Pinedale !

Day 91

Date: 31.07.2022

CDT Mile: Mile 1'831.6

Miles hiked: 14 miles / 22.4 km

Elevation: 814 feet ascent (248 m Aufstieg) / 2'159 feet descent (Abstieg 658.5 m)

Camping at: Motel Jackalope Motor Lodge

Vista set the alarm before 5am, so we will reach the Green River campground before lunch and get a hitch into Pinedale early. We are both more than ready to reach a town again! But there was no way we would move that early. It is still dark outside and cold. We started moving finally around 6am and packed up fast. I didn't eat breakfast or made coffee. I tried to tape my blisters again and packed up. At 6.45am we were back on trail. And within the first 5 minutes we had to cross the first river! I tried to cross it without getting my shoes wet again, I put on some dry socks this morning, but no chance. There were no rocks to jump over. The water was freezing and if I wasn't awake by then, then now I am! I ate my breakfast donut while hiking down the forest to the rider valley. The trail was nice and easy, and the scenery beautiful. I left Vista behind. All I wanted is to reach that campground as soon as possible. My left foot is in a lot of pain. The tape has moved already after the first river crossing and there were more to follow. At the second river crossing I slipped off a rock, trying to keep the shoes above water and I could feel one blister popping. The pain came immediately. I humbeled on but there was no way I could hike on like this. I am tired, in pain and still have 12 miles to go. I had a weak moment and some tears rolled down my face. Luckily there were big rocks next to the trail where I stopped, took my shoes and socks off and inspected the damage. My first aid kit is newly restocked since the Basin. So I tried my best fixing the blister and taking ibu. It helps. The first mile was still a lot of pain, but thereafter I could hike on again. I speeded up and run into Blizzard (I met him the day hiking into Encampment, Wyoming) about 5 miles before reaching the campground. Together we hiked there, which was nice as time passed faster and it distracted me from my blisters. At 11.20 am we finally, finally reached the parking lot, just next to the upper green lake. I always wanted to go and swim in a lake, but haven't done it so far due to the weather being bad and yesterday just being too tried. So finally I get to jump into a lake, which was really refreshing! And as this is a popular place for day hikers and campers, there a people around. We get offered a beer, which I normally don't drink, but I feel bad to decline, so I drink it and start to feel it immediately. I am waiting for Vista to arrive so together we can try to hitch to Pinedale. It is probably not gonna be the easiest hitch, as it is a dirt road for about 1 hour and then a highway for another 45 minutes.

I heard there is a faucet and I am looking for water when we see this big cabin just next to the parkinglot, assuming this is the place to get water from. We walk there, as a man comes out and talkes to us. While chatting for a while, we only found out a little later that this group of 6 people rented this cabin! And we thought this is the campground owners place! The renters of the cabin are actually from Sacramento, California, staying here for a week. And they were super friendly. We got wine, homemade pastrami, swiss cheese, working on a puzzle - simply being spoiled. I started to feel the wine a lot and couldn't be bothered about a hitch anymore. Luckily Blizzard was doing better then me and organized a hitch into Pinedale with a family, but only later that day in the early evening. Totally fine with me. The family taking us into Pinedale is super friendly too. I finally get to drive in a rancher, a side-by-side, with the grandparents of the family, which was super fun! Back on the paved road I switched into the car of the young family, having a 3 year old boy and a 6 weeks old baby, super cute. And of course I had to hold that baby, I just couldn't withstand it - I looove baby's! We arrived to Pinedale at 7pm to a family owned motel, where they have redesigned two rooms last year into hiker bunkbed rooms, accommodating all hikers needs. Each bunkbed has a name of a mountain, a curtain around it, power outlets, an individual shelve to put our gear on, towels, shampoo, conditioner, showergel, free laundry, refrigerator, loaner clothes and loaner bikes. They really did the best for us! And it is only 40 USD per night. After a great shower, I grab a bike and meet Vista (who obviously got a hitch earlier in the day), Blizzard, Sheron and Hadash from Israel for dinner at the brewery. And also the K2 are here! They took a sidetrail about 35 miles before green lakes into Pinedale, howeversgetting into town also today. By the time I finally get to bed it is very late already. I fall asleep within a minute, still wearing my hiker clothes🙈

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