2 August- I can’t believe I actually slept decent in a motel room. Still a little stuffy, but with a fan on me, an overall pretty good experience comparatively. Up at 0530 and make trail coffee. Blog for my site and then grab a Lemonade smoothie and a breakfast sandwich from the coffee bar. Caught a ride back to the trailhead by 0900. Started out on a dirt road and then it changed into single track. Overcast, rainy day. Made it 17 miles to a flat spot just after rock spring, mile 858.6. Set up camp in the rain behind some pines in a saddle to help block the wind. Woke up feeling sticky and damp around 2300. Back to sleep after ventilating and slept well till 0430.
3 August- up at 0445 and rolling by 0600. Easy start with a climb up to the divide and a 17 mile dry section after lunch. Stopped at a picnic table to eat and dry my quilt. Grabbed 3 liters of water and moved uphill. Passed a herd of sheep and was warned off by 3 large, white sheep dogs. There’s an ongoing grazing experiment going on in the area. Made it 29.75 miles to mile 887.7. Only 48 miles to West Yellowstone. Dug out a flat-ish pad to camp on - on the Side of a hill.
4 August- Rolling by 0600. Another 10 miles by 10am. More hills covered in dying, dry flowers and a TON of grasshoppers of varying species. Second day in a row of this. Light dinner at the spring due to oncoming rain and the push to, up and over Targhee Pass. Was able to talk to galaxy for over an hour on the 6+ mile climb to the top. Saw a mom and baby moose before they saw me on the turn of a switchback. It was dark and I didn’t yet have my headlamp on. Cut straight uphill to avoid startling them/getting myself possibly trampled. There was someone camped on the flat of the top, so I pushed down another mile past the spring and dug another pad out of the side of a hill after making it to camp at 2240. Hiked 35.6 hard earned miles and only have 12.4 to go to get to the trailhead and West Yellowstone.
5 August- Tried to sleep in with only 12 miles to town, but still ended up moving by 0645 after coffee and oats that I mysteriously misplaced after utilizing the tree line. Made more oats and began my trek to town. Overcast, rainy and cold. I can tell how tired I am after two 30 mile days and feel exhausted going up a 500 foot, well switchbacked hill. Mostly downhill after and made it to the trailhead by 1045. Walk 2 miles to dispensary and get a free slice of pizza from the owner. Hitched to town with an older couple with a shy dog. I made friends by sharing my pizza crust. Got dropped off in town at the Slippery Otter pub and enjoyed a jalapeño burger. Got my Yellowstone permit situated and am currently in the park writing and watching a classic car show. Enjoying a mocha from the local coffee hut.
Days on the trail: 40
Miles completed: 938
Location: West Yellowstone, MT
Zero days: 2