We decided to add Encampment as a re-supply stop to break up a long hike between Steamboat Springs and Rawlins.

Ken or Marcia Powers

Will hold packages 60 days.

Hours: M-F   0830 - 1630, 1330 - 1600
          Sat   0830 - 0900

Subject: 7/7, day 72, 18 mi., 10,155'

We are very thankful for family and friends. We appreciate all that you do and think of you as trail angels.

Hiking between Rabbit Ears and Buffalo Passes was a sensory delight with running creeks, lakes nearby and in the distance and fluffy clouds, and eventually a light rain. Lots of people were out for the day hiking and biking. Many were so excited about our hike that they wanted to help us along and offered food. We turned it all down with thank you’s until one woman offered oranges. That will be dessert.

We entered Mt Zirkel Wilderness just before camping tonight, zipping the tent quickly to get away from the mosquitoes that had, in spite of DEET, pestered us all day.

One trailhead said Wyoming trail #1101! We are approaching another state where the guidebook goes the same way we do.

One interesting fact: while in Steamboat Springs we were at the lowest elevation since Grants, NM.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/8, day 73, 11,880', 24.8 mi.
The hikers, bikers and trail that we had yesterday all disappeared today. We did lots of cross-country through bogs and over rocks. This area reminds me of Tahoe and the Sierra.

Thunder rolled and lightning flashed for hours this afternoon, constantly. I didn't know that they could be incessant. Of course it rained so we thought we would end the day at a campground. Shhh! It's a group CG that's empty except for us and the deer that are waiting for us to leave something unattended. We went around the gate toward the river to get water and found this wonderful, empty campsite.

To get to the next trailhead we had to walk on a forest road while it was raining. A car stopped and offered a ride, messages to anyone that might be worried about us, trail mix and a diet Dr Pepper. I can't believe it, but we took the last and had it with dinner. Ken said that he didn't that he would ever like diet Dr Pepper but it was good with black beans and brown rice.

Clouds made a gorgeous sunset. We and our gear will dry tomorrow morning before the next rain storm.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/9,day 74, 10,188', 19.5mi.
Wyoming! The trail was as eager to get there as we were because it went due north with one slight jog west, all right on the divide.

Hiking was up and down and the sun was hot. We each got 1 liter of water at noon. Next water was at 7:30 tonight right where Jonathan Ley said it would be. And we scared up 3 elk at the water.

We hiked through the Routt Divide Blowdown. Two years ago winds of 120 mph blew down an incredible number of pines and aspen. The blowdowns are spread, mostly in patches, over 20 x 50 miles (my guess). We saw one mountainside this morning where more than 95% of the trees were down. Of those standing, most had broken off tops.

We plan to hike 19 miles to the pass above Encampment, WY. where we have a resupply box. The tricky part is that hitching is illegal in WY. Somehow...

WY has telephone birds, too. I think they really are a kind of junco. Ospreys were nesting at Twin Lakes.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/10, day 75, 10,561', 20.3 mi
WY hiking seems to be mostly cross-country. Our guide doesn't give GPS waypoints and the TI map series doesn't cover WY so we are without a map with coordinates. We were very careful to stay oriented today and went back if there was any confusion.

We caught up with another hiker, Marion, who had hurt her knee and needs time off the trail. She walked out on her own and rode with us.

Hiking along the divide was incredibly beautiful. The dirt is red sparsely covered with green sub alpine trees and lots of red boulders. We saw a few snowfields. In with this are chunks of white marble with veining the color of the rocks. We also saw lots of "parks". They were huge meadows and there seemed to be lots of them. Of course they are mostly bogs.

... Gottawalk