On and On I Go! CDT miles 1462 to 1915

The 5h of July came with a scattering of the hikers. Some headed to the trail, to hotels, to meet family and to who knows where. Me? I went to Taco Bell. I wanted to get back on trail but I was way behind on typing my blog and it takes forever on my phone so I figured I’d just hang out at Taco Bell and use their WiFi all day. Widesky went with me mostly because he didn’t have anything better to do and well, tacos. We got going and found a bus stop where we could catch the free bus across town. When we arrived there was a sign on the door that the place was going to be closed until 11 due to lack of help. It was nearly 10 by now and there were picnic tables outside so Widesky and I made ourselves at home claimed a table and hooked to the internet. I ran across the street to the gas station and bought us some drinks and doughnuts. Then I returned to the table gave Widesky his and got to typing.

At 11 the place opened and I got food. A while later Widesky decided he wanted to spend another night in town so he called the KOA campground. With my military discount it would be 40 bucks for a spot on the river. He asked if I’d split it with him and I agreed. So we boarded the bus and went all the way to the other side of Steamboat Springs and set up camp. It was a nice spot on the river and it had WiFi so I continued to work on my blog. Redfish, Lumber, and Dosu came by for a while but decided to head back to the trail instead of staying. HR got the site next door.

Later that evening me and Widesky decided to go to the theatre and watch the new SpiderMan movie. It was all the way back across town near the Taco Bell so of course we stopped for Tacos on the way.

After the movie we rode the bus back to camp where I typed on my phone into the wee hours of the morning then crashed to the sounds of the rushing river. The morning of the 6th I woke early showered did laundry and then Widesky and I caught the bus back across town to where we could hitch out. Taco Bell was on the way so we stopped for more tacos then walked out of town and set the bait. It wasn’t long before someone bit and we were on our way.

After getting dropped back off at the trail where we had left at mile1462.1, we hiked. Widesky wanted to camp by Fishhook lake which was at mile 1469.2 which was only 7.1 miles away and since it was already afternoon I figured why not. It was just below the snow line and I was in no hurry to hit the snow. In fact after fishhook lake it would be a 22.5 mile climb through the snow to the top of Lone Ranger.

We made it to the lake and the ground was way too soggy to camp so we climbed up a hill and found a dry spot in some trees where we camped. b

We made a fire and talked about our current goal of escaping Colorado where we had been for far too long; the border was only a little over 56 miles away.

We slept and awoke on the 7th with a plan to hike the 22.5 miles to the top and over the other side. The snow had other ideas. At first it was patchy and we had to climb up and over each bank and down the other side. Almost like lining cars up 5 to 10 feet apart for miles and climbing up and over each one in turn. Except these were slippery and every now and then one foot of the other would sink in to the knee or higher without warning. A slow, tiring way to travel. As we climbed higher the snow became more constant but it wasn’t smooth compact snow but a ridged lumpy snowfield that impeded foottraffic, and of course usually when you felt you were making progress you would plunge through and wallow for a while. We were making slow progress all uphill trying to stay on trail. At one point Widesky turned to me looking exasperated and asked “did you take into account all this snow when you planned a 22plus mike day over Lone Ranger?” All I could do was shrug and trudge on. About 3 in the afternoon it started to rain and I guess we had both had enough. Widesky mentioned camping and I was standing on a snow free spot big enough for both our tents. We sat up and climbed in having only come13.2 miles to mile 1482.4. The rain stopped after 20 minutes and the sun came out so we both started feeling like we should have pushed on but about 15 minutes after the sun showed it vanished and lightning lit up the sky. Thunder crescendoed through the peaks and it started to pour. I was so glad I already had my tent set up and was safe inside. The storm continued deep into the night. I awoke occasionally and smiled happy to be warm and dry in my sleeping bag and tent.

The storm abated by sunrise on the 8th and we were up and battling the snow again. It began raining again mid morning but we continued on determined to make if over the mountain. A little before noon we crested Lone Ranger in the rain and made our way down the other side. Soggy and cold, freezing in the brisk winds at 11,800 feet we made a run for the tree line miles below.

