Ed and I slept well in our little ravine last night. We heard the coyotes, which we love. Oh – one backpacking couple passed us while eating dinner. They were just the second CDT hikers we’ve seen.
This morning we headed down the Jeep road and out to the spot where the CDT crosses Bairoil Road. En route we passed five male CDT hikers, including one who looked pretty young (like 10). Wow!
After doing an out-and-back to connect with the trail we missed yesterday, we took off northbound.
Hot, Hot, Hot
Ed hiked with me 3 miles (4.8 km) up the trail, which was a Jeep road, but pretty sandy. Have I said it’s been SO WINDY on this trail in Wyoming? We battled a headwind and the sand, and just took one wrong turn.
After lunch, Ed headed back to the Jeep, which he was moving to Crooks Gap Road, the next spot where the trail crossed a real road. I headed on.
The next few hours featured a trail that was largely flat or downhill, but it was so sandy in many places, and there was such a strong headwind, that it was a bit of a grind. And, yes, it was very hot! But we’re in the Great Divide Basin, so what do you expect?
Day Is Done
When Ed and I met on Crooks Gap Road, he tried to take the Jeep on the CDT/Jeep road. But it was pretty rugged, and we don’t normally drive Jeeps in this kind of terrain, so he 
declined to go on.
So now we’re spitballing it. I will hike the exact same miles as the CDT winds throughout the Basin, but not necessarily the exact trail. Ed and I need to stick together. There are very few decent roads here. And he is absolutely terrible with directions. And there’s no cell/wifi.
We’ll see what tomorrow brings!
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 20 (32.2 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 1,234 (1,985.9 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 1,866 (3,003 km)
