In Steamboat Springs... Hiking Never Summer Range Next!

I am in Colorado!  Yes, I am back in my native state, and I am loving the hiking along the Continental Divide.  The weather has been great, the scenery is outstanding, and I have seen a ton of wildlife.  Up to this point, I have liked this trail more than the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails combined!

I had a wonderful hiking experience in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, and the group I am hiking with decided to take an unpublished, double secret hiking route around Mount Zirkel.  You can read about it here.  Needless to say, we deviated from the official route, and followed the true Divide through the wilderness area.  It was awesome.

I will be leaving Steamboat Springs on Sunday morning, and I will be heading toward the Never Summer Range, and Rocky Mountain National Park, which is east of here.  The trail will start to bend south again towards Grand Lake, where my brother will pick me up on Thursday afternoon.

I just uploaded photos to my Flickr site, and my trail journal is completely up to date, so check them out.  More updates to come on Thursday!

Dry, Warm in the Great Basin

I just walked into Rawlins, Wyoming, where I am staying at the 1st Choice Inn.  The last day and a half has had abundant sunshine, and it's been arid and dry.  However, the first three days through the Red Desert were mild, and afternoon thunder showers frequently chased me.  I survived it all.

The group I am hiking with managed 30-miles a day through the desert.  I have read that one is to "hike 30's and get the desert over with,"  but I have to say that I was very impressed with the abundant wildlife in the Great Basin of Wyoming.  Coyotes, wild horses, antelope, horned lizards, and a badger were among the many animals I saw roaming the desert.  I saw a lot of cows roaming the desert too, fouling water sources that are unfortunately not protected by fencing.  The BLM has erected fences around some very important springs, but one day I had to drink some nasty cow-ass water over a twenty mile stretch.  Despite treating the water with Aqua Mira and flavoring it with Crystal Light, I gagged down the water and stayed hydrated - miraculously.

A couple highlights from the stretch: Visiting South Pass City, which is an old mining camp town that Butch Cassidy used to frequent.  I was amazed to know that in this small mining town, there were three saloons for cards and drinking.  I guess there was not much to do in Wyoming back in the late 1800's.  The other highlight was a drive-by visit from a guy named Bob, who shared cold PBRs with the group, and who claimed he had lost a half a million dollars worth of guns, ammo, and fireworks confiscated by the feds who raided his ranch a few years ago.  Apparently, he spent time in Leavenworth until 1971, and he has not been able to catch a break from the law since that time.  Hmmmmm...

I am leaving Rawlins tomorrow, and my next stop will be in Encampment, Wyoming for a quick resupply (I have been told that Encampment is not the place to spend time).  After that, I will continue my hike into Colorado, and I think I will cross the border on the 31st or 1st of September.  I will take my next zero day in Steamboat Springs.  Wow!  I cannot believe that I am almost in Colorado.  Hike on!

I Flourished in the Wind River Range

I am in Lander, Wyoming, resting up from an eight day, 146-mile stretch through the Gros Ventre and Wind River Ranges - it was awesome!  You can read about the day where I thought I was going to die climbing Lava Mountain, or look at my potentially award winning photo in the Winds.  Sometimes there are great risks out here on the trail, but the rewards (i.e. stunning views) are worth it.

I am taking the day off here in Lander, where I will re-supply, catch a movie at the theater, and simply enjoy being in a new town.  On Sunday, I will get back on the trail, and I will begin my hike through the Great Basin in southern Wyoming.  This is the well-known desert area along the Continental Divide Trail, which has long, water-less stretches and blistering temperatures.  I plan to power through it, hiking 30-mile days, so I should be in Rawlins by Thursday.

It is looking like I will enter Colorado by the 31st of this month, which should put me on track to hike through the San Juans in southern Colorado before the snowstorms hit in late September - early October.  At least I will keep my fingers crossed that there will be an Indian summer down there.  Who knows?

All I can say is that I am having a great time out here, and I am thriving on this harsh, but beautiful Continental Divide Trail.

Food Poisoning, Beat Up Body, But Hey, It's Worth It!

Hello Everyone!  I am in Dubois, WY, and I am doing well, in spite of what I titled this blog entry.  Yes, I think I suffered food poisoning somewhere in Yellowstone.  I am not sure where I got it, but I managed to hike 60-miles, despite feeling like poop.  You can read more about it on my trail journal entry here.

