My luxury item is 1.5 L of cold brew coffee
Outside, the sun broils the Great Basin. It’s a hostile environment to any living thing. Some stretches are as barren as the moon.
We’re hiking only at night when the temperature drops. This afternoon we’ve taken shelter inside a bush. We hoped to sleep off the afternoon heat hit it’s too hot and buggy to sleep. Jet lag is tough.
The nights are a perfect temperature for hiking and decorated with incredible skies.
The coyotes sung next to my tent at night
Before I may have been afraid
Wild yips and howls
Now I understand
Simple joy
Organizing food on the shady sidewalk
Hello from Rawlins, WY!
As you hike northwards from Rocky Mountain National Park, the mountains get smaller, morphing into rounded peaks reminiscent of the Appalachians, then leveling off completely into flat arid cattle country: the Great Basin.
The Great Basin is one of the most challenging sections of the CDT. It is long (120 miles to my next town), hot (90°F today), and dry (40 mi without water sometimes).
My hiking partner, Attrition, and I are switching to a nocturnal schedule to beat the heat. We stayed up late last night and slept in this morning. Tonight we’ll set out into the early evening and hike until it gets hot tomorrow morning. Sleeping through the heat of the day will be challenging but less challenging than hiking through it!
Waiting on the other side of the Basin is Lander: a hip outdoorspeople town, the home of NOLS, and the gateway to the Wind River Range.
Happy trails!!
Made it to Wyoming! #continentaldividetrail
#continentaldividetrail (at Mount Zirkel Wilderness)
Still life on the #continentaldividetrail
Summit sunset buddy on the #continentaldividetrail (at Parkview Mountain)
“Not more than a few hours into walking I came around a corner and bumped into a northbound CDT hiker, Spindrift. I knew immediately I would like this character. He had almost no gear. Definitely running ultrlight. However he had climbing shoes and an ice axe. That let me know he wasn’t just walking but also adventuring as much as possible. A freak rain/hail squall let loose on us briefly and then just as quickly was gone. I told him the tale of the hoodie and he says to me…“the trail provides”. YES!!! I explode in laughter and tell him about the bus motto. A magical encounter all around. I wish we were going the same way. As we part ways I walk for only another half mile before a red tail drops a breast feather for me and flies away. Powerful omen.”
— Chatter’s email update
I spent my “day off” scrambling peaks in the Mummy Range with Meng. Happy Canada day! #continentaldividetrail
Big views, big miles. #continentaldividetrail (at Lake Granby)
With a sky full of thunderstorms and 5 miles above treeline ahead we made camp early tonight. #continentaldividetrail (at Rollins Pass)
I’m staying right here. Please inform the post office and IRS. #continentaldividetrail
Yesterday we hiked 25 miles of off trail high mountain ridges ending on a 14er. The creators of this section of the #continentaldividetrail took their job literally. (at Grays Peak)