Eventually we reached the trees and soon after the sun came out and the world warmed. We aimed for a forest service campground on the other side of the Elk River. Luckily there was a bridge for once and we made it to our destination without too much more trouble. It was far below the snowline and the world was green. The campground was spectacular and completely deserted. There was a pavilion with picnic table we could sleep on, a hand pump for fresh water, pit toilets and trash cans. Paradise for a couple of thruhikers. We had made it just over 21 miles to mile 1503.7 of the CDT. We cooked and ate as another thunderstorm rolled in and we then fell asleep listening to the sounds of rain on the roof of our pavilion.

The ninth came with a sense of excitement it was finally time to run for the border. We awoke to a deer hanging out near the pavilion and were soon on our way. Only a few miles in we reached a roaring river where there was supposed to be a bridge but alas it had been swept away.

I spotted some trees that had been swept together downstream and headed that way. It was actually a bunch of trees and debris and to make it across I had to walk from one log jump carefully to a debris pile climb onto another log walk across, climb up onto a different bigger slipperier log and then carefully walk across it to the other side. I made it and Widesky followed quickly after. All in a days work on the CDT.

It was a lovely day and we were actually able to stay out of the snow as we headed for Wyoming. Widesky’s fastest than me and he’s from Wyoming so he jetted off to head for home territory and I enjoyed the solitude and nature of my last day in Colorado.The trail turned to old dirt road and I followed along for miles until finally reaching the border and my 3rd state on the CDT, Wyoming. Colorado, oh Colorado. It had taken eons longer than expected to cross the state. The worst snow season in 50 years; or the worst winter in living memory I had so often heard. The CDT was created in 1976 so definitely the worst in the history of the trail. Most hikers had quit or walked roads most of the way across the state, or just skipped Colorado with plans to return later in the year. With a few side trips and a bit of roads: I had crossed it and it had been tough but I made it! I walked the ridges and and climbed Gray’s peak, even made the side trip up Mt Elbert the highest peak in the Rockies. I was happy with my Colorado journey and oh so ready to move on and leave the snow behind.n

Widesky was taking a break just across the line in his home state and we took a few minutes to eat snacks and celebrate. Both of us were about out of water and there wasn’t any nearby so we soon hiked on. We found a campsite right off Hog Park road near a creek at mile 1528.6 and set up camp for our first night in Wyoming. On the Tenth it was time to head for the first town in Wyoming, Encampment. I had a resupply box waiting for me there at the post office and I had to to push the 17.4 miles to the road and get a hitch into town before it closed. I got up early and took off. There was loads of snow again and when the trail dipped down into the valley everything was wet. The trail crossed multitudes of rivers and streams and was quite often a creek in and of itself with water taking the path of least resistance and flowing down the trail. I was quite used to constantly having wet feet and hurried on through it all. Up hill and down crossing snowfields and forests meadows and rivers I hiked on. To the post office and then pizza I chanted as I crawled to the crest of my fourth or fifth mountain of the day. I plowed through the final snowbanks and reached the road shortly before 2 that afternoon. There was an awesome hiker box there where someone left snacks for us CDTers. I grabbed some cheezeits and walked out to highway 70 where I hopefully stuck out my thumb and smiled at the first car that came by. He quickly swerved into the other lane and poured on the fuel giving me a look like I was a terrifying apparition that had suddenly materialized from the mountain forests. Maybe I shouldn’t have smiled :/ Oh well I stood there a while and tried to make eye contact with passing drivers hoping I could get one to stop. Some happily waved but kept driving on. One thing I have noticed in all my years of bumming rides is people driving Dodge trucks don’t pick you up. I’m fact they almost always look away from you speed up and swerve into the other lane if possible. Also people pulling campers don’t stop though I really can’t blame them it’s a lot to pull over on the side of a mountain Highway. That day however a truly awesome guy in a Dodge pickup pulling a huge camper stopped and gave me a ride. He carried me all the way to the post office in Encampment! I got out and went in and received my resupply package. The Divide Pizzeria was a couple doors down and I walked over. I walked in and started to place my pack in a booth when the waiter walked up and said “I opened the deck I think there’d be more room for you and your pack outside.” Maybe I was smelling up the place?, oh well she was nice about it and the deck was really great with shade so I didn’t mind. I ordered a large sausage pizza and ate it all. There was no phone signal in town and I had no idea how far behind me Widesky was so after I paid I asked the waitress to tell the next hiker she saw that I was down at the RV park and headed out. The rv park was actually in Riverside a mile away so I walked there and paid my ten dollars to pitch a tent and rented a towel for an extra buck so I could shower. The lady at the desk asked if I wanted to do laundry and I told her there wasn’t any point, I’d just be wasting 5 bucks cause I’ll be hiking out again early in the morning and I’d be filthy ten minutes after I got back into the mountains. She gave me a shocked look and asked ” so you just don’t wash them anymore?” I laughed and said” I washed em in Steamboat last week, I’ll wash then again in the next town probably, they’re ok for now” She gave me a disbelieving look and handed me my towel. I set up my tent and showered, washed my socks in the sink and hung them up to dry.

