I slept well on the hard ground. Most nights I get a full night’s sleep, no matter that I’m sleeping on a 1/4 inch of foam on the earth, I am tired enough.

It looked like a cross country section in today’s walking would be really difficult for Justa to get around…the surrounding roads just didn’t line up with where the trail was going, so we begrudgingly packed up our bags, we would backpack the next 60 miles…but not before breakfast!!

We had an amazing masterpiece scramble by Justa, and with full bellies and long miles ahead, we set off.

And the sky does not dissapoint! We cruised the surface of the earth and scared up lots of antelope, wild horses, mule deer, and even bunnies. What a day!

At about 30 miles I started to slow down, and by the time we were looking for camp and not finding anything in the lumpy, rocky, sagebrushy landscape, finally pitched in the road. “Road” being a fairly generous term.

Food!

We woke up when the sky took on a brilliant sheen in the east. I made some coffee and we decided to hike a few miles to where Justa would drive ahead and make us breakfast…what!?! Wow!!!

And yes, it really was that good. We would hike and Justa would meet us a bit down the road where we had coolers full of cold drinks and a full array of snacks awaited us. This is living.

We laughed from time to time at how decadent this all was, and reflecting on my almost solo 3 months of hiking, loved at how the trail had turned that on its head. People! Food! Friends! Turning a challenging section into a blast!

By 8pm or so we had gone just over 37 miles, my longest day ever on any trail. And yep, it meant hiking all day, but we also got in some great lounging around too.

Justa shined again at making sure we were full and sated (bloody marys, really!)

Lovely day.

I woke from the depths of the Days Inn bed…this much comfort makes it hard to get up in the morning! I put the little hotel coffee pot to work and curled up in bed with my phone; it’s a common occurance when you get a bunch of hikers together where there is wifi available, to see everyone absorbed in their little screen…me included. One of the modern signs of trail life.

After a lazy morning we all headed to City Market to buy groceries for the 120 mile stretch of the Great Divide Basin. We would all hike together during this section, as Justa drives the route and cooks for us. What!?! How did I get so lucky?

This is Lint’s triple triple hike, and he wants to do it big for what might possibly be his last long trail, at least the last for a while. Having Justa out here meeting him with good company, food, and beer had put a spring in his step…and I’m thrilled to get to hang with them for a few days! I won’t be keeping up the 35-40+ miles per day that he plans to cover, but for this dry long exposed section it’s perfect to challenge myself with the bigger days. Why not? There’s a hot meal and cold beer involved!

We hit an AMAZING Thai buffet on the way out of town, and with stomachs full and legs rested, we walked out of town into the great wide open.

We covered about 21 miles this afternoon, skirting the highway for a while, and then heading straight off into the nothingness. (there’s actually not too much nothingness out here, we’ve seen lots of antelope, wild horses, lizards, cows, snakes, bunnies…beneath the scrubby brush there is a whole world teaming out here).

We ended the day when we found Justa on a little overlook that would make a perfect campspot. We relaxed in our camp chairs and inhaled the delicious dinner she made us.

I’m so lucky!

I woke knowing I would see Lint soon, and as I hit the highway and turned on my phone at the pass, sent him a text and continued walking down the road. At the same time I noticed a truck parked just ahead, and as soon as I got a bit closer, noticed a tent next to it.

Could it be? No…wait, yes, it’s Lint and Justa!

They were camped right around the corner from where I was. He had hiked until about 9pm and she had been there, and I woke them up as I came rushing in to the truck.

Yeah girl!

Yes!!!!

They woke up and we reunited…Lint and I have been friends for over 10 years, and I knew this would be the first time we would actually get to hike together, so cool!

And the fact that Justa was out to support him was amazing. The plan for the day was for Justa to drive up every 3 miles or so, and we wouldn’t carry anything. Nothing. And she would be there with water, our food, oh some AMAZING breakfast…which translates to a thru-hikers DREAM.

Walk

Walk

Bliss

Walk, car, walk, car, and soon we saw a figure grow larger behind us, why it’s another hiker, Grapenut! He joined in on the slack pack goodness, and at one stop in the afternoon we came up upon Lint’s truck and saw an orange hat we didn’t recognize…Patches! So now we’re 4 thruhikers strong and hiking a 30 plus mile day to get to Rawlins, and then…slack pack the Great Divide Basin!

Life is good folks…life is good.

We got to town, ate junk food, found a hiker-friendly hotel, showered, and passed out. I’m with hikers!

What a day. A lot happens in 30 miles on a trail: terrain changes, you leave mountains behind, trees, you enter a land of wind and sky.

Wyoming!

From climbing Bridger Peak this morning, to walking across balds with grasses rippling in the wind, to watching endless miles of space unfold, it was a good day.

I met some very generous folks today. As I was walking a two-track road an ATV with 2 couples came up behind me, they were headed just around the bend, and when I caught up with them a few minutes later, they invited me to lunch! Yes!

