Day #32 (89)-The most gorgeous whipping of my rear end I could have ever asked for. Miles hiked: 18.5

We were out early this morning with a long days hike through the Cirque of the Towers ahead of us. Right from the entry, we found ourselves mesmerized with the towering rock formations spilling into crystal clear alpine lakes.

But little did we know the work had just begun as we prepared for what we thought was the only rock scramble of the day: Texas Pass.

Texas Pass passed…we even got shown up by a Jack Russell terrier that scooted over the rocks like it was smooth dirt. Wow!

The views over Texas Pass will never be accurately described in words or photos—you simply have to go, but here’s an attempt: 

Lonesome Lake was a perfect lunch spot at the bottom of the pass to fuel up for the next adventure: Jackass Pass.

Yes, you heard that right and it lived up to its name with the wind whipping downhill straight into our faces while I tried to fight gravity up the steep trail.

Up next looked like a gentle climb on the topo map turned rock scramble on a goat path for several miles. Never a dull moment on this trail! 

By the time we reached Big Sandy Lake, we were feeling a little beat down by the day, but decided we could rally and assumed we had the hardest miles behind us. 

What famous last words those are…the CDT always has more! Enter Temple Pass with a 3rd tallus scramble and steep goat path down the backside with whipping wind. Embrace the brutality really is the motto of this trail.

Brutality embraced and my tummy a little upset from high altitude exertion, we tucked into some trees in the valley past Temple Pass and called it a night. 

Cirque, you were both beautiful and brutal: brutiful!