CDT – Day 46 – Hog Park Reservoir to M1513.1

6/9/15 Day 46

Hog Park Reservoir to M1513.1, 9463′

Tent – Nights Spent Alone: 7

21, 864 Trip Miles

Blue bird to Mostly cloudy

Day’s of Snow: 7 – Day’s of Rain: 13

# of Zero days: 5

7:10 am to 7:25 pm

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Tick Count: 4 (3 more crawling on me)

Critter Count

6 Chipmunks

2 Squirrels

1 Deer

1 Porcupine

Totals

524 Pronghorn*

119 Lizards

116 Wild Horses

56 Elk

56 Deer**

46 Chipmunks

37 Cotton Tail Rabbits

24 Squirrels

22 Horny Roads

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

1 Porcupine

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

I’m so tired right now. I need a day off.

Today in a nut shell.

Started with 4 mile dirt road walk.

Made it about 11 miles before we hit snow.

Crossed into Colorado for the second time at 11:55 am

Hiked at 10k for three miles on all snow.

Dropped into a valley just west of the Zirkel Wilderness. The views were amazing. Lots of snow up high.

Dead Calm morning at Hog Park Reservoir

Wyoming – Colorado State Line

Treaded through some open meadows that were muddy and wet. At the second on we got to a creek that should have been three feet wide and it was 20′ at spots. It was also chest deep.

We finally found a spot to cross and set camp up shortly after. Between the two meadows we came across a porcupine! He was a BIG sucker too. First one I’ve seen in all my hiking.

Scatman about to drop into the Elk River Basin

Snow travel at it’s finest

Now off to bed.

This was a tough tough day.  Compared to the walking through the Great Basin this was levels tougher.  The snow didn’t help either.  Looking back I was probably dehydrated too.  The hiking (views) once off the road was great. When we finally got to the Elk River Basin it was downhill and the views really lifted my spirits.  It was also where we got off the snow.

The raging creek that was now a river was no fun.  I mentioned it quickly above but the whole ordeal was over 45 miles long and stressful.  By the time I got to camp I was done.  Cooking took more energy than I had.  It was that bad.

Back to Day 45, Forward to Day 47

Scatman

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Get out there!