KOKOMO PASS - Section 2

This is really an enjoyable week of Colorado Hiking.  It has it all with the opportunity to cross four different Historic Mountain passes with elevations around 12,000 feet. The daily hikes are shorter (except for the last day) in comparison to other weekly CT trekking hikes, but without sacrificing the grandeur and 360 degree views that are jaw dropping.  For this section, design and logistics of the CT allows base camp to be moved only three of the six nights. Hikers and crewmembers have always enjoyed this week.
There are many opportunities for convenience during this week that is not available during the other hiking weeks (yea!).

For this week, please bring some gators and trekking poles since we could encounter some isolated snowfields in the trail at the higher passes.  Gators are nice to keep the snow and small pebbles from going into your hiking boots. Trekking poles are good to have to help with support, balance and weight distribution.

Day One… pack your gear and tent to be put on the support trucks and then enjoy a moderately easy twelve and half mile hike passing through numerous meadows to the top of the historic Georgia Pass where base camp will be set up at an elevation of 11,600 feet. The views from this camp are 360 degrees and almost unlimited! This nice campsite located in a grassy meadow on the edge of Spruce trees at the top of the Continental Divide.

Day Two… pack your gear and tent to be put on the support trucks.  After breakfast, enjoy the wonderful views one more day and start descending into the Swan River drainage.  This is an easy hike for the day with lots of time allowed to smell the flowers.

Day Three…No need to pack your gear this morning.  We stay at this campsite for the next two nights!  This day of hiking will be mostly in the lodge pole pine forests interspersed with grassy meadows.  The trail will allow you to have your first glimpses of the ten-mile mountain range.   At the end of the hike, you will be shuttled back to the campsite in our passenger van.

Day Four… This is the day you have been waiting for! This hiking day will go over the magnificent Ten-mile Mountain range.  The steep alpine mountainsides here will be a challenge even for the seasoned hiker, but the CT is well maintained.  This day has big elevation gains, which you must be physically prepared for. However, the views from the top of the pass are incredibly beautiful.  From the top at 12,400 feet, you have a 360-degree view looking into the Holy Cross Wilderness and Gore Mountain Range.  This is a spectacular day. At days end, you will have about a 45 minute shuttle back to base camp.

Day Five… Pack your gear and tent, eat breakfast and get ready for the final days hike.  It is a long one at 18 miles. (You can choose riding in the support vehicle to the next campsite if you do not want to tackle this long day of hiking.)   After an hour shuttle, the hike will begin at the base of the Copper Mountain Ski resort.  After hiking 9.7 miles with an elevation gain of 2,200 feet you will reach the top of Searle Pass.  At that point, the climbing is mostly done for the day but about eight and a half miles remain to hike.
This last half of the hike has wonderful panoramic views.  With 5 miles left on the hike,
The CT trail descends 3000 feet into the Camp Hale and headwaters of Eagle Valley where base camp will be set up for the last night of camping.  This is a long day, you will be ready to relax and put up your feet at camp while reflecting your weeklong hiking adventure!