Colorado Trail Thru Hike 2023 - PART 1

The Colorado Trail has become known as one of the premier long-distance trails in the country, lauded by hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers and horse riders from around the world. The CT comprises 486 miles of trail between Denver and Durango and passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Colorado Rockies. Join me as I spend 30 days traveling end to end, encountering the high mountain lakes and towering peaks of six wilderness areas and eight mountain ranges while climbing over 90,000 vertical feet. The average elevation of the Trail is 10,300 feet, topping out at 13,271 feet.
Part 1 covers the first week, from Denver to Breckenridge. As the trail continues towards Durango, the scenery and wildlife get better and better with every mile.
Guitar covers by ‪@KfirOchaion‬
Pink Floyd - Time
Scorpions - Still Loving You
Sting - Shape of My Heart

[@tracykooken2606]

What a beautiful remake of a pink floyd songs !!!!!😊

[@Piscesgarden]

You are a true trail angel! First putting out the fire, then helping the hiker in need! Love your outlook and compassion towards others!

[@timryder5557]

Appreciate the positive personally as I've watched your videos. Bucket list is the CT for this 70 year old, thanks for the vote of confidence.

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Nice! You are gonna love this trail Tim. Every day was an amazing adventure. Loved it.

[@mtbrnn]

I knew I was safe "liking" this before watching it. Once a Trail Angel, always a Trail Angel. Looking forward to the next one.

[@alberteinstein3078]

He doesn't like you

[@ToddRightsell]

Love Love Love the music! Good job!

[@kampersadventures958]

So enjoyable to watch…..you are 100% correct about karma….doing great!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Thanks kamper! I loved every day out there!

[@OHSOKIMBERLY]

Such an awesome vibe! thanks for sharing.

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bllarkin]

Love seeing your adventures and positivity. Hope to run into you on the trail here in AZ some day.

[@bjorn_outside]

Killing it brother! Congrats on your CT journey being completed!!!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Thanks Bjorn! That was such a beautiful trail…as you know!

[@gregwilson9105]

Epic! Bro....that's all I got so far, can't wait to see what's ahead.

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

The trail only gets better!!

[@MountainSerenityASMR]

Nice part one! Great shots and story. You had me rolling on parts. Glad to have shared some of the CT experience with you. Ricky and Marmot!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Thanks Ricky! It was nice to meet you guys too… what an awesome adventure to be able to finish with your son, congrats!

[@NomadLand666]

That guitar cover of pink floyd is awesome. I wonder if your straps were adjusted to fit you correctly. Loved the video!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Good point! Probably part of the problem…

[@propwash66]

Thanks for putting out the fire🔥

[@stevef5511]

Brother. Where you find this wonderful pink floyd, scorpions etc relax music...

[@sarathorn2694]

It was worth the wait!! Yay! You finally posted and it was so good! I am glad to see you are home safe and sound, well I'm assuming anyway since this was uploaded. I can't wait for you to xome hike and film on the AT 😁

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

It only gets better from here...stay tuned Sara!

[@nathanielpoulin7728]

Enjoyed you videos and the music. When did u start your hike looked like you had great weather

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I started June 24th. I prepared for rain every afternoon, per advice from the locals. Luckily, I got rained on once for about 10 mins, had a couple of sprinkles as well. That’s it! Weather was basically perfect.

[@JerryArizona]

Can’t believe there’s actually a Blair Witch trail out there. Very fitting though. Also, salad? Did I see a salad for your first in town meal? I don’t think we can hang out anymore….

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Lol! Dude… that’s because I had too many beers at the Mexican food place I went to for lunch… I didn’t even end up eating. I filled up with IPA’s and chips and salsa! Forced myself to go get a meal for dinner, struggled to get that salad down. Learned my lesson for sure.

[@rschreck876]

All those teepee’s are bored kids who were camping at the campgrounds near Kenosha Pass.

[@eddiesedventures...3106]

Good stuff amigo! kudos for putting out those assH fire as well. What did are/did you use to video this?

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

All I use is a GoPro. Keeping it simple .

[@dougdekuiper3194]

Maybe “No” is short for North.

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Ohhh, I hadn’t thought of that. There was an arrow on it too. Not the Blair witch, just helpful directions? 😁

[@curiousstoke]

Love your CT videos!! When did you start?

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Hey Craig! Glad you’re enjoying them. I started June 24th. Took me 26 full hiking days, two neros and two zeros to complete. Loved every mile and would do it all again in a heartbeat!

[@RobertFranklin85]

Man, I would have been calling in a chopper if I saw half the stuff you saw. 😂 That whole bit leading up to “Dead Man’s Creek” had me laughing out loud, although I’m sure your unease was quite real at that moment 😅

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Lol! It’s funny how when you’re alone in the wilderness the spookiness is amplified

[@jmash41]

Hi Moon Juice! When on the Colorado Trail, did you hang a bear bag or use a bear canister? Thank you!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I go over it in Part 3, around the 20 min mark. I hung an Ursack, but I also kept my food in smell proof bags, just to make sure my food didn’t get destroyed while tied to a tree. All good!

[@jmash41]

@@MoonJuiceHikes thank you! I watched all your videos on the CT. Some of them more than once. I missed the detail about the Ursak. I appreciate your help!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

@@jmash41 I’m definitely going to do the CT again some day. Such an amazing experience.

[@charlottedunlay4397]

Forest floor clean up teepees.

