Monument, the dinosaur bone dig is near that mountain of light colored rock.

Claron Twitchell at the border of Colorado and Utah on highway U.S. 40. I walked 33 miles from Vernal, Utah to Dinosaur, Colorado. My jogger stroller cart with all my equipment allows me to keep a good pace, but it is restrictive for finding camping spots. My walk has some similarities to backpacking, but if I was backpacking in mountain wilderness as I normally do, then I would look around for a camping spot that looks good and set up where I want. The jogger restricts me to finding a camping spot that is within a few feet of a paved road or sidewalk.

Park in Dinosaur, Colorado

Dinosaur, Colorado, population 339, is in a dry area, even for the Western United States. I threw out my spleeping bag next to the swings in a little park. The woman at the convenience store said it was okay and told me that there was a shower in the restroom that I could use.

Video showing the Green River in Utah

The Vernal Temple is a prominent landmark in Vernal, Utah.

My grandson Trey has rejoined me for the walk for 5 days and is pictured in the photo with my jogger stroller full of my equipment. It is fun having him along. We walked from Roosevelt, Utah to LaPoint, Utah for 19 miles Thursday. The temperatures reached more than 95 degrees the last couple of days which is close to record breaking hot for around here. We walked from 6:30PM to 11:30PM going from LaPoint to Vernal, Utah to avoid the heat of the day. We put in 15 miles Friday.

I met a young man who is a member of the Nothern Ute Tribe. I will use his last name of Serawop. He is age 19 and has lived in the Uinta Basin all of his life. We met at a supermarket in Roosevelt, Utah.

I asked how his people were doing. He said, “I am not too sure. If we think of it in the Basin way [the Uinta Basin of northeast Utah], people don’t like us. We get per kappa and people want to know why we get it. Just because we get money and we live on the reservation doesn’t mean that we are different. We are just like everyone else.” Serawop has a native side and a white side.

How are you doing? “I am doing quite well. I graduated from high school last year. I am working in asphalt for a year and then going to college.”

Are the loops in your ears native American? “I have always wanted to have gauges. Piercing ears was a common tradition for Native Americans.”

What is it like with having a larger American culture, a native culture and a Mormon culture? “It is quite different. Personally, I am agnostic. All natives have had problems with the settlers moving onto the land. It is like having a little nation inside of a nation.”

What do you look forward to for your future? “I wanted to be a medical doctor, but I am not decided yet. Maybe, political science. History came easy to me in high school. I want to go to college and make something of myself.”

What do you look for for the future for the Northern Utes? “A lot of the people of my dad’s age are dying in their forties. A lot of my generation are not learning the language. It is hard to find someone who knows the entire language. A lot of people my age are not learning their family history.”

Video showing Uinta Basin taken in or near Northern Ute Tribal Lands