I walked over to the local grocery/ hardware store which was way more hardware than groceries and looked around but they didn’t have much so I walked a little further down the road to the Sinclair gas station ( complete with dinosaur) and bought some drinks and snacks for the evening. I was wandering what had happened to Widesky so I asked the cashier if she had seen a hippie wandering around town. She looked out the window and pointed “there’s one” and sure enough Widesky was walking by. I went out and led him to the rv park where he set up camp and we watched Field of Dreams on the tv in the laundry room before retiring to our tents.

The 11th I got up grabbed my gear and walked back to the other side of encampment where I hoped to get a ride back to the trail. A local couple had placed a bench by the road for hitchhiking hikers to use while trying to get out of town and I sat my pack on it and attempted to score a ride. Widesky had gone to resupply and he walked up about an hour later. I was still there. We talked to several of the locals that walked over to satisfy their curiosity and many of them told us that if they weren’t so busy they’d happily give us a ride. Another hour went by and we still watched each passing car with hopefully eyes. Eventually a lady pulled up and told us her name was Heather and she was the awesome person that stocked the hiker box up on the trail. She said she had some supplies at her house that she needed to take up there and if we didn’t mind riding out to her home first she’d take us to the trail. We of course readily agreed. We rode to her home which was a cabin on a river with a beautiful deck out over the water and a sunroom that actually had trees growing right through it. She said her husband had built the place. It was amazing. She grabbed her supplies and we rode back to the trail. It was time to hike. I headed towards the mountains and a little less than 4 miles later I hit mile 1550, the Continental Divide Trail Halfway point. Whew Galway what a journey it had been and still 1550 miles to go. No sign to commemorate the moment just a pile of snow and evergreen trees. I snapped a picture ate a candy bar and continued on. It had taken forever to get back rob the trail which made for a late start so I didn’t get far. I camped at the Deep Jack Trailhead mile 1558.9 for a 12.4 mile day.

The 12th I was up early and hiking knowing I needed to start really making miles again. I was finally out of the snow for a while but Winter comes early in Montana and I did not want to be hitting snowstorms at the end of this trip. I headed out towards the desert. I was going towards Rawlins and the Great Divide Basin which is a huge desert.

I headed off into the sage following the trail and then decided to walk a road towards Rawlins cause it would cut off about 22 miles. It was hot and water was sparse but there was enough to keep me going. I hiked up hill and down until I got to Little Sage creek about 15 miles out of town and set up camp I was 27.7 miles from where I had camped the night before.

The 13th I got up and hiked the 15 miles into Rawlins at CDT mile 1629.1 and walked into the towns summerfest. I found the gear store and bought a fuel canister for my phone and they told me of a free pancake breakfast at a nearby church so I walked over.

The folks inside gave me strange looks when I walked in, and they also gave me pancakes, and sausage links, and iced coffee. I took my plate to a table in the back of the room hardly noticing the stares as I sat down. Then I heard a young boy at a nearby table tell his parents “he’s traveling and he’s hungry.” Then he came over and told me he was a traveler too and had once been all the way to Ohio. This broke the ice and others came with questions and curiosity. I answered as best I could and they kept bringing food. 17 pancakes 12 sausage links and 7 cups of iced coffee later I politely made my exit. As I was walking through the festival a lady with the air national guard gave me two T-shirt’s a hat and a backpack with WY Air National Guard on them. Maybe I looked like I could use some new clothes. I thanked her and walked on headed to the fairgrounds where I had heard hikers could camp.

