Miles done - 512 to 834....... 

Unfortunately not continuously - two leapfrogs due to snow:

Chama to Rawlins,    &   South Pass City to Togwotee pass

 

 

Bypassing Colorado and the Wind River Range

 



The big picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving Cuba....not too bad down here!
Nice horse!



First day...into the 'snow zone'

And the second....and the third....
 



Evening camp with a roaring fire.........
Well worth the trouble!!



 



Back to dry ground - heading for the Chama river  

Walking the road towards Ghost Ranch



Joined by 'Pick up' & 'Drop off' for the last bit to the Ranch



Ghost Ranch and it's most important building....the Dining hall!



 



Georgia O'Keefe's cabin (famous artist - sort of like Emily Carr)

 

Judge for yourself?

 

 

Saying goodbye to the bunkhouse (was for the cowboys at one time)

 



And saying goodbye to 'Pick-up' & 'Drop-off'' at 'box canyon'

 

out of the canyon and up onto the 'Mesa'

 

With it's creek crossings......

 

And .... naturally....back into the &*^%  snow

 

and more snow

 



Found a dry spot......... made camp

 

Under way in the morning and back to lower elevations....(don't do this after a 'wobbly pop'!)

 



Bailed out at HWY 64

- Hiking the road down to the Chama Valley

 - Crappy weather & too much post-holing to continue on the trail!

 

Treated to a home cooked meal by Sandy (Pick-up)
......in a cozy cabin out of the nasty weather! 

 

End of Cuba to Chama leg

Leap frogging ahead to Rawlins, Wyoming

=======================================================================

 

Heading north to Rawlins where we expect to find some 'do-able' sections
i.e...read "no Snow"

 

 

 

Putting the boys back on the trail 50 miles south of Rawlins
(two + days)

 

Still some snow but looks manageable

 

Into Rawlins to 'Penny's Diner' and a 'nero' day at the 'Oak Tree Inn'

 

Heading across the 'Great Basin' & looking good!



No rattles so reckon this guy is a bull snake....(wag) 

It might be a basin but it certainly isn't flat!

 

'Time out' to let a storm pass....even set up the tent to get out of the hail

 

cold and very windy most of the time...... frustrating!

And TICKS.......everywhere!......Darrell sets up camp on the road to avoid same!



Looking north to the Wind River Range
If you see any snow at all from here....there will be 10'+ of it up there!
"Bummer!"

 





The descent  to 'South Pass City' and salvation
.....the white VW.......and a motel for Darrell

 



And for Steve an anxious 2:00am ride home via Greyhound & South-West Air
 to help and comfort his family during their son's sudden and serious illness!

 

=======================================================================

Another leapfrog - South Pass City to Togwotee Pass

Looking for more snow free sections



Togwotee pass



Within spitting distance of the Grand Tetons!!

and friendly bears!!........

 

This guy was right by the road.....totally ignored us .......big guy too!

It was enough to Spook Darrell into hiking the road instead of the trail
Wasn't to keen to cozy up to this guy in the wee hours.

 

 

 

Darrell hiking the road, Mt Moran in the distance....next stop? .......Yellowstone National Park.

 

=======================================================================

COACHES CORNER

=======================================================================

No matter how many times we see these...they're always a pleasure to look at!

 



The call to service at Ghost Ranch..
A Presbyterian retreat with an educational / artistic component



 

A short hike to 'Chimney Rock' near the Ranch

 

 

This cabin near the Ranch was featured in 'City Slickers' with Billy Crystal...a classic!

 

After moving the guys up to Rawlins we went touring.....

 

 

 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

 

Enjoying the view with us!

 

 

The main feature...the 'Painted Wall' ....very impressive    - 1700' from river to mesa top

 

 

' Curecanti' - a national monument next door to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Mostly a recreational site...fishing and boating, etc....but pretty!

 

 

A surprising reality check at 'Great Sand Dunes National Park'.....busy, busy, busy!
Big dunes though...up to 700'

 

 

 

 

Our campsite at 'Encampment' - Northern Colorado - very pleasant
Couldn't stay very long...had to pick the boys up at South Pass City, Wyoming!

 

The wine added a nice touch
.....so did the fire!



Real cowboys doing some real cowboy stuff.

 

Wherever the CDT trail come close to town they build these!
The upper ones are for the sophisticated city folk.....
The lower ones are for the CDT hikers
 

 

"When we get home I want one of these!!"

Sure babe!.....I'll get right on it!

 

 

Antler Arch....Jackson Hole, Wyoming

 

Our cabin just out side of town

 

Bison below Grand Tetons
....Is 'bison' plural for buffalo?

 

We're not the only ones doing the watching...here's a moose checking us out!

 

And here are a couple of deer checking us out from the hill tops!

Until the next post,

JSD