Gene, Debbie, Kim and Andy all lived in Rawlings and knew the area real well. It was a pleasure chatting over turkey sandwiches, cherries, and home-made cookies! AND I was offered a place to stay when I get to town…Rawlings is just a few days away. So great to have met them!

So I’ve been texting with Lint, my friend and fellow CDT hiker, and it sounds like he’s right behind me….I would love to hike some days with him, and as his daily pace is 35+ miles, I’m not sure how long I can! But he’s planning to get to Rawlings tomorrow (!) so I pushed the miles a bit so that I could hike the 32ish miles from where I’m camped to town as well. See, his girlfriend Justa is supporting him with his truck…and he’s thinking of slack packing the Great Divide Basin…and that would mean good food and cold beer at night…I should at least try big mile days!

Anyway, about 5pm I reached a big road, yet empty for miles in either direction. I started walking and the wind would just not let up. As I had left the trees behind I wasn’t sure where I would camp, it would definitely be challenging in this section.

Benefits to rain

Getting to town tomorrow night is looking more like a good thing. I was caught in a heavy and extremely windy downpour for a few minutes. All I could do was crouch down in the dirt by the road and brace myself against the wind with my umbrella, almost getting blown over a few times.

Oh Wyoming!

I found a little grove of trees just and I was reaching peak fatigue. I can see a deer or antelope made a bed where I pitched my tarp. When in doubt, look for where the animals sleep. You know it’s probably pretty protected.

Ahhh, parmasan noodles, oreos, and more oreos. Good day all around.

No rain last night! And there was no condensation or dew on anything! I was optimistic when I put my semi-dry shoes and socks on, maybe I would have dry feet today.

Nope

The wettest spring/summer in Colorado/Wyoming history continues. Beautiful high alpine meadows are beautiful high alpine bogs. Trails are streams. Finally after a few hours I put on my chacos to walk through all the water, at least when they are dry, they are dry. When wet, wet. There are a few days of sun in the forecast, but my dryness levels will depend on how much these Wyoming mountains like to hold on to their water.

We’ve entered a granite section, the white, pink, and red stones glint up at you in the sun, but this rock is not porous, and many pools and lakes are hiding among the tall grasses and many hues of the flowers.

The going was beautiful, and I also got a taste of the Wyoming wind I’ve heard so much about. At one point I was so cold I had to dig out my mittens…and I later heard the wind chill had been in the 20s. No wonder I was cold!

Wind chill of 20s in July, great divide basin looms on the horizon, should be an interesting month!

Still not seeing any hikers and I know people have to be close…

I got to Battle Pass (hwy 70) today hoping to hitch 14ish miles into Encampment to resupply for another few days to Rawlins, but the first 45 minutes or so only 2 cars went by me. Wow, this could take a while. I was sitting on the side of the highway, having determined that I can see down into the western valley to spot any cars that decided to come up this way, when some ATVs and a camper drove up from a dirt road. A ride!

I was dropped off at the Mangy Moose for lunch, a big fat greasy bacon cheeseburger with fries and beer. Merca!

I toddled over to the store across the street and bought all the junk food I think I would need for another stretch…there just wasn’t much else to be had.

I got a ride back and from trail to trail it was a 3 hour town stop…not bad! I’m camped not far from the road, but far enough, having an early day and eating my oreos.

Wyoming, so far so good!

I could see some blue sky overhead when I woke from my dank dark spot in the woods. Yes! After a day of rain and a night in a wet tarp, everything was a bit damp.

Well, putting on wet shoes I made my way through soaking wet meadows…the grasses negating any dryness from the night.

Note to self, when there is a sign telling you to take a road detour because a bridge is out…do that. Don’t think its probably fine and keep walking on the trail.

This section was a pain not just because of the washed out bridge (fording it I got myself wet to the waist), but the MANY MANY blowdowns that hadn’t been cleared in all the time that the bridge has been out. I did make it through, but walking that road would have been so much easier.

Then I got a spot of sunlight! I threw my pack down and started hanging a tree with my wet stuff to try and dry out a bit.

Then some walking. The day was lovely, the landscape looked more and more like Wyoming! Well, not really, I didn’t know what Wyoming looked like since I’ve never been.

At lunch I met Michael, a biker who was hitting a few passes on the CDT where the trail is on an old roadbed. He apparently bikes all over the world, and like to bike up to mountain passes. Cool!

The afternoon brought more rain and lightening, I tried to stay out of it as much as I could. And then….

The Border!

I’m in Wyoming baby!

Thanks for the booze Paige!

The hiking after that actually did change, I started seeing CDT signage, lots of it! Yes! Northern Colorado was pretty austere with marking the trail, but Wyoming…I’m impressed.

I made camp in a sunny spot and dried some more stuff out. It was a very nice day and I will sleep for the first time in this lovely state.

It rained. It rained most of the night and I woke to rain, because of which I slept in about an hour. When I finally got going the day was misty with swirling clouds of rain and darkness. I walked enjoying the sight.