I found the fairgrounds and no one was around so I set up between some trees near a power outlet and hoped for the best figuring it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission. I walked to the store and ran into Redfish, Dosu, and Lumber. They had made it to town the night before and were planning to sleep away the afternoon and then hike out at 11pm to do the 24 hour challenge. Basically hike as far as you can in 24 hours, they were hoping for at least 70 miles across the basin. At the store I ran into Sea Legs and she said she was going to hike out at 1am and try for a double marathon or 52.4 miles. Everyone was planning to run across the Basin.

My strategy for crossing was same as always slow and steady. I was planning to hike out the following morning. I returned to the fairgrounds used the shower and washed my clothes in the sink then hung them up to dry. Sea Legs showed up and we hung out for a while before she set up her tent to take a nap. I went to town and found Widesky who had just walked in. His dad had brought him his dog for him to hike with, a collie named Zane. We returned to the fairgrounds and later Stretch showed up and pitched his tent as well.

Widesky was planning to take a week off trail from there and Stretch was zeroing in town on Sunday. I woke up on Sunday the 14th and packed up. SeaLegs had left during the night. It was Sunday so I went for a Sunday stroll into the basin. I walked gathering water from streams where I could and braving the heat. I ran out of water at 24 miles but knew there was a watering hole about 3 miles ahead . I pushed on and made it. When I got there I found Sea Legs asleep in the little grass oasis near the water. It was 5 pm I decided to go ahead and cook and eat my dinner before pushing on. Sea Legs woke up and got some water before returning to nap in the shade. I ate dinner and fell asleep leaning against my pack. Around 7 I gathered more water and got ready to hike on. Sea Legs did the same and started out I followed shortly behind. The sun set and the moon rose clouds rolled in and lightning lit the sky. Around 930 I decided to call it and watched by moon glow and lighting bolt as Sea Legs marched on into the night. I had found a relatively flat spot where two roads met and set up my tent at mile1563.9 it had been a 34.8 mile day.

I woke at 3 on the 15th hoping to get an early start but it was raining so I returned to sleep until 530 when the rain abated and I got going by 6. I strolled across the frying pan. Though it wasn’t nearly as flat as it appeared with loads of ups and downs. I walked and walked getting water where I could and melting in the desert sun. Pronghorn antelope frolicked in the distance and herds of cows eyed me disdainfully. I was extremely hungry and stopped late morning for a long breakfast at a small reservoir. The trail followed dirt paths through the desert and was pretty easy to follow as long as I paid attention to where it turned. I pushed on and on until around 3 I reached a small stream and sat down for a break and to filter water. Next thing I knew it was 5 o’clock and I had slept for nearly two hours. I went ahead and made dinner and ate before marching on. I made it to mile 1595 near a creek a little before ten and set up under the full moon a 31.1 mile day.

The 16th I was again hiking by sun up heading for a stocked water catch that was rumored to be ahead. I ran into a lady called Peg Leg headed south and talked to her a while, she was standing on a hill where she had phone signal waiting for Big Agnes to open so she could have them ship her a replacement tent pole to Rawlins. Shortly after I walked by a guy called Legion a northbound hiker still eating breakfast by his tent. We chatted a while and I walked on. I eventually made it to the water coach near mile 1708 and took a break. There were bear boxes with gallon jugs of water. It was great and I drink my fill before refilling my bottles and continuing on through the desert. Under the blazing sun with no shade in sight I covered miles. Through the cacti and sage with the constant taste of dust in my throat, step by step I slowly crossed the wastes, dodging cows and barbwire I forged on. As the sun set in the west and the full moon rose in the east I stood on a hill in awe of nature’s magnificence looking at the landscape that stretched out on and on for miles. I found a flat spot by the road, ate dinner and slept under the wide open desert sky. I had made it to mile 1729.4 a 34.4 mile day.

