Muddy hike

Day 98

Date: 07.08.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 1'906.6

Miles hiked: 17.9 miles / 28.6 km

Elevation: 2'992 feet ascent (912.5 m Aufstieg) / 3'291 feet descent (Abstieg 1'003.75 m)

Camping at: 8'471 feet / 2'583.65 m

Cheetah's friend Jill gave us a ride back to the trailhead at 10am. We fitted all 6 hikers and a driver in one car somehow, with Mouse and me squeezed in the back. It wasn't the most comfortable hitch but it worked. Due to the heavy rain the last two days, the trail was a muddy and slippery path. The mud sticks to your shoes, making walking super slippery and hard. My shoes weight a ton! This makes hiking hard and slow. We hike much slower than we thought. In between the muddy section we had to cross several rivers, in which we could clean our shoes again and get rid off all the dirt, just to get them dirty again a second later... But we take it easy. We have to hike 66 miles in 2.5 days, as when we enter yellowstone national park, we had to get permits and pre-reserve the campsites. All we have to hike today is 16 miles. More would be great thought.

Thankfully, after 10 miles the trail became much better. We however met a Southbound hiker (SOBO) and got informed that the trail will be muddy for the next two days still.

We still managed to hike 18 miles that day and set camp at a preset campground with a firepit and a bear hang. Also Vista joined us. Vista showed me how to properly hang my foodbag. It took me several trials till I managed to throw my rope over that very high pole and get my food up there! It is definitely much easier with my odor and bear proof foodbag from ursack, but as we had to carry 4 to 5 days of food till the next resupply, not all of my food and smelly products fitted in the ursack. At least we are all safe tonight!

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