I got to Dubois, and the first thing I did was lay down.  My legs are trashed.  I've been hiking for 11-days straight, and I really prefer a sabbath in there after 7-days, so I am hoping that will happen after my next stretch through the Wind River Range.

I am still having the time of my life.  The pace of the hike is comfortable, and I am surrounded by a bunch of great people.  Everyone said that I will get lost on this trail, but I am here to say that I have not been lost.  On this trail, I am finding myself.  I love being outside, and I enjoy being in the wilderness.  It has its moments, but do we not experience moments in the real world too? 

Sometimes I feel like I have died and gone to heaven, and I pray for many moments not to end.  So I will continue to enjoy "paradise," and I will be sure to proclaim how great it is.

Yellowstone Just Around the Corner!

I am totally loving this CDT hike!  Yes, there have been a lot of bugs, grueling climbs, lack of water, and did I mention bugs?  Oh yeah, I did.  Anyway, I am very close to the Wyoming border and Yellowstone National Park, and I am looking forward to the change of states.  Montana-Idaho has been adventurous and remote, but I am looking forward to some easier walking - at least I have heard that the hiking there is easier.  I have just updated my trail journal, and I am now about to load some new videos on my You Tube channel.  I will try and thrrow some pictures on my flickr site, but I may run out of time.  I will make additional updates when I arrive in Dubois, Wyoming, but that will be in about 10-11-days.  I might be able to make some updates in Olf Faithful Village, but I am not counting on it. 

Now in Darby, Montana

I arrived in Darby, Montana yesterday, only to hitch another ride up to Hamilton, MT, where I stayed at the home of Will Moss, who is a reporter for the Ravalli Republic, and he will be doing a story on our hike from Canada to Mexico.  This evening, Will came down to Darby to do an official interview with six of us here at the Travellers Rest, and I think we are all excited to read the article that he's going to publish.  When I get to Lima, MT, I promise to publish a  link to the article.

Mynext stop will be in Leadore, Idaho, where I will just re-supply.  Following my stop in Leadore, I will go to Lima, MT, where I will take my next zero day.  I will be eager to publish more pics and journals from my hike.

Montana has been really beautiful, but buggy.  I have never seen more mosquitoes in my life.  I have also been plagued by deer flies, horse flies, and black flies, but it is the mosquitoes that have been really relentless.  I know that the weather will get warmer over the next few days, and I am hoping that the bugs do not get any friskier than they are already.

I got seven packages here in Darby, and I am thankful for all my friends and family who sent items.  Thanks so much!

I will have pics loaded on my flickr page, and I just uploaded my recent journals, so I encourage you to check them out.

Hiked into Butte, MT

Okay, actually I did not literally hike into Butte, Montanta, but I got off the trail at Pipestone Pass, where Wahoo picked me and George up yesterday.  I am taking a much needed rest day here at the Comfort Inn here in Butte, and I am hoping to see a bit of the National Folk Festival this afternoon.  I have uploaded pictures to my Flickr account, and my Trail Journals site is just about updated. 

I am really enjoying the hike on the CDT, despite challenges from climbs, weather, bugs, and road walking.  I just had a foot massage from Lou (PCT 2003), and I hopped into the hot tub here at the hotel.  I think that I will be rested and recharged for my continued hike on the CDT.  I am so thankful for Lou and Wahoo meeting us here in Butte, and providing us with so much trail magic.  In fact, they will be slack packing us for the next 25 miles to the Interstate 15.  Absolutely unbelievable what they are doing for us.  Thanks trail angels!

Re-Supplying in Helena, MT

I am in the most awesome town of Helena, Montana.  This place is great!  I like the vibe here, and people have been very friendly.  I just got back from hearing a harp concert by Deborah Henson Conant at the Myrna Loy Center.  She was brilliant.  The awesome thing was that we got in for free - definite trail magic!

I am heading back on the trail, and I will get back off again on the 12th, when I meet up with Lou and Wahoo (PCT 2003) at Highway 12 near Butte.  I will have more updates and pictures to upload when I take a day off there in Butte.

I am doing well, and feeling strong.  Nonetheless, the trail here in Montana has challenging climbs and descents.  The trail literally goes straight up and down these mountains.  Navigation has not been a huge deal, as I am with a pretty competent group of hikers.  To this point, I have not really been lost on the CDT.

I hope to have some pictures and video uploaded before I leave the hotel tomorrow.  I am not sure how much I will get done, but I hope to at least get pics done on Trail Journals and Flickr.  Check them out.

Freefall