3 Highlights:
1. Cowboy gave us beef jerky
2. Huge cat or wolf/dog tracks
3. 10 min Non-sleep deep rest
Daily Summary:
– Distance hiked: 46 km
– Starting point: Near Shoal Lake
– Ending point: 15 km from CDT/Green River Lake
– Weather conditions: Mixed but mostly sunny
Daily Reflections (challenges, insights, musings):
Woke up cold and started the day with a classic bushwhack down to the trail, just to make sure I was thoroughly soaked by 7 AM. From 7 to 11, it was a parade of knee-high vegetation doing its best impression of a garden hose, ensuring I was wet, cold, and questioning every life choice that led me here.
Then, salvation! We stumbled upon an outfitter camp where a young cowboy, looking like he stepped right out of a Marlboro ad, came up to us and offered beef jerky. We sat by their fire for 20 minutes, basking in the warmth and the smell of sizzling meat while a beautiful waterfall played peekaboo in the distance.
Feeling marginally more human, we pushed on for another hour before deciding it was lunchtime. I took the opportunity to dry my sleeping bag and tent—because there’s nothing like trying to sleep in a damp cocoon. Just when I thought I had everything under control, I managed to drop my water bottle while filtering, undoing all the hard work and making me feel like a spilled glass of wine at a fancy dinner: utterly tragic and just a bit embarrassing.
The exhaustion hit hard around 16:00, so we decided on a quick 10-minute non-sleep deep rest session. It didn’t work. We then pushed on for another 11 km before meeting Gribbit, who, in a moment of pure genius (or madness), convinced us to take a shortcut with him. It was fun…sort of. But mostly, I’m just shattered.
As if the day hadn’t been wild enough, we spotted some massive paw prints before meeting Gribbit. They could belong to a wolf, or maybe a puma. Who knows? I’ll have to consult an expert—or at least someone who’s seen more than just cartoon animals.
We’re camping among cows tonight, because why not? The cows seem friendly enough, and at this point, I’ll take whatever company I can get. Fingers crossed we manage to hitch a ride to Pinedale from the trailhead tomorrow. For now, I’m collapsing into my sleeping bag, hoping it’s dry enough to keep me from turning into a human popsicle.
Oh, and I woke up at 3 AM to what can only be described as the thunderstorms from hell. The sky was doing its best impression of a disco strobe light, and the wind was howling like a pack of wolves on a caffeine high. It was terrifying and, I suppose, a fitting way to round out this day of delightful chaos.
Good night.
