Incoming Dolores High School junior Bridger Beyhan completed the Colorado Trail hike in 21 days, a hike that normally takes four to five weeks.
Beyhan said he decided last summer he wanted to hike the trail, which cuts through the heart of the state.
“It started off in Denver and ended in Durango,” Beyhan said.
Over the 21 days and 567 miles, Beyhan said he typically hiked 22 or 23 miles a day and took just one rest day in Salida.
“Before I started, I wanted to try for like 16 miles a day. That would have been a total of 30 days. But as I kept going, I felt like, ‘Hey, I can do more.’ I kind of wanted to get home,” Beyhan said, laughing.
Beyhan hiked almost the entire trail solo, but was joined by one of his friends during the final three days. He said he also met up with his parents and friends in a couple of places along the trail.
“It was something else than what I was expecting for a lot of the trip, but it was a really good experience. I enjoyed it,” Beyhan said.
After conquering the Colorado Trail, Beyhan said he would like to hike the Pacific Crest Trail next, something that can take several months to complete. It runs 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada, through desert, forests and Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.
While Beyhan has hiked in the past, he said it’s “not my favorite thing to do.”
Regardless, he thought the trail would be fun.
Over the course of the hike, Beyhan said he was able to learn more about what he is capable of.
“I realized how much more I could do than what I initially thought, like the mental part of it,” Beyhan said.
Beyhan also said he hopes more people will go out and enjoy the hike.
According to the Colorado Trail’s official website, the trail can be traversed while hiking, biking or on horseback.
“The trail passes through six national forests and six wilderness areas, traverses five major river systems and penetrates eight of the state’s mountain ranges,” the website said.
