CDT – Day 45 – Encampment, WY to Hog Park Reservoir

6/8/15 Day 45

Encampment, WY to Hog Park Reservoir, 8482′

Tent – Nights Spent Alone: 7

19, 843 Trip Miles

Mostly Sunny

Day’s of Snow: 7 – Day’s of Rain: 13

# of Zero days: 5

Noonto 6:14 pm

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Tick Count: 4 (3 more crawling on me)

Critter Count

1 Pronghorn

1 Chipmunks

1 Deer

1 Squirrel

1 Snake

Totals

524 Pronghorn*

119 Lizards

116 Wild Horses

56 Elk

55 Deer**

40 Chipmunks

37 Cotton Tail Rabbits

22 Horny Roads

22 Squirrels

19 Prairie Dogs

17 Jack Rabbit***

12 Ground Squirrels

8 Snakes

4 Moles

3 Coyotes

2 Rattle Snakes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

1 Marmot****

1 Weasel

*181 from car, **3 from car, ***1 from car, ****1 from car

Today was a day of crazy town logistics the first half of the day followed by an afternoon of dirt road walking. Rafiki and I had to ensure we got our snow gear for the up coming snow among other stuff. By 10:30 am I was itching to get back to the “trail”.

A new friend I made on the way out of town.

We started the day at the Bear Claw restaurant. I had two pancakes, toast, sausage and one egg scrambled. I could have eaten more. I probably should have considering how much weight I already lost. Pants wouldn’t stay up without a belt for sure.

I almost spent the money to see the quality of these.

We got a quick hitch to the FSR 550 (Forest Service Road), along the way we picked up Seth and Ginny two other CDT hikers. The pickup bed was full with four hikers and packs plus three mountain bikes.

View from out hitch out of town

Throughout the day our two groups leap frogged each other. The walk was uneventful but Hog Park is beautiful. It was a long hot walk but worth it. Both our groups and Bird Dog, another CDT hiker are all camped at the lake. The frogs are off the hook! I’ll be putting in my ear plugs soon.

First views of Hog Park Reservoir

While cooking dinner we spotted a White-crowned Sparrow. As I hadn’t seen one before Rafiki used his phone to play its song. Boy did we piss off this guy. He did not like another “bird” in his territory. He perched himself above us and angrily chirped away for over 10 minutes. It did give me a great look at him but he wasn’t happy. I’m up to 93 birds now.

The other hikers in the group I mention were Genny and Seth.  We would hike a bit together over the course of the trip. 

After hitting snow again on the way into town I must say I was one, questioning why I had done the flip in the first place and two, what the snow conditions were ahead.  I spent a good portion of the road walking prepping my mind to idea I couldn’t control things and to just go with it.  As long as I was walking every state, mile, foot and inch from Mexico to Canada I was going to be happy.

Back to Day 44, Forward to Day 46

Scatman

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