There goes that new shoe feel.

Later in the morning the trail ridgewalks a bit, but by then the rain was a driving soaking torrent that turned to big, fat, wet snowflakes for a while. SNOWFLAKES!

I set up my shelter for lunch so I could relax, and of course the sun decides to come out. The glow was brief though, and my lovely afternoon walk down three island trail was dry for the most part although still with overcast. I’ll have to come back here some day, I like this terrain alot. The creek I walked down reminded me of creeks Kirk and I would explore at home.

The rain came back and I was desperate to get out of it and picked a terrible place for a camp, but I’m already here and in my sleeping bag so I’ll make the best of it. I hope there is less rain tomorrow. (Oh, and I get to Wyoming too!!!!!)

Spent another night in a real bed…ahhh. The morning passed with packing and making my future mail drop. I also wanted to give my sleeping bag another go in the dryer, and since my hotel’s laundry room was out of order, I contimplated going back to the laundry mat from yesterday; logistically it would just be a pain, but then I had the great idea to go across the street to another hotel. I took my bag over to Holiday Inn and soon was drying it…ah, much better.

When it was check-out time I headed out to the post office, mailed some things and picked up one more package from NEMO. Goodies! Fun little mini goodies! Thank you Nemo, you know just what I would like.

I then headed over to the Point6 office were Derek gave me a ride back to the trail, which was fantastic because I thought a hitch might take a while.

Even though rain and storms had been likely for the afternoon, it ended up being an overcast, but misty and mostly dry walk. It was really beautiful with the wildflowers thickening by the day, the many lakes (although that meant mosquitos!), and heavy clouds.

The CDT has more flowers per square inch.

I wandered in and out of meadows and kept watch for any moose. A peaceful afternoon and I got to FINALLY listen to some music! Kirk sent out his old Ipod since I broke mine and it is DEVINE! I totally forgot it had amazing music on it. This will make a big difference…I love me my music.

I made camp after a good afternoon of walking, and just in time too, for the heavy clouds are getting a little lighter…

I didn’t do many of my errands yesterday when I got to town, that was reserved for today, my first zero day in weeks. I’ve had a bunch of nero days lately (only walking a few miles) but there is something restorative, and sometimes physically and mentally imperative, in committing a whole day to not walking.

I woke up in my wonderful hotel bed, put on a pot of coffee and got to work figuring out what I needed for resupply and resupplies up ahead. Wyoming will be much more remote than Colorado, towns will have less amenities, and I knew I would have to make at least one box of food to send ahead to myself…maybe more.

Again as with many sections on this trail there are lots of options and route choices to make. I like to make them on the ground, but in the case of some upcoming resupplies, I needed to decide now how many days of food and where I would be sending it to. I polled the CDT Facebook page for some advice…and figured out my plan.

Next I rode the free bus up to the post office and picked up a few boxes from home, new shoes, maps, a bit of food, and most exciting, some cuben fiber over-mits that Kirk made for me. That man can make anything! My mittens have gotten soaked and I wanted a solution to keep them dry, we had some extra cuben left over from the other items we made before I left home, and now I have a great way to keep my hands dry in the pouring rain (and I might needed them sooner than I wanted, rain rain rain in the forecast).

Amazing!

New Oboz Luna shoes!

Then I stopped by the Point6 office, my sock sponsor for the trip. They are based in Steamboat Springs, so I have been looking forward to connecting with them mid-hike. I met the crew in the office (many were out), and Stacia (their marketing guru) and I went out to lunch around the corner.

Some of the Point6 team, Clinton (sales), Betsy (international sales), Dina (accounting), me & and Stacia (marketing)

I have to say, these socks have been impressive on the trail. I haven’t worn through a pair yet, they are durable and comfortable, and I really love working with a small company. They are hands on, nimble, and make a great product. And someone from the office will give me a ride back to the trail tomorrow! Most excellent.

My BIG task for the day was washing my Western Mountaineering down sleeping bag. Full disclosure here: I’ve never washed a down sleeping bag on the trail before…in fact, I’ve never washed one at all! I’ve been too scared of ruining my expensive bags, so I let them get rank and smelly…Kirk in particular can’t stand the stench, so I decided I would be nice and wash it before he comes out to visit (soon I hope!). I knew the process would take hours, but man, it took HOURS.

Drying the bag on low heat, I would have to take the bag out every 20-30 minutes and break up the down clumps so they would dry better…the process that started at about 2pm finally ended after 8pm, and I still think it needs to be dried a bit more. I’ll leave it out over night, and I might have to find another dryer in the morning before I hit the trail to finish it off. What a tedious task, that may be the first and last time I wash a bag on the trail. Granted I didn’t have much else to do other than sit on the bed in the hotel and watch bad movies, but that’s exactly what I was pineing to do.

By the time I got back to my room it was late. I ate a bagged salad and slowly drifted off to sleep. I guess I have to hike tomorrow.