Up and moving the 18th by 0700. Back to the CDT by 0830 and atop Lester Pass (11,116 ft.).
A new high point for me on trail and also the Wyoming CDT high point. Currently 2005hrs and only made it like 16 miles on the redline. Hard day with the full pack, elevation and steep climbs. The terrain is about to flatten out some, especially if I redline. It looks a lot like the Sierras still… Meh.. ready to see Galaxy and Colorado. Mile 1186.5.
It usually takes me an hour to pack up, drink coffee and get moving. Same for this am and rolling by 0630. The terrain has become flatter. The trail is rocky as well and there are views for days. Got it in my head this morning to hike to Big Sandy Lodge via the redline. Confirmed this when the weather turned to shit. The Cirque Alt is out. I’ll come back with Galaxy and do it as a section. Passed by a multitude of lakes today, all beautiful, some with fish seen swimming about.
Currently 1900 and I just finished the best burger I’ve had on trail at this lodge. Add 2 Wind River blonde ales, a salad and a to go coffee and we have a winner. Definitely not full but I feel satisfied. I’m a foodie for sure. Apparently after 3 years of hard hiking I could just as easily pick the potentiality of good food over a pretty view. Their coffee is superb as well. It’s now 2117 and I’m in camp and eating some of the chocolate bar I bought. Also watching a mummy documentary. 26.4 miles of trail today with an additional 2 back and forth to food.
The weather came in last night, crushing any hope I had of taking a side trail back to the Cirque to do at least part of it. Rolling by 0700, sometimes I just gotta sleep in a little. Blowdowns almost all fuckin day. After about 10 miles of it I opted to jump on a dirt road paralleling the trail for 3 miles. Finally out of the shit show and pushed .2 miles to a few campground with a shitter, trash service and picnic tables. Ate 2nd dinner after spilling half of my potato soup earlier when I kicked it. Bed, more mummy documentary and RAIN.
Woke up the 21st to condensation all in my tent. Rained hard last night and I had both my doors battened down. I thought I’d be ok with my net unzipped but alas, I was damp. Packed up all my wet shit and rolling by 0630. 19.7 miles to the Lander pull off. Uneventful hike until thunder hail happens for about an hour and a half. Stopped for lunch on the last hilltop and had some miracle sunshine. Dried my quilt and tent real quick before the rain started back up. Made it to the trailhead by 1630 and luckily skipped more thunderstorms as a cowboy named Cody scooped me up in his old turbo diesel Ford. He’s on his way to Cody Wyoming to Rodeo for the 3rd night in a row. He also lives in the field with his cows for sometimes months at a time. Interesting life.
Days on the trail: 51
Miles completed: 1253
Location: Lander, WY
Zero days: 2