DAY 112 YELLOWSTONE

AUG 3rd 2022

Get up Get up

I kept saying to myself. Finally I pulled the stopped and moved slowly into action the fly was soaked due to all of the rain and maybe dew from the River.

I was almost ready to go but this morning I needed 2 cups of coffee.

Okay lets get up this hill.

When I first start my right knee is just stiff.. it will not bend so there were many swear words as I hobbled up the trail.

And yes it was steep after about 20 minutes I stopped to look back at the valley. It was so beautiful with the mist rising .

Okay snail onwards, buy this hill seemed to go on for ages luckily there were switchbacks but it was still steep. Eventually I got too the top,but it wasn’t the top and it wasn’t over. I now followed the contours of the hill trying to navigate over blow downs as a 1 legged man and oh yes a few swear words. I pushed on my feet soaking wet from the vegetation that lined the trail.

That made me cross too.

Eventually I began to head down that wasn’t very helpful to my knee. So grimaced almost every step. At the bottom I had a small creek to cross. but it was a few hops guess what I’m now climbing up the other side.

God this is crap and steep.

Yes crap and steep. I pushed on following the switch backs

Did I say that it was steep!!

For a change I crossed over a small stream to my left Then headed into the woods.

The back drop was a huge escarpment. Funny it reminded me of Tarzan ..

The trail still climbed. Omg does this ever end……

Eventually it flattened out but there was still plenty to climb..

But I needed a break.

When a huge rock appeared I dropped my pack.

Took off my shoes and socks and aired my feet.

Then woofed some snacks.

Thre wasn’t much as it’s in my main food bag and I wasn’t organised to organise it.

I was just adoring the view (as the mist was parting) When hotsauce appeared.

I must have camped just before you. She said

Did You like thst climb? I asked?

@#%^££& was the answer or rather F*uck no

Thst made me laugh.

Wheres Kid I asked (as they are a couple)

He’s at the top. I couldn’t go on, and the rain..

Okay may see you at Grantsshe said and headed off.

I put on dry socks then returned to the trail and the climb.

Typically the trail then vanished and I scanned the horizon for clues.

In the distance was a cairn. And when I got close the trail was plain to see. . I headed off and passed one lake that looked like it was drying up. Then a second that looked more healthy

The trail now began to head down and once again I was greeted with amazing views of the valley .but the down was steep even with switch backs my knee soon began to complain and I began to swear alot. Then a hiker appeared a sobo ? (Southbounder) I nodded I was in too much pain for a conversation.

I continued down and down croosed a small field then back into the trees and down

Then another hiker appeared his name was Gazelle. I think Japanese. In his broken English he said he passed 7 other hikers.

I thanked him and hobbled on .

At last the trail was level but not for long.Once again I was heading down. I could do with some water . The trail meadered through this forest heading down

But i had to detour around a tree,the trail would disappear.

So that was annoying as it wasted time and effort finding it.

Then another hiker appeared a SOBO free bird from Oregon.

She warned me about trail junction and to head right.!!

She then said your going to have wet feet by the end of the day. As plenty of crossing.

I thanked her and set off.

It want long until I reached the first crossing bur as I needed water I took a short break and topped up.

Okay the first crossing was easy. I’m sure the others won’t be.

Once across I had to push through tall bushes another of my annoyances.

Okay flat so I tried to push but my knee said stop that so I did.

The flat stooped as I took a sharp right into another forest.

I came to the junction I was warned about and headed right and up the Cdt is always up.

I chugged up several rises and falls croosed numerous steams and just kept going. I stayed in this forest for sometime.

Okay snail let’s look for some open space then I can dry my tent.

It was almost another 30 minutes until I said that will do.

I dropped my pack then pulled out the flysheet and lay out the soaking thing.

While it dried I decided to call it lunch and ate the rest of my snacks. Jerky, peanuts and apricots oh and a few skittles

Okay the fly is dry. I stuffed it back into my tent sack. Mmmm I need to order a new one as its ripping .

Okay trail let’s see where I can get. I pushed on swearing on any steep inclines… I then came to a large creek so stopped to change shoes … which is also a pain. I quickly waded across then stopped to change back. This is because the insoles of my new shoes can ruck up.

Thus is my 4th pair. The other 3 it didn’t happen so why these.

(But it’s happened before in the past so l am aware,)

Okay snail let’s go but a combination of knee and teraine were killing me

I don’t think I will hit my milage target which was depressing me as the miles are still there to be hiked..

As I walked along I noticed more horses,/Mules under a tree and several tents. The Mules then began to made an awful din.

Maybe they thought I was a wolf lol

The trail now headed sharp right across a wide meadow.

I have to check my app as the trail markers have been so poor today.

There was one large cairn by the edge of the field then nothing.

I headed off into the distance until I reached another creek so the same ritual

I sloshed acroosed then headed through tall bushes on duckboards. If the bushes were cut you could walk on the boards much easier. Once across I did my routine before heading back along the trail

I pushed on through another forest which spiralled down and I exited onto a large meadow.

I pushed on crossing many small streams until once again it was change shoes for yet another creek crossing.

I kept my watershoes on as I pushed hough more tall bushes then there was a small climb.

On the other side was a large open meadow halfway way across

In the middle by the trail was a sign marking Yellowstone border

Whoop whoop I’m now in yellowstone. I pushed on along the trail and it wasnt long until I came to the wardens cottage

(Logcabin). I went and had a look

Then back

Okay im knacked and hurting but let’s see what I can do.

I pushed on crossing several more creeks .

Come on a bridge maybe !!

The trail now headed into some trees and began to climb. Bloody hell no… but the climb was short and I was now following the hills contours. Okay I don’t think I have much in the tank. So at the next stream I watered up.

It wasnt long until I passed several campsites.

But I wanted just a few more miles or at least 1.

I pushed in until I came to yet another creek i looked left and right said F*uck it and waded straight across.

Okay tent spot… I had passed several good ones earlier.

Should have stopped. As the trail was going to climb shortly.

Mmm maybe there. I walked up and right.

But its a compromise but it will do I quickly put up my tent before sitting on a log to cook tea.