August 15th, 2024
Mile Marker: 1288.1
Miles Hiked: 27
This morning Journey and I woke up a bit earlier around 6:30 AM so that we could pack our bags and eat breakfast before heading out.
We decided to go to the Oxbow restaurant again for breakfast since it was close and had good portions. Aster ended up joining us too!
I ordered the cinnamon roll french toast and it did not disappoint. I scarfed down the whole thing without pause. So tasty!
We then wished Aster the best and hopes to see her down trail as her and Whatever will be a couple days behind us. We decided to check another nearby outfitter to see if they had a Sawyer squeeze water filter and just my luck, they had them! After two shops being sold out, I felt lucky.
We headed back to the hotel, finished packing up, then got ready for our ride with Captain’s friend in her converted van. Some days I can see myself doing this long term and other days I think I would enjoy it for a few months with no work. How luxurious van life would be than our tent. HA.
The drive was long with construction waits and since the driver was trying to get somewhere they turned off on a different road than where we got picked up on. This road eventually reconnected with the CDT so we said it was fine, not wanting them to have to shuttle us around any further.
We started our hike around 11:30ish and walked down the gravel road. It felt weird that we were all the sudden no longer in grizzly country. Journey and I decided we would get rid of one bear spray and I will keep one for now until I can get a smaller can of mace.
We walked down a gravel road for a while until we came to The Carissa Mine. I found myself chuckling since my older sister’s name is Carissa. Of course she would have a gold mine.
This was a historic area and then the trail took us right through South Pass City, which is now a historic site but used to be the booming place.
We viewed some of the museum stuff then walked through and filled up on water from a spigot. We had a 15 mile water carry to get through today.
Since we are in the Great Basin, we have heard that climbing will be minimal and most of the day will be exposed with hardly any trees.
Journey and I had umbrellas sent to us and Journey used his for a little bit today but it was just a bit too windy to use it for long. I didn’t ever feel too hot today so I didn’t use mine.
It felt like such a drastic change in landscape today from what we had been hiking through. When we turned around, we could see the fierce mountains behind us, getting smaller and smaller each time we turned around.
As we kept moving south, the terrain felt more flat and hilly. I was loving it. I don’t know if it was because it gave my body a break, or if I just love views like this since I’m a Kansas girl, but it was gorgeous.
I loved having a full 360 degree view the whole day. Any where I looked I could see something new.
I turned on an audio book titled Breath by James Nestor. It was all about how different ways of breathing affect our health and wellbeing. I wanted to listen to this as someone who struggles with anxiety and the occasional panic attack, to see if I could get a better grip on staying calm. The panic attacks usually stem from a feeling of loss of control; it happened on the flight out and I have felt it wanting to creep in the last few nights in the Winds. I figured this book, at the minimum, could give me some new techniques.
The first part was all about breathing through your nose than your mouth and its benefits. I quickly realized how much I mouth breathe after the first couple of chapters. 😅
We ran across quite a few cows, most of them just stared and continued on. A couple would stand in the middle of the trail and stare at us and wait until we were about a foot away from it and then would give a move like it was trying to fake us out and trot away. Almost like it didn’t realize we were so close.
The first 15 miles were on gravel roads and then we reached a nice flowing stream to fill up our water bottles.
We saw Captain here hiding in the shade and took a good break here too. It was already 5 PM but we decided we would hike another 9 to get us further along, knowing we would be hiking into the night.
We ran across one of these guys. We think it’s called a horned lizard but not certain! They are so cute, we know we will see many of these during this section.
The last 9 miles were on trail for a couple then back on a forest road. I plugged in music here and was thoroughly enjoying myself. It was beautiful and as the sun went down, the better the views got.
As the sun went down behind the rain clouds, a vibrant pinkish orange emerged behind us.
We kept walking south, looking behind us, stopping to take pictures, and continue on repeat. I mean just jaw dropping. Okay Basin, I see you.
Our goal was to make it to the next water source which we did around 9 PM. We had to turn our head lamps on and walk through a very bumpy field to find a rock arch and then water below it. The water was ice cold from a spring and we filled up for camp and tomorrow morning.
While here we saw this small weasel like creature. We aren’t sure what it is but it was so friggin CUTE!!!! It kept popping in and out of the rocks being very curious about us. I was wishing it would have let me pet it or even better scoop it up, put it on my pack, and have it travel with me. So adorable.
We hiked on for another mile to get to a grassy area to set up our tent. We set up and pulled out our dinners to eat. This was my first time attempting to cold soak my dinner with my new pot and I am a huge fan. How convenient it was to plop down and immediately have food ready instead of having to wait and cook. What a fantastic design this pot is to give you the option to cold soak or cook.
We can see lightning and can tell a thunderI
In the distance but we are hoping it goes around us. Fingers crossed because we are in the wind open, there’s no where to hide out here!
Goodnight.
Iz and Oz
Izzy + Ozzy 