Executive Director’s Letter

PHOTOS COURTESY JOSH GRIBBLE AND ELISE OTT NEW BEGINNINGS AT THE TERMINUS

At the Northern Terminus of the CDT this season, an ending to a journey opened up to new beginnings, as Josh “Kid” Gribble and Elise “SOS (pronounced Sauce” Ott got engaged at the moment of their CDT completion. We caught up with Josh and Elise to hear about their journey as a couple, and the next steps for a pair who have already traveled many miles together.

Q: How did you two meet? Have you hiked other trails together? We met 3 years ago in 2019 on the PCT in Burney, California. Specifically in a cheap motel room at the end of August. We began hiking together starting in Etna, California and stuck together the rest of the way. We started dating when we arrived back home and moved to Colorado together. Since then, we’ve done some shorter trips before starting the CDT together in 2022.

Q: What is something joyous about hiking together? Josh really enjoys always having someone to camp and hang out with after a day of hiking. Rarely are we ever truly alone because we almost always have each other. Elise also enjoys knowing that we can hike in our own style all day (aka Josh is way faster) and we can still enjoy each other’s company at camp. It’s also nice to always have someone to hike with on the tougher days or in more nervewracking terrain.

Q: What is something challenging on the trail that you two have overcome? Together, we’ve overcome lots of physical obstacles (exhausting days, big miles and huge climbs), but what sticks out most to us as a challenge when tackling a thru-hike as a couple is giving up the independence of a solo hike. Thru-hiking is inherently a challenge and planning for and managing for yourself in addition to a partner definitely takes extra care.

Q: Do you have any hopes for your next shared adventure? Right now our next big adventure is the wedding! In addition to that we are actually both planning some solo trips. Josh is excited to hike the AZT at some point, Elise is looking forward to the Wind River High Route and maybe the AT somewhere in the future (Josh has already hiked it). In the meantime, we will almost certainly be doing over nights in Colorado whenever we get the chance.

PHOTOS COURTESY TRACY DUNNING A LEGACY COMPLETED

A late hiker’s journey has now come to an end, with help from his partner’s mother. Ed “Papi Chulo” Miesen passed from cancer in 2019, with only 55 miles remaining unhiked on his thru-hike on the Continental Divide Trail. In his stead, his partner’s mother, Tracy Dunning, 70, has completed the journey for him. “It was a joy to talk with the thru-hikers as I completed the trail. Ed was a big supporter of the outdoors completing both the PCT and CDT. His memory and example are a blessing to many,” says Dunning. In sections, Tracy completed Ed’s missing miles between Berthoud Pass and the CDTC Gateway Community of Grand Lake, CO, ending with an 11-mile trek to summit James Peak in September 2021.

If you knew Ed and like to share any memories from trail with Dunning, she can be reached at TracyLDunning@gmail.com.