[@stephenhall5421]

Possibly a homemade tent stake? Someone was bored around camp and made it “blingy”?? I too would take it out; but maybe leave at the TH to repurpose rather than trash it. Just my .02

[@takinghomethetrail9158]

How did you get the squeaking to stop? I have the exact same pack

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Watch the last minute of this video and you’ll see! However, I have to admit, my “fix” was temporary and only a few weeks after this trip the frame tore through the fabric. Not sure if I weakened it, or if I just keep carrying too much weight (probably both). I probably need to shorten my load outs to 3-4 days max, instead of 5-7.

[@stephenhall5421]

Sasquatch housing complex…

[@tracykooken2606]

Moonjuice ????? Do tell😊

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Ahhh… MoonJuice is a local IPA, didn’t think carrying a 6 pack on my first multi night trip on the AZT was weird at all… 🍺🍺🍺

[@tracykooken2606]

@@MoonJuiceHikes lol !!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

@@tracykooken2606 I also thought it would be a cleaver name for some anti-chaffing cream. 😳

[@medogandcatadventure]

Omg, ppl are careless! I guess there are not enough wildfires out there. Hm🤷🏻‍♂️

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Shocking!! I still can’t believe that happened!

[@johnschmit6815]

You don’t know what is - why not just leave it?😂🐸

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I know it’s not natural. I try to follow LNT, so I’m trying to limit my impact on the wilderness to my footprints. Whoever left this, evidently doesn’t mind cluttering up the wilderness with manmade artifacts.

[@lifewithlisamarshall]

Do you have to buy mechanical rights to use even covers…??

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I have no idea how that works. I don’t have any copyright issues. Maybe you get a pass if we’re talking about an instrumental cover? This is not a monetized channel, that’s probably a factor.

[@Anomanon198]

This guy sounds so much like Will Arnett haha.

[@cristensieh2437]

Looks like an Osprey. Mine squeaks too....beautiful choice of music too. Love Floyd

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I noticed after resupply, fully loaded, the squeaking was bad. As the load lightens, not so bad. Lube helped a ton! (It’s a Gregory Paragon 58L)

[@lifecoachMachele]

Blair witch thing 😂

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

I had no idea she was into arts and crafts

[@BareYoga]

Great mileage. I’ve hiked 1-6 so far. It’s fun to see similar places. I usually despise music people play but yours is so amazing. Thanks for quenching that fire too. Kids are crazy these days!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Glad you enjoy it! You'd get sick of hearing my heavy breathing and squeaking backpack if I didn't cover it up with some tunes. I can't stand to listen to it, so I'm sure everyone else would hate it too! LOL. The first week was my least favorite part of the trail tbh, and I loved every day! The San Juans (part 4&5 of my trip) was definitely my favorite stretch. I'm going to get out there again some day, no doubt.

[@stephenhall5421]

Very pathetic about the fire pit. Totally unacceptable!! Thanks for taking the time

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Yes it was, so surprised to see that!

[@rajutailor9292]

How did you fixed your squeaky pack?

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Petroleum Jelly. While the frame quit squeaking, not long after returning from the CT, the pack tore open right where I lathered up the jelly. I think it might have done some damage to the fabric.

[@leedeckard5785]

Dude i just finished the colorado trail end of july. Trail name ghost. Anyway where you pitched your tent on second night was exactly whete i decided to pitch too! So cool to see this. Thanks!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Yo! Man, we just missed each other. Glad you’re enjoying the videos, such an awesome trail. If you ever try the AZT, let me know.

[@leedeckard5785]

@@MoonJuiceHikes I've actually been eyeing the azt. Planning a start in Feb or March. I'll let you know!

[@PeterFLB]

In Arizona, I think the Indians here called the teepee things Wikiup's. Maybe an outdoor survival camp or.........

[@vennilaramyesh]

Love it... what you sow is what you reap ❤

[@1954chevy626]

Great video so far!

[@susanmyrawills]

wow,you’re doing the miles with a heavy pack!

[@Junkorgem]

It says walk on. 😂

[@spillitnow]

I thought it might be "on" as in stay "on" the trail. Where do you see the word walk?

[@anieceweatherford114]

Really enjoyed Part 1. Looking forward to Part 2.

[@davegleason8007]

I live in the forest about 30 minutes from Kenosha Pass. Thanks for saving CO and my home. Thruhiked the CT in 2016 at age 50. I’ll do it again after I retire in May. Enjoy! It gets better and better!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

You’re welcome! Actually really surprised to see an abandoned fire deep in a forest, you know? Good luck on your next thru!

[@linneamintzer9853]

Thanks so much for putting out that fire! That was terrible . . . Also those teepee structures are probably just slash piles, but you never know ;)

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

That’s l what I assumed, but some seemed like they were constructed like they were trying to make it real sturdy, almost woven together. You know, most likely a witch murder lair? 😅

[@alantraceyoutdoors3572]

Great video, Brevan. I'm really looking forward to the rest of your journey, I was going to say good luck, but I know you completed it!! Good job on the fire by the way.

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

Thanks Alan! When is your start date? Are you going SOBO?

[@alantraceyoutdoors3572]

@@MoonJuiceHikes I start on the 26th Aug, and yes, I'm heading SOBO 👍

[@mikenoroski2417]

Can’t wait for part 2!

[@MoonJuiceHikes]

It just gets better and better, doesn’t it Bad Habit