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The Continental Divide actually splits south of Rawlings and rejoins near South Pass City. The center of the divide is really dry. We will follow the recommended BLM route around the Atlantic Rim (eastern) of the divide. Water is available, but definitely not plentiful in the area.

Subject: 7/11, day 76, 17.2 mi, 10,850'
Anyone who wants a divide trek without hiking should be here because all hiking is on forest roads. We haven't seen anybody.

Encampment was a hard-to-resupply-in town with a 2 mile hike to restaurants. We found a laundramat but the dryer didn't dry our clothes. The best part was an offer of a ride back to the divide when we were at the PO. We carried our damp clothes in a brown sack and got organized at the trailhead when Travis, wife Carol and grandsons Lucas & Matt dropped us off.

We hiked past Bridger (Jim really got around the western states) Peak and can see the great divide basin in the distance. It is also called the red desert and is our goal. Our hiking distance is now dictated by water. As we hike the spruce becomes more sparse in the ravines and we spend more time on ridges in sage and lupine. We also saw a sego lily!

We camped by Bear Creek, a tiny trickle of water.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/12, day 77, 27 mi., 9000'
This was a great day for wildlife: scores of pronghorn; ptarmigan hen in a tree at eye level and her chick equally visible across the road, horned toads, snake, beaver dam and when I took a picture of the beaver dam I flushed out a duck that went downstream in a panic and her ducklings went upstream in a line.

The roads got better, drier, and hotter as we hiked. Late yesterday we wondered if we would recognize a split in the road it was so bad. The road turned into a 4wd jeep road, then into a better jeep road, then into a dirt road. It finally made it to an improved dirt road. We only saw one person all day - in a beat up sedan. He had earphones on so he could hear his radio over the roar of a muffler with a hole in it.

The temp reached 104* while we hiked on the dusty road through the sagebrush. We revived late in the day as it cooled and camped after sunset.

We could see smoke from a new fire in the south, CO forest fire again. We're concerned about hiker friends behind us.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/13, day 78, 7600', 26 miles
To beat the heat we were on the road before 6 am. Bridger Pass was the high point and we reached it at 11 am. It had one bush taller than sage so we squeezed in the shade for lunch. The temperature was over 90*. The pass had a good view of the Atlantic Rim.

The only water we saw was Muddy Creek and the cows were there when we got there. Filtering then adding Gatorade helped but it is best not to think when drinking. Water hotter than body temp is not thirst quenching. We talk about Coke, ice, OJ, fruit and even diet Dr. Pepper.

The next good water is at Teton Reservoir. - 12 miles away. If we want a cool drink...

When we got the paved highway we decide that a cool drink in Rawlins sounded better than trying to hitch to Teton Reservoir. We'll be back tomorrow.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 7/14, day 77, 13 miles, 6870'
We hitched back to Bridger Pass Road. It must have looked strange when we got out of the car and started walking back in the direction we just come from.

We started walking at 3 pm and arrived back in Rawlins at 7:15 pm. Good time for 13 miles. We also had 4-5 off trail miles, so it was a big day. The temperature was warm, but not unbearable. We saw a red fox as we approached town.

We got email from hiker friends who were behind us. They got caught in the forest fire we saw starting up. They were hiking into the area where lightning and thunder were so strong for us. Apparently one of the lightning strikes hit a tree and smoldered until they got there (2-3 days). The ranger told them to find a ride out of the area so they skipped ahead to Rawlins.

Thanks to those that gave us the definition of riparian, in this case the grasses and fauna along Muddy Creek. That is where Ken saw weasel-like small animal that were ermines. Their coats turn white in winter except for the black tip. (Think of royalty pictures where robes are trimmed in white fur with black dots).

We also saw a sign today that said: attn cows do not cross painted lines on road. I guess cows read in WY.

... Gottawalk