The morning of the 17th I awoke at 5 and was trying to motivate myself to get up and get moving. I was headed to South Pass City an abandoned mining town that was now run as a tourist attraction by the forest service. I had a resupply box waiting for me there. A little before 530 I heard gravel crunching and saw Sea Legs walking by. Somehow she had ended up behind me. We greeted each other and she walked on. I gathered my stuff and followed shortly behind. I caught up to her when she stopped for a snack break and we hiked together for the day. She had laid out a slightly shorter route to South Pass City and we walked on old barely existent dirt roads. We crossed fences and creeks, watched pronghorns, passed old barns and cabins, greeted wild horses and finally made our way into the city. It was a collection of old buildings that had been set up as a kind of museum. We went to the small general store and I got my box then we sat on the porch and drank sodas and ate bags of chips. I checked out some of the exhibits which were cool and then we filled our bottles in the bathroom sink and hiked the 2.5 miles to the road so we could hitch into Lander Wyoming for the night. It was a desolate highway crossing in the middle of the desert and it took a long time to get a hitch. I couldn’t help but wonder what people were thinking as they drove by looking at us dirty nomads that wandered out of the wastes.

Eventually we did get a ride and he dropped us off at the Safeway in town. We got some supplies and Sea Legs got word on her phone that Redfish, Dosu, Lumber, and HR were downtown. We walked down and met them. The day out of Rawlins; Dosu has made it 76 miles, Redfish, 73 and Lumber 53. ( I may be off by a mile or two but I’m close anyway) impressive to say the least. We hung out and then Seafish and I headed over to the hotel where we were able to get a cabin we could split. It had one fullsize bed and a set of bunks. There was a shower over by the hot tub up near the office that we could use and a portajon outside. I let SeaLegs have the full sized bed and took the bottom bunk for myself. We went back to town and grabbed some food then retired to our luxury accommodations for the night.

The 18th I managed to at least stay in bed till 7 then carried my stuff outside and went through my pack taking out everything I felt I could do without so I could mail it home and lighten my load. Sea Legs and I walked to the nearby outfitter where I switched out my holey Darn Tough socks for a new pair. ( Darn Toughs rule they have a lifetime guarantee and if u wear a hole in them they give you a new pair.) Sea Legs picked up some packages she had waiting there. I left there and went to the post office where I mailed all my cold weather gear home keeping only my puffy jacket for cold mornings. Then I returned to the room and repacked. We checked out at 11 and I went to hitch back to the trail. SeaLegs was staying in town to meet a friend for dinner. When I got to the highway I found Dosu, Redfish, and Lumber they had a ride coming and said they could probably squeeze me in. A really nice lady showed up and she had her daughter with her so there wasn’t room. I said no worries I’d find a hitch but she said to wait 5 minutes and she’d drop her daughter off at her moms and come back. Lumber had already climbed into the backseat so he went along for the ride while Redfish, Dosu and I waited under a shade tree. Soon she returned and we managed to cram ourselves in with our packs on our laps. Soon we were back on trail and heading into the Winds. A beautiful Wyoming mountain Range. We hiked together for a while through forests and fields and I was meandering along and lost sight of the trio. As the sun was dropping towards the horizon I walked into a field and found them atop a large rock formation taking in the view. I climbed up and joined them before we all climbed down and continued on to mile 1770.1 near the Sweetwater River. We had hiked almost exactly 20 miles that afternoon and quickly ate and retired to our tents.

The 19th we all got up and hiked out together but I soon lost sight of them again and was enjoying the day. They were doing a higher route called the Cirque de Towers and I wasn’t sure if I was going that way or just going to follow the official CDT. A few hours later when I stopped for a break I realized I had walked right by the towers route turnoff without noticing it almost 3 miles back so the official CDT route it was. I hiked on but wasn’t in too big a hurry cause I didn’t need to make it to Pinedale until Monday so I could get my box at the post office and it was only about 60 miles away since it was Friday I had plenty of time.

