Goblin Forest

Arrive at Long's Peak trailhead round lunchtime, after a spectacular drive. Get into backpacks, start up the trail. Our campsite is 1.2 miles in and 700 feet up. (trailhead is at 9500 and Goblin's Forest campsite at 10,200). Very quickly, (1/4 mile in) i discover i can't breathe. This is no altitude problem, i have been at altitude b4. Discover that straps on pack are adjusted for Alex. Stop, readjust. Amazing what straps do to the chest. Proceed up the trail.

Proceed is such a strong word.

Progress is more like: puff puff puff, 'i need to siddown'; glug,glug,glug; puff..puff.....puff.......puff.......'shall we go on';'i .. pufff...suppose..';

Repeat.

Many repetions latr we arrive at campsite. Two hours. Does not bode well for a peak attempt. Erect tent. Sit around. Get antsy. TylMjks goes:' Let's go back to van and get more stuff'. I agree: the altitude is clearly getting to me.

Back down to the van. fill daypacks, grab smallest cooler. Don't ask whats in the cooler. Back up.

Nominally less puffin and gluggin. Already getting very tired of this section of trail.

Get back to camp. Just in time. The heaven open, rains furiously for 20 minnits. We sit in tent and look out. Rain stops.

Make dinner, light fades, temperature drops like a stone. TylMjk talks me into goin up the trail to look for anudder stream. I follow until better sense prevails. He goes on. I flee back to tent. As Dark Falls, TylMjk returns with tales of being stalked by goblins.

Pass out.

Tomorrow is another day