The Great Basin Completed

• Day:  53
• Start:  1586
• End:  1632 - 15
• Miles:  31
• Hours:  14
• High temp:  83
• Low temp:  48
• People met:  0

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Morning on the prairie 

Sleep came after the coyotes sang. I awoke to traffic whizzing by. I'm on a well build oiled dirt road walking to Rawlins. Construction crews are going to work on this very road. I see support vehicles all day. The scenery is just the same except the road goes up and down and turns this way and that. Whenever a vehicle goes by a huge dust trail is behind them. I switch sides of the road depending on the wind. Happily the wind seems to be behind and to the east so most of the dust is directed away from me if I walk on the west side. There are beautiful purple flowers along the entire road. I suspect they have been planted as they are only on the right-of-way. 

The road is an infinity road at times. I estimate the distance and calculate the time to reach the vanishing point.  I'm sorry but not much else of interest. I listened to music to make the time pass on this road, something I seldom do. 

Vanishing Point

The oiled road gives way to a paved road and so it goes until Rawlins. The good news is the Great Basin is complete and was done is all its spring time glory.  Now I'm off to meet Carolyn in Missoula, MT for a week. Sorry no updates for a couple of weeks while I'm waiting out the snow. I'm not sure exactly where I'm going to start when I get back on the trail, but it should be somewhere in Montana. 

Out of the Snow

• Day:  52
• Start:  1559
• End:  1586
• Miles:  27
• Hours:  14
• High temp:  84
• Low temp:  35
• People met:  2

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Kept me warm and dry

Thunder storms came through last night. I hardly felt a thing thanks to the protection of these trees. It did not freeze everywhere last night. Some snow was crusty and supported me other areas the snow was still moist allowing me to sink in. 

Two more miles 

I follow my GPS this morning as I did last night. The trail is a dirt road but when covered with snow it is not always easy to follow like the picture above is. After 2 miles I finally am on a trail that has just a tiny amount of drifts. The trail is wonderful, it cuts through the forest at a nice grade. My spirits lift and my pace quickens as I enjoy the splendor. 

Some places in the forest the undergrowth is a short spring green shrub. The fingers of sunlight create a beautiful mixture of colors on the forest floor. 

Other parts of the forest have a yellow daisy as the forest carpet, creating a welcoming feel. 

I stop at a mountain stream to gather water. This will be the first stream I've seen in a long while. The water is cold right off the snow pack, so delicious and refreshing. 

The forest changes into rolling hills with islands of forest here and there. The hills are still green with a multitude of flowers. Locals say this green pairie is unusual, everything is brown by now during a normal year. While the mountains have too much snow the pairie has beautiful green grass and spring flowers. Really the perfect time to visit this section of the CDT. 

The afternoon breeze is not as refreshing as the morning one. The temperature is climbing into the low 80s making my afternoon walk a little more challenging. I'm carrying 4.5 litters of water to get me through to the good water spots. The 9 lbs of water make a big difference in the feel of my pack. Glad it's only in the 80s. 

Battle Pass

• Day:  51
• Start:  1552
• End:  1559
• Miles:  7
• Hours:  4.5
• High temp:  69
• Low temp:  38
• People met:  4

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Poppys in Encampment

Today I've got to get to the trailhead. Three rides with some very nice people get me to the little town of Encampment. I gather my resupply box at the local PO and sort out everything for the section. 

The trailhead is Battle Pass about 7 miles up the road. I start walking through town and notice a bar and grill that looks like a good place to have lunch.  The waitress is speaking to an older couple about something as I walk up she says there's one now pointing to me. Immediately a conversation is started about hiking the Continental Divide. When the couple are about to leave they state they are going up to the Pass on there way.  Boldly I request if I might joint them to the Pass. Delightedly I am accepted, plus they insist I eat something before leaving, thus we visit while I devour my burger and drink as much water as I can hold. Joe and Jan a wonderful couple down from Montana for a recreational outting are my hosts to the Pass. 

Route 70 at the Divide

Joe and Jan let me off at the parking lot on the Pass. I road walk the section until the trail turns off the highway. 

So here we go

In order to complete the last section of the Great Basin I've got to do the 15 mile stretch of higher elevation. Normally I'd say the higher elevation  is the best part of the trail. Well I got to go through about 8 miles of continuous snow. That means finding the trail and slogging through all that stuff. 

First snow

Climbed this

The first part of the section is uphill, yes in snow, to Bridger Peak, 10,954'. The snow is fairly consolidated so I'm not sinking into it. I shuffle my feet kicking in each step to avoid slipping. The work is slow and laborious, I'm sweating even in this cool environment. 