The problem with Pinedale was I would have to walk 11 miles off trail to get to the parking lot where I could hitch in and then once out of town 11 miles back to the trail which was 22 extra miles and a wasted day but I have to eat so not much choice but on the 19th I just hiked through the winds . The scenery was beautiful but the mosquitoes were atrocious millions of them constantly on the attack and if I dared to stop moving I was swarmed,it was like a bad sci-fi movie. I persisted through the day and made it to Dutch Joe Creek at mile 1788.5 where there was a great campsite and I went ahead and set up early after only a 18.4 mile day. My tent is a bit of a luxury item. It’s big for a backpacking tent and while less than 3 pounds is still considered heavy to carry but it’s a two person with loads of room for me and my gear and with the rain fly off it’s basically a small screen room. I set it up without the fly and relaxed able to take in the scenery but safe from the raging hordes of mosquitoes. I ate dinner and read my book listening to the creek roll by, a happy camper.

Saturday the 20th I continued into the winds. Beautiful mountains rose in the distance as I climbed up and over several passes. I passed beautiful lakes and raged a torrential battle with mosquitoes. I almost never use bug spray and didn’t have any with me but I had bought a bug net on the AT and carried it for over 1000 miles across New England and I still had it. I had carried it nearly 1800 miles on this trip and still never used it In fact I had come very close to getting rid of it in Lander but now it was time and I broke it out.now properly accessorized I continued on. I crossed the high meadows walking by the lakes, vibrant blue dragonflies zooming down the path before me. Bullfrogs croaking in the shallows the sounds of the wind rustling through trees. Running water from the snowmelt bubbling along. I waded creeks and rivers and watched the sun beams streak through the huge fluffy clouds creating patchworks of shadows through the valleys. I skirted boulders and climbed rocky passes a wonderful day in the wild. At one point I felt eyes looking at me and turned to see a moose staring from behind a tree. Then her and a small calf took off into the trees. I walked to Bob’s Lake at mile 1810.4 making it 21.9 miles and set up my tent on the shore. Once I was inside, my tent was quickly almost entirely covered in mosquitoes but at least they couldn’t get through the screen.

The mornings are cold in the winds and I woke up on the 21st to a frosted world. At least the mosquitoes were gone for the moment and I was able to pack up unmolested. I went on through the mountains to mile 1828.8 the pole creek trail junction where I had to turn left to hike 11 miles to the parking lot so I could hitch to Pinedale. I walked 9.5 miles down the trail before camping making it 27.9 miles for the day and a 2.5 mile hike to the road the next morning.

The 22nd I got up early and did the 2.5 miles to the Elkhart trailhead parking lot. I stood on the road and hoped for a hitch. There was almost no traffic but there were swarms, no hordes, no legions, of mosquitoes. I left my bug net off cause I felt wearing it made me look more like a serial killer. But standing there swatting the creatures I wondered who was going to pick up a filthy guy that looked like he had been living in the wood for years and was now covered in blood and the tiny corpses of his enemies. Then it started to rain; it didn’t drive away the mosquitoes but now I was a soggy, filthy, mountain man swatting away maniacally by the roadside. It took a while and one car passed several times smiling and waving, maybe taking pictures, but didn’t stop. Eventually though another hiker who was out for the weekend pulled up and offered me a ride to town. I made it to Pinedale and walked into the heart and soul cafe. My hiker hunger was raging and I ordered two breakfasts, the biscuit and gravy platter and a breakfast burrito and ate it all. I left my pack at the visitors center with my electronics charging and went to the post office and got my box. I stopped at the outfitters where I bought some bug spray and then went back and repacked my pack. I then walked across town to the pizza buffet and ate again. I returned to the visitors center and waited for my stuff to finish charging. I made a few calls and talked to my folks and bought some more food at the gas station then prepared to hitch back out of town. I talked to the awesome visitor center director and hung out with his 3 year old daughter that he had brought to work with him , he told me that if I’d wait till 4 when he got off he would drive me back to the trail, if I didn’t mind going with him to pick up his other daughter from daycare on the way. I very happily agreed and spent the afternoon reading in one of the rocking chairs.

At 4 we went to the daycare and then he drove me back to the mountains. We all split a bag of cookies on the way and it was an awesome ride. I started walking the 11 miles back to the trail a little before 6 and made it about 7 miles before deciding to camp. It had been a busy day and I was tired.

