Ay, yi, yi. Slept OK last night, considering I was on a slant. Woke up earlier and hit the trail by 8 a.m. The plan was to hike about 14 miles (22.5 km) along the CDT to a series of trails leading to the Boulder Lake Trailhead. Then I’d head down the trails (about 12 miles/19.3 km long) and hopefully end up a few miles shy of the trailhead. On Friday morning, I’d planned to make it to the trailhead in time for a shuttle into Pinedale before noon.
That’s not what happened.
Day Begins OK
The first few hours went OK. I was disappointed my pace was still below 2 mph (3.2 kph), seeing as I hadn’t had any huge climbs. But the path was so rocky, with lots of short-but-steep uphills and downhills, that I couldn’t go fast, given my bad knee and age.
I chatted with several nice hikers. One guy I passed had brass knuckles on his chest strap, decorated as the US flag. Why the need for brass knuckles on a hiking trail?!
Saw more beautiful sights, including a lot more lakes. I wasn’t expecting so many!
Noon Decision
At noon I was behind schedule, despite getting up earlier. I also had a mile-long very steep climb ahead. So when I saw a sign for the Scab Creek Trailhead, I decided to take it. Like the other trails getting you off the CDT here, it was 10-12 miles long (16.1-19.3 km). But taking this one would get me off the CDT sooner.
The problem was that the trail angel picking me up tomorrow doesn’t usually pick up hikers this far from Pinedale, but had agreed to get me at Boulder Lake. Now I’d end up at 
an even farther away trailhead.
I will certainly see if I can hike to Boulder Lake tomorrow or hitch a ride. But the latter isn’t a certainty. And with no wifi I can’t tell the distance from the Scab Creek Trailhead to the Boulder Lake one. Sigh.
Three Falls
I was mad to fall not once, not twice, but THREE TIMES while on the Scab Creek Trail. I think I was dehydrated. The final fall wasn’t bad, but I scraped my arm along the gravel. I have crepey skin, and it rips easily, then bleeds for a week.
Yep, my arm was gushing blood and it took many bandaids to stop it. Once at the trailhead, it started oozing out from the bandages so I had to pile more on. When I get to town I need some huge gauze pads.
Scab Creek Trail Disappoints
I’d hoped the Scab Creek Trail would be mostly downhill and nice. No big rocks, roots and the like. Nope. It was very much like the CDT, with lots of steep ups and downs and loads of rocks to navigate. I didn’t make good time.
I did pass quite a few hikers and fishermen trekking up the trail, which surprised me. One FarOut user called it a pack trail, but it is decidedly used by many hikers/backpackers.
I’m now camped in the little campground here, praying tomorrow’s shuttle works out.
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 17.4 (28 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 1,365.1 (2,196.9 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 1,734.9 (2,792.1 km)