Almost to the peak, (out of picture on left)

I'm on top

A partial view from the top

In the summer this peak is fairly easy to make. But today it is an acheivment because of all the snow and hard work to get here. 

Now seems like I should just head down the slope to snow free trails, not so, got about 4 more miles of snow to walk before the trail descends below the snow line. 

The trail purposely stays high

Nice Basin view. 

My feet are soaked and getting cold, the daylight is starting to wain because of the afternoon cloud cover. I realize I won't make the snow free level so I find a small patch of dryish soil under some trees to setup camp. Only 7 miles today, but they were mostly climbing in snow, so I'm happy. Tomorrow I'll be out of this snow in about 2 miles or less, then into the Basin.  

South Pass City

• Day:  50
• Start:  1739
• End:  1754
• Miles:  15
• Hours:  7
• High temp:  67
• Low temp:  42
• People met:  4

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The Sweetwater River below

Last night for three hours the rain fell and the wind blew with intent to do harm. My tent stayed staked and dry inside, it handled the onslaught well. Glad I picked such a nice draining location, that helped keep the water from pooling. 

A beautiful morning with open sky's in from of me. The Winds are so close I can see some features. To think about 70 miles ago I first glimpsed the Winds and now I'm walking around to the south end of the range. 

The Winds

This morning is pretty much a dirt road walk, about 5 cars pass me good going south. Roadrunner, K2 and here parents stop to say hi as they drive out for their day of hiking. Everyday roadrunner's parents pick her and K2 up, this way they hike with very light packs and don't have to worry about water as much. Plus they get town food and to sleep in a real bed every night. Sounds very tempting. 

My last stretch into South Pass City is along a ridge then following Rock Creek. 

Ridge view

Trees are starting to appear

 

Rock Creek runs right through South Pass City.  The town is really an old gold mining town with a historic section as big as the actual town. Needless to say but South Pass City is really smaller than a town. 

View of the historical section

Sample of the historic buildings

Thought this might interest the women of the family. 

 

Two more miles to highway 28 and I'm done with this section. I approach 28 and am treated with a splendid view of the south end of The Winds. 

South end of The Winds

Section done, now to get to Encampment to complete the south of Rawlins section. There will probably be snow in the section. 

Into the Valley of Darkness

• Day:  49
• Start:  1712
• End:  1739
• Miles:  27
• Hours:  12
• High temp:  69
• Low temp:  44
• People met:  2

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I shall fear no evil, perhaps a concern about rain, though. 

A shiver runs down my spine as I put on my wet clothing. Some drying occurred during the night moving my clothes from soaked to damp. My tent is another story, I'll have to dry it around noon if it warms up. 

Within .5 hour on the trail my clothes are dry, yea for this technical clothing. I am pleased that the trail is a coarse sand that does not cake on my boots. The air is fresh with the intoxicating scents of wet earth, rain, and the delightful mixture of vegetation. My step quickens as I am content and dry.  The trail is heading into the darkness of rain, I'm hoping I'll find a place to dry the rest of my gear. 

Flowers this morning cheer me on my way 

The sky and hills are breathtaking today, I marvel at the dynamic beauty. 

By 1100 hrs I find a good spring. There are rocks here and the sun is trying to poke through. I stretch out all my gear to dry then busy myself with gathering water. I have 30 miles till South Pass City so I load up with 4.5 liters. 

Drying my gear by the spring 

Shortly after lunch I come upon a concrete marker indicating this section is part of the Oregon Trail and the California Trail on the Seminoe Cuttoff. I frequently think about the settlers working their way west as I hike. This section is great as I can actually see what the settlers saw as they came west. 

The Oregon Trail

On the same trail, the California Trail and the Seminoe Cuttoff

I notice they had good grazing for their livestock, they must have worried about water some and they must have felt so very small and far from the rest of the world. I'm impressed with the courage and strength it took to make this crossing.  I wonder how they cooked as there is nothing out here to burn, unless they used up what was here, but I would think I might see stumps then. 

Rain, just a little, just enough to cause me to suit up for most of the rest of the day. To the south the sky is filled with dark blue gray clouds that touch the ground. I see occasional lighting, some hitting the ground. The roll of the thunder is deep, distant and massive. Luckily the wind is driving this enormous cell south away from me. I'm now walking towards the Winds and the clouds are not as threatening. 

The thunderhead is to the left

 In back the Winds and in front the Sweetwater River

The Winds

Well I've hiked a good day, got dry gear and now I want to setup camp. I select a good draining location low enough to not draw lightening and high enough to stay out of the damp.  So nice to relax in my dry tent.