15-07-05.   Day 85.    The Rain – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

The symphony of songs the birds were chirping was amazing…..I love waking up to the sound of birds….Not the sound of raindrops on the tent. Just a short sprinkle and we were up and out.

We walked over the bridge at the end of Green River Lakes at 6:20 am.  The sky was overcast so perfect light to take pictures of flowers as we hiked from 8,000 ft to 10,130 ft at Gunsight Pass.

It was 11:00 am, time for lunch and time for rain. It rained hard off and on for three hours. Our feet were soaking wet for the third day in a row. Between the rain, wet grass and multiple stream crossings my feet look like shriveled up white prunes.

We were making great time as we approached Lake of the Woods. Moonwalker yelled ” Look at the Moose”. Right in front of me was a momma Moose and her calf. Then a few minutes later as we were hiking past the lake, a Bald Eagle flew out of a tree. The rain stopped, and the sun came out in time for dinner as we crossed Salt Creek

A Mile Past Salt Creek.  20 Miles

Saw a Moose, Bald Eagle, Lots of Birds, Mosquitoes. ..

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15-07-04.   Day 84.    The Green River – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

Woke up to a beautiful view. The snow-melt falls that were near our tent provided white noise for a great nights sleep. As we hiked the sun was coming up. The shadows in the high lakes were spectacular.

We were at 11,000 ft and climbed to Shannon Pass the Cube Rock  Pass. That is where the fun began. First we were rock scrambling along a  steep side of an unnamed peak.

We soon came to a 60° Snow slide. I kicked in footsteps reminiscing of Colorado.  I was relieved when I reached the other side but had to watch Moonwalker cross knowing there was nothing I could do if she slipped. She did great and around the next corner…Yep another just as steep but smaller. We decided to climb down the rocks and back up the other side of the slide to avoid any surprises.

We dropped down and then a short hike up to Vista Pass. From there we dropped all day following the headwaters of the Green River.  The river was actually green and roaring filled with snow melt. We forded several feeder streams and thankfully there was a bridge when we crossed the River.

.We had dinner with the mosquitoes at the first of two lakes that made up the Green Lakes. There was a Campground on the map at the base of the second lake where we wanted to get showers but no luck. Only a pit toilet. We camped near the campground in the woods.

End of Green River Lakes. 18.5 Miles

Saw Deer, Trout, Biting Deer Flies, Mosquitoes

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15-07-03  Day 83 CDT Wind River Range Photos – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking the Continental Divide Trail

Mark Trail CDT

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15-07-02.      Day 82.    Fording Lakes – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

We were hiking at 5:45 am. There was some animal moaning all night. It sounded like it was caught in a trap.. Every fifteen minutes….eeeekkkkk—–!

Moonwalker came hiking back towards me. “What’s up?” As I looked to the left, hundreds of Elk were grazing. Hundreds. Then the moaning. It was the Elk, crying from being bitten by the mosquitoes all night long

By 6:30 am we were fording creeks, Sheep’s Creek, Raid Creek, South Ford Boulder, and lots more. Lakes: Cross, Raid, Dream, Bobs, Sandpoint, Howard, North Fork, August, Rambaud. Lots of lakes.. And lots of mosquitoes. .. Amazingly we had lunch without mosquitoes, but only at lunch. It was a miracle.

We hiked till 5:00 pm, made spaghetti and set up the tent to eat in. At 6:15 we looked at the map and not a lot of options for camping ahead so we stopped.

A mile Past Fall Creek.  18 miles

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15-07-01.    Day 81.    Texas Pass – Mark Trail CDT

Hiking The Continental Divide Trail
Mark Trail CDT 2015

We watched the sun shine on the tops of the peaks and slowly illuminate the Cirque range. We started our climb up Texas Pass by hiking around Lonesome Lake. There really wasn’t a trail per say. There was a way with cairns spaced far apart. The pass was still snowed in so we hiked east along the rocks.

We climbed from 10,480 ft to 11,300 ft to Texas Pass. I was relieved to see the west side of the pass was snow free but steep. Real steep. The hiking was slow all the way sliding on the loose gravel as we dropped 700 ft. to 10,580 ft.

When we got to the Shadow Lake Trail the hiking was much easier. We followed the Washakie Creek till we got back on the CDT.

The mosquitoes were horrific. Never giving us a break. Just before Sheep Creek we set up the tent to give us a break and called it a day.

Sheep Creek.        11 miles

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