I woke on the 23rd and was feeling exhausted. I managed to get up and going about 730. I hiked back to the trail taking a different route and meeting the trail further up at Seneca lake near mile 1833 but had little energy. I sprayed myself with bugspray and wore my headnet but the mosquitoes were relentless. Around 1030 in the morning I decided to take a long break. I set up my tent complete with rainfly to block the sun and fell asleep. I woke up at noon and ate lunch and started to get ready to hike but I fell asleep again. I finally got to hiking again around 430 and walked on into the evening but around 7 a storm was coming in and I was still feeling tired so I set up camp at mile 1841.3. I had only walked 12.4 miles that day and only 8.3 counted as trail miles.

The 24th I go up at 330 am and was hiking by 4 determined to hike and make it over the next big obstacle which was gunsight Pass 28 miles away. It was raining but I continued on. The scenery was epic and I walked through the mountains down to the Green river which actually is a beautiful blue green color. I passed Green River lake and made it 20 miles by noon. The next 8 miles were all up to the top of the pass and it took me all afternoon to make the climb. The views of the mountain were spectacular and I enjoyed the hike even though it was slow going. I eventually reached the top and passed over hiking a few more miles to make camp. I filled up my water bottles at a creek in a meadow and walked a little further to set up camp among some tree at mile 1872.3, 31 miles from my last camp.

The 25th I didn’t get up at 4 but I was hiking by 630. the town of Dubois Wyoming was a little less than 45 miles away and I wanted to get as close as possible. I was planning to take a day off and even get my own hotel room. I hadn’t splurged and gotten my own room since Grants, New Mexico somewhere around 1500 miles back. I hadn’t had phone signal in days, so I used my Garmin to text my dad and asked him to call the Wind River motel which was supposed to be 50 dollars a night and book me a room for Friday and Saturday nights. I walked on and on and on it was a nice day of hiking through trees and more meadows. I was able to keep my feet dry for a while but the 5th or 6th creek had to be waded and it was back to wet feet. I got a message back from dad and he had got me a room. Apparently Saturday was the National Day of the Cowboy and it was a big deal in Dubois so the room was 70 a night instead of 50. It was more than I had budgeted but I agreed. I needed a day off my ankles were twinging and my knees were popping it was time for a zero. I hiked to mile 1903.7 a little less than 12 miles from the road where I could hitch to town and 31.4 miles for the day.

The 26th I walked the 11.5 miles to highway 28. It actually didn’t take very long before an awesome lady in a camper van picked me up and drove me to town. She was on her way back east from a stop at Yellowstone with her son. He was watching movies in the back of the van.

I found my motel and got checked in. The owner was super nice and had my room ready early and I dropped off my stuff before heading out to the visitors center where I was able to borrow a phone ( mine doesn’t have signal here) and call Yellowstone to arrange my permits. I’ve never been to Yellowstone so I’m pretty excited. I bought the stuff to make chili cheese dogs and chips and dip on my way back to the room. There was a John Wayne Marathon on the tv so I had a great evening.

The 27th I was up early as always and eating breakfast at a cafe at 7 am. I then waited on the post office to open and got my packages. My frame for my pack had arrived. The old one broke a while ago and ULA wouldn’t honor the warranty but they were happy to sell me a new part. I had splinted the old one with a tent pole splint and gorilla tape. After 1900 miles everything’s starting to fall apart (including me lol) I took my packages back to the room and then walked to the library where I typed the blog on the computer for a few hours cause it was faster. At noon I went and got some pizza and then watched the Cowboy parade which was anybody that owned or could borrow a mule, wagon, horse, donkey or Burro riding through town. I was kinda jealous and wished I had a horse. Looking like I do I generally stick out like a sore thumb but in Dubois Wyoming on the National Day of the Cowboy I’ve never fit in so well. I returned to my room and discovered everything I’d typed on my blog at the library had vanished despite saving it multiple times so I’d have to redo it all on my phone. (Sorry if this entry seems a bit rushed.) I talked to my folks via FaceTime over the WiFi and promised to buy bearspray so I walked back across town to the outfitters and picked some up complete with holster. Then I returned to my room to type. Oh and I bought a plane ticket to Tennessee from Montana for September 28th so this crazy trip now has an end date. Hopefully September 26th; 6 months to the day from the start. I just have to average 20 miles a day to make it. No Worries: I got this 😉