CDT – Day 41 – Rawlins to M1416.9, 7394′

6/4/15, Day 41

Rawlins 1395.6 to M1416.9 , 7394′

Tent – Nights Spent Alone: 7

21.3, 760.3 Trip Miles

Mostly Sunny – Breezy

Day’s of Snow: 7 – Day’s of Rain: 12

# of Zero days: 5

10 am to pm

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Tick Count: 4 (3 more crawling on me)

Critter Count

24 Pronghorn

3 Wild Horses

3 Deer

3 Prairie Dogs

3 Cotton Tails

2 Jack Rabbits

1 Chipmunk

Totals

432 Pronghorn*

119 Lizards

116 Wild Horses

56 Elk

36 Deer**

35 Cotton Tail Rabbits

34 Chipmunks

22 Horny Roads

20 Squirrels

16 Prairie Dogs

13 Jack Rabbit***

12 Ground Squirrels

6 Snakes

4 Moles

3 Coyotes

2 Rattle Snakes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

1 Marmot****

*174 from car, **3 from car, ***1 from car, ****1 from car

I have to admit, on this trail I’m much more inclined to sit around than just hammer out the miles. I think a lot of it is that the CDT is very much not a trail in the sense like the AT or PCT. I can’t tell you the last time I actually hiked on single track. Then there’s the exposure. Everyday it’s brutally sunny, hot and windy.

Very cool ridge we came too. You can really see Mother Nature at work on this trail.

I long for the deep dark forests of Colorado. Loamy or pine needle cover tread. I want my eyes not to hurt from the brightness or feet from sun baked soil that is like concrete.

This trail is a daily test of the mind and body. Without much up and down so far just flat rolling terrain my body isn’t as strong as it was on the PCT at this point. A 30 mile day is a very long day still. I can’t imagine doing much more than that right now.

Closest ponies of the trail.

This section of trail south of Rawlins is no better  than that north. We just hiked up valleys all day with small ridges on either side. We passed many alkaline lakes and will tomorrow. I’m freaking out that the water we did get is no good. I don’t even know what the side effects are. I’m so worried I think I taste salt after I drink.

I would hike this same road for over a day and a half. BORING

We saw some more wild horses and got pretty close. Rafiki spotted a baby deer. It was maybe a day old. It could barely stand. I walked right by it. We’re talking feet. Never saw a thing.

No ticks today. Forgot to mention I had another two on me last night.

The hike out of Rawlins was super hot.  I was longing for some trees but alas it was more sage.  I mentioned being freaked out by the water.  I was really worried to be honest.  Water is life out here.  Kind of like my favorite Sci-fi book, Dune.  The region I was passing through contained plenty of water but it was all alkaline and most of it not safe to drink.

Walking this area was long and not very exciting but I can see going through here on a dual sport motorcycle some day.  Perfect dirt roads for cursing on.

Back to Day 40, Forward Day 42

Scatman

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Get out there!