Category: 4. CDT Wyoming

GRIZZLIES, GEYSERS AND A VERY NICE HIKE:  On August 16 I reached Brooks Lake, a large lake in the Teton Wilderness, I read signs posted by the Forest Service warning of grizzlies and how to deal with encounters. I was extra cautious while hiking. This included daily practice quick-drawing the bear spray, talking frequently to a possible unsuspecting bear, not cooking in camp and hanging food 300 feet away from my tent at night. Being confident with the potential for bear encounter allowed me to enjoy the mountains, river valleys and mostly mellow trail.

Continue reading “CDT August 16-22: Togwotee Pass to Yellowstone NP”

WALKING WITH GRIZZLIES IN THE WIND RIVERS.  The Wind River Range is a lovely place to hike, and I was fortunate to enjoy the megestic scenery without any uncomfortable encounters with a griz. As I hiked I paid close attention to my ailing knee while managing to hike 20+ mile days three days in a row. It was not the pace I originally planned for, but not everything on a 2700-mile hike can go perfectly. Now, it’s about taking each day at a time and enjoying the Rocky Mountains, the Wind Rivera and Yellowstone.

Continue reading “CDT August 12-15: Pinedale to Togwotee Pass, WY”

Okay, what is 160 miles long, is virtually treeless, has very little water, and features high winds up 40 mph all day?  You probably first think of death valley.  WRONG! It is the CDT inside the Great Divide Basin of southern Wyoming, plus the 40 miles south of Rawlins.  I just hiked that section, and I am sure happy that I carried plenty of sunscreen and water purification solution.

Continue reading “CDT July 30- Aug 4: Rawlins to South Pass City, WY”

Hello Wyoming!  A Tail of Trail Magic.

I really wanted reach the next trail town, Rawlins, Wyoming, with as much road walking as possible.  But my maps of the official CDT route did not seem to have as many miles on roads as I expected after reading various accounts on Facebook from hikers in front of me, including Allgood, the founding member of the Portland Mafia group I embarked with on April 18.  A couple of hours after crossing into Wyoming I encountered Mammoth, the second southbound thru-hiker I met within a one hour period.  Wow, southbounders already!  Mammoth and Phantom started at the Canadian border on June 1 and they reached the half-way point of the CDT already.  But it was Mammoth’s description of the alternate route on a long stretch of road that easily, although in a dry and boring way, led to Rawlins.  I wanted to take that route.

Continue reading “CDT July 24-29: CO/WY border to Rawlins, Wyoming”