15-09-07 Day 148 Colorado! – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

The rain came and went all night. At one point I dreampt it was snowing…..By 6:00 am it had stopped and I packed and started hiking at 6:40 am. Due to the rain the grass was wet and my boots were soaked. Wyoming’s last hurrah.

 It was sixteen miles to the border and not easy miles. Up. Down. UP.  …..There was a welcome sign for Wyoming but Colorado???

I celebrated with a beer and hiked on. I saw 4 hunters and two camps. A lot different than yesterday. I hiked to water and camped at 7:10 pm.

Middle Fork Of The Little Snake River
25 miles

#cdt #continentaldividetrail #cdt2015 #marktrail #marktrailcdt #marktrailhikes #marktrailrocks #thruhike #thruhiking #backpacking #triplecrown #wyoming #colorado

15-09-06  Day 147. TRAIL MAGIC! – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

Lots of thunder and lightning off and on through the night. Better at night than during the day.     I looked at the map and maybe I can make it to Steamboat Springs on the food I have. I will pass the road to Encampment this afternoon and the post office is closed.

Started at 6:40 am with a wet tent but at least I’m not carrying four litters of water. I stopped at 8:30 am for my rest after two hours of hiking. Dan walked up in full camo with his bow. Bow season is here…. Hummm. “what do you think, Dan?” I asked. “You don’t have to worry about being shot” . Great I thought….  I walked up on a parked ATV. Aja and Chris were eating breakfast. I thought if I was going to make it to Steamboat with the food I had I would need some help. “Do you have any extra food” I asked. Aja gave me a bunch of crackers and a pop tart. That’s a start.

At noon Danny, Bill and family offered me a beer….At 4:00 pm Mike and his son gave me a bunch of snacks. 4:30 pm Suzie, Travis, and Ryan and another beer. Finally at 5:30 pm Anthony and Nina, an apple, tomato, and a stout beer….. I think I will make it Steamboat….Standard Park,   22 miles

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15-09-05 Day 146 Strong Wind, Rain, and Hail – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail.
Mark Trail CDT 2015

I cowboy camped behind a gate on a dirt road. There wasn’t much traffic and I slept well. It was great to get back on the trail even though it was next to a road. Coffee with hot chocolate was enjoyed as I packed up.

At 6:20 am  I was hiking. Since it was Saturday, there was a lot of traffic. Most cars just drove by when Hollis stopped and turned off his truck. He wanted to know what I was doing and I quizzed him on his rehab on a gasoline plant… Very Interesting…..

I limited my breaks trying to make some miles. Since I am alone there is no one to make conflicting plans and I get to hike on!!

It was thirty four miles of no water or water you would not want to drink. I pushed my freshly rested legs to limit my breaks and to hike… It was a road walk so not a lot of obstacles. It rained, hailed and the wind blew. THE CDT!!!!  Towards the end of the day I was back on trail and back in the woods…
Yes!Medicine Bow National Forest

34 Miles

#cdt #continentaldividetrail #cdt2015 #marktrail #marktrailcdt #marktrailhikes #marktrailrocks #thruhike #thruhiking #backpacking #triplecrown #wyoming #colorado

15-09-04.  Day 145  Back to Rawlins, Wyoming – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

Bront was up early and missed the big breakfast, so Shelly and I ate it all. I packed a snack, frozen water and Gatorade to keep it all cold for the bus ride to Rawlins, WY.     Shelly drove me to downtown Boulder for the 9:45 bus to Denver. It was a quick turnaround,  finishing in East Glacier Park on Tuesday the First. Taking Amtrak from East Glacier to Seattle. Wednesday the second, Flying from Seattle to Denver. On Thursday the third, Eating. Resuppling. Send a box to Encampment, Wy. Exchange my broken Panasonic camera. Opening and sending mail. Eating. Printing maps. Replace water filter. Replace thermarest back pad. The most important, making dinner, Pork Tenderloin, Sweet Potatoes, Sweet Corn, and Rice……

The Greyhound bus ride was great. Time to read email and post on Facebook….

I started hiking at 6:00 pm and stopped at 8:30 pm … Back on the trail…

South of Rawlins, Wy.    7 miles

#cdt #continentaldividetrail #cdt2015 #marktrail #marktrailcdt #marktrailhikes #marktrailrocks #thruhike #thruhiking #backpacking #triplecrown #wyoming #colorado

15-09-03  Day 144  Boulder – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

Lots of chores to be done as usual.

Eat

Food sent to Encampment

Replaced Camera

Eat again

Purchased Back pad and Velcro to keep in place.

Make Pork Tenderloin Dinner….

Boulder.      0 Miles

#cdt #continentaldividetrail #cdt2015 #marktrail #marktrailcdt #marktrailhikes #marktrailrocks #thruhike #thruhiking #backpacking #triplecrown #wyoming #colorado